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Neighbourhood > Guest Character Profiles > Hilda Mueller Valma Pratt

Hilda Mueller 1986
Occupation: Housekeeper

German Hilda Mueller had been Lassiter’s head housekeeper for several years and ruled the hotel with an iron fist. Upon her return to work, after several months’ long service leave, she was shocked to find that Madge Mitchell had been installed as manager of The Waterhole. Hilda immediately made her feelings clear, pointing out to hotel manager Paul Robinson that the bar manager’s job was far more suited to a younger woman, but Madge stood her ground. Stubborn Hilda then refused to bring the bar towels from the laundry to the pub, but after an argument, she turned up with them, having deliberately ruined them in the wash. When a furious Madge confronted her, Hilda quickly ran off to Paul once again and told him that Mrs Mitchell was being extremely aggressive, but claimed that she had no idea what could have provoked it.

Paul was concerned about the situation, since Hilda was an old friend of hotel owner Jack Lassiter, and was keeping him informed about the way the business was being managed. When Hilda went into the pub later that day and once again started provoking Madge, their argument was witnessed by Paul, but he only saw Madge’s threatening behaviour. Although Paul forced Madge to apologise to Hilda, Hilda wouldn’t accept and said that either Paul fired Madge, or she herself would resign. It wasn’t until Paul was discussing the situation with Madge that she mentioned a bottle of brandy that Hilda had taken from the pub, apparently for the kitchen. When Madge had mentioned it to the chef, he claimed not to have received it. Paul’s secretary, Susan Cole, then started looking more closely at the books and realised that Hilda had been defrauding the hotel for several years and had stolen money and goods worth thousands of dollars. When confronted, Hilda admitted everything, but pleaded with Paul to drive her to the police station and keep the matter private, as she couldn’t cope with the humiliation. A few weeks later, after a failed attempt by Madge to take over as housekeeper, Hilda’s place was filled by the equally formidable Nell Mangel.

Biography by Steve

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