Hotel SA October 2023
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P U B L I C A N P R O F I L E<br />
Loretta Wilmshurst<br />
Tribute<br />
The following tribute was made at<br />
the AHA|<strong>SA</strong> Women In <strong>Hotel</strong>s Hall<br />
Of Fame dinner, to acknowledge<br />
the incredible contribution made by<br />
Loretta Wilmshurst.<br />
Today we celebrate the incredible<br />
journey of Loretta Wilmshurst, a<br />
trailblazer in the South Australian<br />
hotel industry. Her story is one<br />
of courage, determination, and a<br />
steadfast commitment to building<br />
not just businesses, but vibrant<br />
communities.<br />
Loretta’s hotel journey commenced<br />
in January 1980, when she and her<br />
husband Rodney took a bold step<br />
and acquired the Moonta <strong>Hotel</strong>.<br />
Loretta, at 31 years old, found<br />
herself embarking on a journey that<br />
would test her resilience. Amidst<br />
challenges like a mice plague,<br />
lively discos, and rooms filled with<br />
cigarette smoke, Loretta embraced<br />
the bustling energy of those<br />
early days.<br />
As she vividly recalls, back then,<br />
calculations were done mentally<br />
and drinks were tallied in one’s head.<br />
Those were the times of social club<br />
picnics, where camaraderie was<br />
fostered, and the drinks flowed<br />
generously, leaving unforgettable<br />
memories.<br />
Sundays were a day of rest, and the<br />
12 o’clock closing created a rhythm<br />
of life that Loretta navigated with<br />
her trademark tenacity. Saturday<br />
night closing meant the entire<br />
team rolling up their sleeves to<br />
clean the pub, followed by a welldeserved<br />
knock-off drink. It was<br />
a time of community, of shared<br />
responsibilities, and of building<br />
connections that would withstand<br />
the test of time.<br />
Loretta’s journey continued, marked<br />
by transitions that showcased her<br />
unyielding spirit. From acquiring the<br />
Commonwealth <strong>Hotel</strong> in Pt Augusta,<br />
to transforming Spuds Roadhouse<br />
in Pimba near Woomera, she<br />
embraced challenges head-on. Who<br />
can forget the transformation of<br />
Spuds, where 4,000 tons of filling<br />
were brought in to combat boggy<br />
roads and where electrical work<br />
turned the yard into an amazing<br />
winter display of lights?<br />
In each chapter, Loretta’s<br />
perseverance remained a constant.<br />
Through motel rooms, workshop<br />
services, RAA assistance, and<br />
more, she nurtured an environment<br />
of service and community. The<br />
joy of a Sunday night schnitzel<br />
drew crowds, uniting people from<br />
stations, Woomera, and Roxby.<br />
Through fires, hold-ups, and the<br />
recent challenges brought by the<br />
pandemic, Loretta’s true spirit shone<br />
brightly. She fostered loyalty among<br />
her staff, creating a family that<br />
stood together through thick and<br />
thin. With a steadfast approach, she<br />
expanded her hotel group, including<br />
the Commercial <strong>Hotel</strong> in Two Wells.<br />
Along the way, there may have even<br />
been a ghost or two!<br />
So we celebrate Loretta’s<br />
remarkable journey, a journey that<br />
has left an indelible mark on our<br />
industry.<br />
Her dedication to the South<br />
Australian hotel industry is truly<br />
awe-inspiring, and we are thrilled to<br />
induct her into the Women in <strong>Hotel</strong>s<br />
Hall of Fame.<br />
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