Greg Fahey – This Is Your Life

When Greg Fahey was originally approached to ‘star’ in an AHA|SA podcast about his life in pubs, he politely declined, not wanting to place himself on a pedestal.

But after he was inducted into the AHA’s National Hall of Fame, he was persauded that his story might be worth listening to.

When the podcast goes live in the next few weeks he reveals the deceptively simple secrets of his success, takes us on a journey from country pubs to building a major metropolitan hotel group … and recalls a do-or-die fishing adventure with football’s Hall of Fame legend, the late, great Russell Ebert.

The following is the speech that AHA National President, Scott Leach, gave when inducting Greg into the Hall of Fame:

Tonight’s inductee comes from hotel royalty.

He entered the industry young, jumping in to help his mother run the family pub after the loss of his father.

It was a steep learning curve – but the lessons he learned – about life and the business- would mould him into one of South Australia’s most influential hoteliers

In a tiny, rural South Australian town - which at the time boasted a population of just 80 people - he met the love of his life.

And following their wedding, the couple branched out on their own, taking on the Peterborough Hotel which they would run for the next decade.

While operating the Peterborough, the couple also found time to start a family.

They had three children before taking a break from hotels in 1981 to put their focus firmly on family, and for our inductee… a lot of fishing.

But unable to stay away, just a year later the couple made their return to the industry with the purchase of their first Adelaide-based hotel leasehold - the Settlers Hotel.

The couple introduced a disco at the hotel on Thursday and Friday nights… a move which would see the pub become the second biggest keg beer hotel in South Australia, emptying more than 120 18-gallon kegs every week.

And while pubs like the Peterborough and Settlers may have created the foundation of the couple’s hospitality career, these venues were just the beginning.

Since those early days, the couple - and their now grown children - have gone on to lend their Midas touch to more than 20 venues.

Our inductee has also taken time to share his knowledge with others, holding positions on the AHA SA Council, and later the Executive Committee.

He was elected AHA Vice President and served in the role from 1997 to 2001. He also served on the Board of the Independent Gaming Corporation and the AHA National Board.

Throughout his entire career, he has never backed away from taking a leadership role or stepping forward as an industry spokesperson when a strong voice was needed.

He has been an active participant - and led the way - in various liquor marketing cooperative groups such as Sip and Save, Clancy’s, Liquor Smart and other South Australian cooperative groups.

But it was his contribution and leadership throughout the 1994 Manco deal… a joint venture that would see the transfer of 120 South Australian Brewery owned hotels and bottle shops to their tenants… that would forever change the face of hospitality in South Australia.

This transfer of ownership had a profound impact on the profile and make-up of the hospitality industry across the entire state… and forever etched the name of our inductee into South Australian history.

So, tonight please join me in welcoming to the stage…Greg Fahey.