An exuberant crowd of friends, family and comrades gathered over Zoom to safely sing happy birthday and share their appreciation for "a great friend and mentor."

Fred was dapper in his trademark dark jacket and hat, and accepted the well-wishes graciously.

South Coast Labor Council secretary Arthur Rorris said Fred had given everyone a great deal of "strength, courage, and joy".

"You're loved and appreciated by many," Mr Rorris told Fred.

Member for Cunningham Sharon Bird and Member for Whitlam Stephen Jones also rang in to join the festivities.

Mr Jones thanked Fred for sharing his "love, wisdom and kindness".

Coincidentally, Fred's birthday celebrations also fell on Father's Day.

His daughter, Sue, tearfully thanked everyone who attended to celebrate her "beautiful dad".

Paddy Gorman has been friends with Fred since he was a "sprightly minor in his 50s".

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He says Fred is cherished for his ability to bring out the best in those around him.

"He's a remarkable person," Mr Gorman said.

"He's much loved and admired and deservedly so. People who are bitter enemies - for Fred they'll put their differences aside and give him their best."

Fred's father was a coal miner, and Fred grew up in the Great Depression.

He was pulled out of school early to help the family make a living, but always maintained a love for music, literature - and boxing.

"Fred is a Renaissance man - when he was younger he was a champion boxer and a brilliant musician," Mr Gorman said.

"Ten years ago he played harmonica on Andrew Denton's program 'Enough Rope'.

"Everything he's touched he's good at."

Mr Gorman said one of Fred's most admirable qualities was his staunch advocacy for others.

As well as his union work, Fred is a founding member of the Aboriginal Advancement League, the only man to be an honourary member of the Miner's Women's Auxilliary, and collated an internationally-recognised history of coal miners in Australia.

"Rather than just being somebody who would lecture people his whole life is an example of how people should live and work together," Mr Gorman said.

"He has the courage of his convictions and fought for what he believed in, but was never unfair and never vicious.

"He is a champion in every sense of the word, and I'm privileged to know him."

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