Posthumous Hall of Fame Induction Speech for Molly Meegan

Presented by Lucy Randall, Manager – Events & Partnerships, AHA|SA

Today we gather to celebrate the life and legacy of Molly Meegan – a woman who showed resilience, generosity, and good humour in everything she did.

Molly was born on September 24, 1919, in Oaklands near Stansbury, just a few minutes before her twin sister, Leone. She grew up on her parents’ small mixed farm, where life was shaped by the hard years of the Great Depression. Although she longed to be a teacher, her schooling ended after Grade 7. Instead, she worked on the farm, milking cows and feeding pigs. Those years gave her a sense of grit and determination that never left her.

In 1948, Molly married Eugene — or Mick, as most knew him — and together they shared a dream of one day owning a hotel. Life threw them enormous challenges, particularly when Eugene contracted polio and was left with lasting disabilities.

But Molly never gave up. With determination, and the support of her family, she found her way into the hospitality industry and discovered a career that perfectly matched her personality.

Her first steps came in 1968 at the Royal Arms Hotel in Port Adelaide, alongside Leone and her nephew David. From there, opportunities grew. In 1971, they sold their house at Semaphore and, together with the LeCornu’s, bought the lease of the Astor Hotel in Gawler Place, Adelaide. The Hotel was owned by the S A Brewing Company and the

rent was 95 dollars a week. Molly showed she was a natural publican. She loved people, loved making them feel welcome, and with hard work the business thrived. She thoroughly enjoyed interacting with people and they improved the hotel and trebled the food trade. Great advice and guidance was provided by Wally Rankine during that time. Together with the Lecornu’s they purchased the leases of several Hotels, including the Earl of Zetland, Gepps Cross, Rob Roy, Hindmarsh and Highbury Hotels — each adding to her experience and reputation. In 1976 came the St Vincent Hotel at Glenelg. At first it was a disaster — only 18 meals in the first week — but Molly was never one to be defeated. She built up the kitchen trade, hired a loyal chef, and within a year they were serving 700 meals a week. It was a classic Molly story: turning setbacks into successes through perseverance and good judgement.

Great friends in the hotel trade included Colleen Jenkins and Wayne and Jenny Francis. When faced with the decision of whether or not to buy the Freehold of the St Vincent Hotel, she said “if Wayne and Jenny are buying, we are too.” When Eugene passed away suddenly in 1994, Molly, at the age of 75, simply carried on. For her, it was business as usual. She finally retired in 2000 at the age of 81, at her insistence, she continued to live upstairs at the hotel for many years after that and somewhat reluctantly learned to step back from fussing over guests and diners as she had done for decades. She thrived on the daily bustle, the conversations, and the sound of life happening around her. Rumour has it that ‘Molly’ came with the lease. At her insistence, she continued to live upstairs at the hotel for many years after that and somewhat reluctantly learned to step back from fussing over guests and diners as she had done for decades

When the Freehold of the Stansbury Hotel became available, there was no question in her mind that she would buy it, as had been her intention with Eugene some 45 years previously.

Family was always at the centre of Molly’s world. She and Eugene raised two children — Anthony and

Adrian — who were her pride and joy. We are delighted to welcome Adrian and his wife Julie here tonight. Both Adrian and Anthony helped with many shifts behind the bar in both the Royal Arms and Astor, and family members being allowed to work behind the bar in those days despite being underage.

Even in later life, Molly showed the same determination. After breaking her hip at 86, she surprised everyone by climbing the hotel stairs again within weeks. She loved living among the noise and bustle of the pub and couldn’t imagine being tucked away somewhere quiet. She enjoyed the pokies, followed the horses, and had an uncanny knack for picking winners.

What made Molly so special was not just her achievements, but her warmth and humour. She had a favourite saying — “Like you would,

Dear!” — that became part of the family’s language, and even the hotel staff were known to repeat it in her style. Stories of her life, like driving the family Holden all the way to Adelaide with the handbrake on and deciding never to drive again, showed her practical but goodhumoured outlook.

Molly’s story is one of resilience, generosity, and love for people. She took on challenges, built thriving hotels, cared for her family, and created spaces where everyone felt welcome. She showed that it’s never too late in life to find your true calling, and that hard work mixed with warmth and humour can leave a legacy that lasts far beyond a single lifetime.

Molly is a worthy inductee into the Women in Hotels Hall of Fame.