Molly Conroy first learnt to drive in 1926, when she was 14. Needless to say, things were a little different back then.
“When I turned 16, me and my dad just walked up to the local registration office. You just said you wanted a licence, filled out a form, handed over 10 shillings and the licence was yours,” says Molly, who at a spritely 97, is Australia’s oldest driver.
A teenage Molly took the wheel of a Model T Ford, learning to drive it in the paddock of her family home in Sefton Park, near Adelaide, South Australia. She had to stand to reach the pedals.
“There was no test then. Mind you, there wasn’t the amount of cars there is on the roads today,” she goes on to explain.
“There were only two other cars in my village back then. The speed limit was just 25 miles [40km] per hour! I’m simply amazed at how things have changed.”
Molly upgraded to a £150 Morris Minor in 1948. She’s since owned a Holden, a Honda and even a BMW, before settling on her beloved Toyota Corolla.
And, amazingly, through all the cars and all the years, she’s never had a brush with the law, or even parking inspectors.
“I’ve never been in an accident, never had a speeding ticket and never had a parking fine,” Molly says, proudly. “I hate drivers who tailgate and those who don’t keep to the left – and it’s the older drivers who are often to blame!”
Molly thinks it’s important that everyone over the age of 70 retake their driving test.
Read the full story in this week’s Woman’s Day, on sale April 26, 2010.
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