Neralee’s Story: Farewelling John Moretti in the Fast Lane
When Neralee met John on 7 October 2018 through RSVP, she had no idea that a casual lunch would lead to a love story built on Ferraris, travel and unshakeable resilience. Only a week after their first meeting, John called with a bold invitation: his son couldn’t attend the National Ferrari Rally in Adelaide and he wondered if Neralee would like to go instead. Neralee, a triple-certificate nurse and mental health specialist with a passion for photography, rearranged a photoshoot and said yes, camera in hand. They travelled down in a convoy of four Ferraris. “The best five days ever,” Neralee recalls. She was welcomed into the Ferrari family with open arms, eventually becoming the official photographer for rallies across Australia.
In June 2023, life shifted dramatically. John was incidentally diagnosed with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma and given six to twelve months to live. Despite this, John remained unflinchingly positive. He believed the doctors had it wrong. His life had been full of close calls: he missed the deadly Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie by oversleeping in, avoided the fatal Hillsborough crowd crush through a last-minute work call, and survived a horrific Ferrari crash thanks to three off-duty paramedics.
John was cardiac-stented and, despite repeated hospitalisations, refused to be defined by liver cancer. In 2023 he won first place in the 355/360 trophy at the National Ferrari Rally in Perth, celebrated Christmas with Neralee’s family in Cairns, and went on multiple trips, including Kangaroo Island and three international journeys in 2024. Even at home he kept up his projects, dismantling the kitchen and preparing for new wooden floors while recovering from procedures.
However, in May 2025, John was made palliative. With Anglicare’s support, Neralee cared for him at home. True to form, John had a say in his own farewell. Born from a dream of Neralee’s, a track day at Lakeside was secured to give him the “best send-off ever”.
On the day of his funeral, John’s Ferrari family showed up in great numbers. The service was held in a function room before John’s final two laps of the track. As the hearse floored it, so did the Ferraris behind, giving John the send-off they’d dreamed of. His farewell was beautifully captured by Tasteful Transitions here.
“I miss you—by my side, holding hands, the cuddles, laughs and the banter,” Neralee says. “I am content knowing I was able to fulfil your last wish, to have one more track day. My dream come true. I believe you’re on the great racetrack upstairs doing eternal laps. Love you always.”
In loving memory of John, Neralee chose to raise funds for Liver Foundation, providing care, support and hope for families touched by liver disease and liver cancer.
“My thanks to Liver Foundation for helping me through this.” — Neralee
If you or someone you love is affected by liver cancer, you don’t have to face it alone. Liver Foundation’s free Support Line is here to listen and provide guidance. Call 1800 841 118 or visit liver.org.au/living-well/support-line.
