Northern Territory Tourist Commission Brolga Award 1995,
NT Chief Minister's Women's Achievements Award 1998,
Commonwealth Recognition Award for Senior Australians in the Northern Territory Electorate 1999,
Biographical notes
Molly had a position as governess at Mungeranie Station on the Birdsville Track, where she met Malcolm (Mac) Clark and married him in 1946. They had three sons Graham, Kevin and Philip. In 1955 the family arrived at Andado Station, around 330 km South East of Alice Springs. They lived initially in the original 1920's homestead which flooded easily. In 1960, they moved the house to higher ground, 18kms to the West.
The next couple of years were difficult and often tragic. In 1975, Molly's middle son Kevin, had a car accident. This left him fighting for his life but fortunately he survived. In 1978, her husband died a week after suffering a heart attack. Nine months later, her eldest son Graham was killed in a freight train accident. Molly lost her livelihood when the Northern Territory Government was forced to destroy all her cattle.
Molly sold the property in 1985 but retained the old homestead and a 45 square kilometres block.
Molly found a new business venture catering to tourists. She set up camping facilities, cooked meals for visitors and provided personal guided tours of the homestead. In 1993, her home, now called 'Old Andado', was listed in the Heritage Register and Molly received a Brolga Award in 1995 for her achievement in tourism. Among the other awards she received were the 1998 NT Chief Minister's Women's Achievements Award and in 1999 a Commonwealth Recognition Award for Senior Australians in the Northern Territory Electorate.
During the 1980s, Molly had some interest in the Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach, Queensland but was disappointed to find that women under represented. As a result she established the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame in Alice Springs. The National Women's Hall of Fame and its museum had a temporary home at the old court house in Alice Springs. A permanent facility was found in the town's old jailhouse and the Hall of Fame was officially re-opened on 8th March 2007, International Women's Day. Molly's poor health and eyesight meant she had to leave Andado after fifty years with great resistance and move into a house in Alice Springs.
Source: Women of the outback: inspiring true stories of tragedy and triumph. Sue Williams. Camberwell, Vic. : Michael Joseph. c2008.,
Language
English,
Subject
Women,
Northern Territory,
Related materials
Williams, Sue. Women of the outback: inspiring true stories of tragedy and triumph. Camberwell, Vic. : Michael Joseph, c2008. NTC B994.082 WILL,