Interview with Adrian Charles Molloy

Interview Synopsis

Charles' father, also named Charles, was a Melbourne tailor who was well known in the Randwick municipality. The family lived in Cooper Street and Charles remembers the Maroubra Speedway. His father introduced him to his love of the surf. Charles made lifelong friendships and started on a career of community service through the Maroubra Surf Club. He enjoyed board riding from an early age and also played tennis well, playing with Viv McGrath (1916-1978) who won Australian and French titles and played in the Davis Cup in the 1930s. Finding work in the Great Depression was a challenge. Charles queued at the wharves for work and worked as a grocer's boy for McIlwraith's. This led to him setting up his own business delivering eggs and butter from house to house, a successful venture which only became unviable with petrol rationing during WW2. After a period as a commercial traveller for Streets Ice Cream, Charles established a second-hand car business in Belmore Road Randwick. He was honest, unlike some car salesmen who ended up in Long Bay Gaol. Harry Jensen persuaded Charles to stand for Central Ward in the 1956 Council elections. He won and served as an Independent alderman and later Mayor, for 18 years. He respected Harry Jensen highly and learned a lot about politics from him. Charles brought a practical approach to the job. In 2008 he still lives in Maroubra, aged 93 years.