Hall of Fame Induction Speech for Leah Foster

Presented by Christine McAuliffe, Marketing and Business Development Manager, The Highway Hotel

Tonight I will share some stories about an amazing SA hotel industry leader and trailblazer in her time.

Leah Rebecca Foster is as Streaky Bay as they come – and very proud of it! She was born in 1974 (and I know this as I park next to her personalised number plates every day LEAH74). She did all her schooling locally, and word on the street is she aced it with flying colours.

Her hospitality career kicked off early - at just 15, Leah was helping her dad run the Streaky Bay Sports Club. Though let’s be honest: if you know Leah, you know she wasn’t just helping. She was running the show while her dad worked the social circuit.

In 1992, Leah packed her bags and headed for the big smoke, Adelaide, where she enrolled at Adelaide Uni to study a Bachelor of Accounting. But numbers weren’t the only thing she was juggling. To support herself, she joined the hospitality whirlwind that was Lennies at Glenelg - a legendary hotspot, and

the next big chapter in her career. Thrown straight into the deep end of a booming bar at just 18, Leah didn’t just survive - she thrived. Within no time, she had the bar humming and the staff in line, earning herself a promotion to cashier. It was at Lennies that she teamed up with her now long-time mate Tony Symonds, who told me (with zero hesitation) that Leah was the most efficient worker he’s ever seen. She practically ran the bar solo - at 18while the rest of us were sneaking around those dark Lennies corners or dancing to Run to Paradise. Lennies wasn’t just a workplace, it was a playground. Leah made lifelong friends, smashed records (both professional and social), and left a legacy of a bloody hard worker. Trust me, from personal experience, breaking records on the social scene there wasn’t exactly hard… if you don’t believe me, you can always check with Symo (he was quite good at it too).

After nailing her accounting degree, Leah dove headfirst into the finance

world - and, true to form, she didn’t just keep up, she led the charge. Her knack for leadership and sharp thinking made her hot property from the get-go.

Her big break came in 1996 when she was asked to join “DUX” - a major project at the Catholic Education Office. Leah played a key role in designing and rolling out a new support and education system, including payroll and accounts for SA Catholic Schools. Once she wrapped up that challenge, she jumped into the Olympic Dam expansion project, proving once again that she could handle highstakes work with ease.

But everything changed in October 1998, when Leah met Martin Palmer - and the hospitality world got a whole lot luckier. Starting at the Morphett Arms, Leah quickly became Martin’s right hand (and let’s be honest, she still is). Together, they helped launch one of the most forward-thinking venues of its time: the New York Bar and Grill. Leah was part of the management team that brought it to life - and made it thrive.

In the early days, Leah was the behind-the-scenes powerhouse - churning out spreadsheet after spreadsheet and was the admin whiz for the Warradale, Morphy, and the New York Bar & Grill like it was second nature. But when Martin (being Martin) sold NYB&G and set his sights on something even bigger, Leah was right there beside him, ready for the next challenge.

In July 2007, Martin, Leah, and Symo (who joined the dream team in ’99) took over Anzac Highway and launched what would become one of the most iconic hospitality ventures in SA: The Highway Hotel. With that, Leah became head of admin for not one, but three pubs - The Highway, Warradale, and Morphett Arms.

By 2011, Leah was officially crowned Martin’s personal assistant - a role she’d already been nailing for 13 years. Then came 2015 and the acquisition of 2KW, which handed Leah another monster task (naturally, she excelled (good accounting term there, Leah!). Soon after, Paloma and AGSA Eat joined the fold. In 2019, the Palmer Group took over the McLaren Vale Hotel, followed by Arkhe in 2021, and in 2025, Martin went full Monopoly and bought the town of Two Wells, adding the Tavern and Commercial to the empire.

Through it all, Leah’s titles evolved - but her impact only grew. Named Finance & Admin Manager in 2016, she hit her crowning glory in 2017 as Chief Financial Officer of the Palmer Hotel Group, overseeing 10 venues. Her official title may be CFO, but let’s be real - Leah’s the keeper of everything – and she likes it that way!

Let’s talk personal milestones - and yes, meeting Martin in 1998 might count (jury’s still out). But the real highlight reel begins in November 1995, when Leah met the love of her life, Rob Mullarvey - who’s not only here tonight, but also our resident Gaming Guru. Together, they welcomed two gorgeous kids: Henry, born April 2004, now proudly working at the Warradale Hotel; and Lucy, born April 2008, currently smashing Year 12 at Sacred Heart College.

Now, enough with the backstorylet’s get personal.

Leah is the undisputed queen of systems. The Palmer Group is constantly chasing the next big operational upgrade, and Leah’s the one making it all happen. But we’ve all been warned: mess with her highlighter colour-coding for each hotel, and you’ll unleash chaos. Colour order to Leah is sacred.

She’s also a proud beer loverthanks to her Streaky Bay roots and a little help from her mum. Between the two of them, they can knock back a shack pack of West End (yes, that’s 30 cans) like it’s a casual Sunday.

And let’s not forget: Leah is the keeper of everything for Martin. We won’t spill all the secrets, but here’s what we can confirm:

• The St Peters Old Collegians Footy Club owes its smooth operation to Leah.

• Martin’s tennis nights? Next-level, thanks to Leah.

• Martin’s dog? Fully vaccinated, perfectly groomed, and living its best life - because of Leah.

She’s the glue, the engine and the highlighter-wielding legend behind the scenes.

Leah is the kind of woman you want in your corner - and definitely not the kind you want to cross. She’s fierce, determined, and unapologetically loyal.

She doesn’t take any s***, and she’s got a radar for authenticity that’s second to none. If she likes you,

you’ll know it. If she doesn’t… well, you’ll know that too. That said, she’s not immovable - her mind can be changed. Case in point: her nowfriendly rapport with Crows legend Mark Ricciuto.

Let’s rewind to the Lennies days, when Leah was just 18 and already running the bar like a boss. One night, a young, cocky Ricciuto swaggered up and ordered, “20 fire trucks, thanks love.” Leah, ever the professional, rang up the total. But instead of paying, he leaned in and said, “Do you know who I am?”

Without missing a beat, Leah shot back: “Yes, I know exactly who you are - but you’re still paying.”

As he turned to walk away, Leah – fuelled by that Streaky Bay grit - leapt over the bar, grabbed him around the neck, and was only separated by security. To this day, she’s pretty sure he didn’t pay for those drinks, and yes, that still annoys her. But let’s be honest: that kind of gutsy move should’ve earned her Employee of the Month on the spot.

That story sums up Leah perfectly. She stands her ground, backs her team, and doesn’t let anyone - no matter how famous - get away with bending the rules. It’s that same fire that’s carried her through an incredible four-year stint at Lennies, followed by a jaw-dropping 27 years (and counting) with the Palmer Hospitality Group. To add to her hospo honour roll, she is also part owner of the Port Anchor Hotel at Port Adelaide.

She’s not just part of the furniture at the Palmer Group - she’s the foundation. The one who keeps the wheels turning and the standards high.

I’m sure you would all agree that Leah has contributed significantly to the landscape of the South Australian hotel industry, and a worthy inductee into the Women in Hotels Hall of Fame.