Vale Malcolm Hill, Champion of Country Pubs

AHA|SA Life Member Malcolm Hill has been remembered as a giant of regional South Australia, following his passing in May this year.

Other Life Members and senior AHA|SA figures joined in a celebration of his life at Berri Memorial Oval.

Former AHA|SA CEO, Ian Horne, who served with Malcolm, recalled how he was elected as State Councillor for the Riverland.

“The membership included a uniquely South Australian creation, the community-owned hotel. Four such enterprises fell within Malcolm’s area of responsibility as an AHA|SA Councillor, including of course the Berri Hotel which he managed.

“Malcolm effectively became the Community Owned Hotel representation on State Council.

“He ensured that on all issues affecting the hotels industry in South Australia, amounting to in excess of 600, the dozen or so community-owned and operated facilities stretching from Ceduna to the Riverland, were considered, had a voice and were listened to.”

Ian recalled: “Malcolm became on many occasions a voice of balance, of common sense and of community.

“His long advocacy for and representation of Community hotels in SA was rewarded with life membership of AHA|SA.”

SPORTING ICON

The Sturt Football Club also paid tribute to their former champion: “Malcolm began his illustrious football career in the VFL with Hawthorn, contributing to their first premiership in 1961.

“After his time with Hawthorn, he joined Sturt and played intermittently during the 1960s, participating in a total of 40 games and securing three premierships in 1966, 1968, and 1969.

“Beyond his time with Sturt, Malcolm was deeply involved with the Berri Football Club and

managed the Berri Hotel for many years, leaving a lasting impact on the community.”

In a fitting tribute, it was announced at the funeral that the Berri Hotel has renamed its sports bar The Malcolm Hill Sports Bar.

EULOGY

Former AHA|SA President, Peter Hurley, gave the eulogy at the service.

“I had known of Malcolm Hill for many years before I met him,” he said.

“My earliest recollection of him was his part in ruining the last Saturday in September for a teenage Footscray supporter in 1961 – which was the Hawks’ first premiership.

“After shifting to Adelaide he came across my radar as the publican parachuted into a Double Blue strip to accrue more flags. It seemed like flags just followed this bloke wherever he went.

“After buying my first pub in Wudinna I became increasingly aware, even envious of the country pub in Berri that was effectively the Vegas of the Riverland, attracting huge crowds with Ernie Sigley, Johnny O’Keefe and other big names.

CONVICTION AND PASSION

“Having joined the Council of the AHA|SA to represent the Whyalla zone in 1978, I first met this bloke that seemed to be a magnet to success.

“His profile at the AHA|SA table was as large as his presence on the MCG or Adelaide Oval.

“People listened to whatever he said and despite myobvious rookie status we soon became friends.

“Malcolm represented the interests of the hotel industry in the Riverland, and regional SA generally, with conviction and passion.

“He didn’t constrain his commentary to the hotel industry alone.

“We used to hear of all the challenges of life outside the comfort of city living.

“Fire, flood, drought, freight costs, fruit prices, grape prices, staff recruitment, etc.

“As in life generally, over the 17 years of his tenure on AHA|SA Council and Executive there were many changes affecting the hotel industry. These included the introduction of breath testing, which morphed into RBT.

Then there was the introduction of CPI indexation of excise, imposition of sales tax and later wine equalisation tax, introduction of Pub TAB and Sky Channel, new glass sizes, a Licensing Act Review, and the general explosion in red tape and regulation on business.

“He had a view on them all.

“It would not be unfair in saying Malcolm did not embrace all levels of change.

“He had an eye for the unintended consequences.

“And he made sure we all heard his view. I loved it.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP

“His incredible service to the hotel industry through his time on Council was ultimately recognised by awarding him the highest honour the AHA|SA can bestow, that being Life Membership.

“The only two living life members at the time were Peter Whallin and Fred Basheer.

“Fred’s son David, the current SA President, has travelled up today to honour Malcolm’s contribution and status in the industry as well.

“The hotel and tourism industry, regional South Australia, indeed the whole state needs more people with the mind and enthusiasm of Malcolm Hill.

“You are never dead Malcolm while you live on in the hearts and minds of all of us who knew you or knew of you.”