Farewell Spencer Vinrace Vale LAPS ~ AP-R Medal
28.9.1924 ~ 3.6.2021
Today we farewelled Life Member & Friend Spencer Vinrace Vale who passed away on June 3rd, 2021, just three months shy of his 97th Birthday. With the passing of Athol Blake in 2019, Spen became our oldest living Life Member.
Spen joined The Entrance Camera Club on the Club’s 1st ordinary meeting on the 13th of February 1960.
Spen became our 4th and along with David Spratt, longest serving President, serving on the Committee from 1962–1995, during which time he held the following positions:-
* Committee Member: 1962-64.
* President: 1967-78 & 1993.
* Snr. Vice President: 1965 & 66, 1980, 1982-92, 94 & 95.
* Vice President: 1979.
* Projectionist: 1966 and * Assist. Projectionist: 1982-84, 1989-92.
* External Competitions coordinator: 1991 & 92, 94-97.
* FCC Delegate: 1974 – 84 & 1989-94.
Spen grew up at Mannering Park, his Grandfather, James Vinrace Vale had pioneered & founded the area on the shores of Lake Macquarie, acquiring 640 acres in 1911, on the site of what is now Vales Point Power Station. Spen started married life with Lola in 1950 living in Wyong. Spen drove taxi’s and buses and by the early 70’s he and Lola had shifted to The Entrance, had operated a small general store and then owned and operated “Vales Photographics’’ in the Banksia Arcade. This would later become “Long Jetty Photographics” when in 1978 it was sold to David & Narelle Spratt also members of the Camera Club.
Spen’s service has not been limited to The Entrance. Spen has also lectured and judged at other clubs as well as judging national exhibitions, also serving on the Organising Committee of the Australian Photographic Society’s Annual Convention “APSCON” 1990 held at Newcastle and on the Committee of the Federation of Camera Clubs (NSW) Inc.
Spen successfully competed in both Slide & Print monthly competitions. In 1991, Spen was one of seven members of our Club invited to be part of an exhibition held in Russia – Australian Photographers In The USSR as part of The Rostov-On-Don Salon of Photography Australian Photos~ Foreign Art Photography Festival.
Along with being awarded Life Membership of The Entrance in November 1976, Spen has also been recognised by The Australian Photographic Society with the following honours, the AP-R Medal in 1991 & LAPS (Licentiate) in 1997.
Spen & Lola both loved photography and travelling. It was whilst in Western Australia in 1996, Lola suffered a massive stroke. Though not expected to survive the night, Lola would survive to be flown back to NSW. Transferred firstly to Gosford and then to Berkeley Vale hospitals for treatment and rehabilitation before coming home to Swadling Street, Spen once again stepped up now as Lola’s full time carer.
Following a testimonial dinner honouring Spen, Ted Baker & Athol Blake at the end of Nov. 1997 and wanting to be closer to their family, January of 1998 saw Spen & Lola leave their Swadling Street home on the Central Coast moving north to the Carey Bay retirement Village, Carey Bay, Lake Macquarie.
Spen still kept in contact with Club members and maintained his interest in photography even organising the Village’s bus trips even driving the bus.
May 2003, saw Spen, along with Ted Baker, Athol Blake & David Spratt included on the Federation of Camera Club’s FCC Roll Of Honour being awarded the “Award Of Honour” for his outstanding contribution & dedication to the photographic movement.
Spen joined other members & friends to Celebrate our Club’s 50th Anniversary at our Celebration Dinner in 2009 and until 2014, he continued to attend our Annual Presentation Night.
Spen was a treasured mentor & friend, always willing to help others, especially with the sharing of his knowledge and expertise and the giving freely of his time.
** Below are two additional Tributes to Spen With information supplied by Anthony.
by Anthony Douglas Spratt, June 15, 2021
Winner of June Mobile Phone Photography Challenge
“Your Best Shot (Open)”– The Barn – Fiona Lambell
by Anthony Douglas Spratt, June 11, 2021
Results for June Digital Image Competitions – Open & Set Subject “VINTAGE OBJECT” Judge – Col Boyd.
Members can view all images and comment on them by following this link
View / Comment entries in June – DIGITAL
click here to see a pdf catalog of all competition results
Heading for Breakfast Peter John O’Brien – First OPEN |
Devotion Grace Bryant – First OPEN |
The Garage Leonie Edwards – First SET SUBJECT |
Spinning Wheel Susan Maclean – First SET SUBJECT |
Sunrays before the stormDSC_4094 Michael Andrew – Second OPEN |
9557 THUNDERING WATER George Hardy – Second OPEN |
Acouple Of Oldies David Spratt – Second SET SUBJECT |
Snap Carol Barry – Second SET SUBJECT |
Seaweed Farmer Neil Vincent – Third OPEN |
1967 Jaguar – The Leaper Mike Barry – Third SET SUBJECT |
Tuggerah Lakes Soelast Soelastijono – Highly Commended OPEN |
Very Dusty Day Fiona Lambell – Highly Commended OPEN |
Exiting With The Prize Grace Bryant – Highly Commended OPEN |
The Glow Carol Barry – Highly Commended OPEN |
Catching Up David Spratt – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
Vintage 1971 Lanco watch Michelle Alcorn – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
The House Anthony D. Spratt – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
USA 029 Allan Lambell – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
by Anthony Douglas Spratt, June 11, 2021
Results for May Digital Image Competitions – Open & Set Subject “LONG EXPOSURE” Judges – John & Leanne Alessi.
Members can view all images and comment on them by following this link
View / Comment entries in May – DIGITAL
click here to see a pdf catalog of all competition results
kestresl with lizard Gail Hardy – First OPEN |
Shipwrecked Jane Borg – First SET SUBJECT |
Look at Me Fiona Lambell – Second OPEN |
BOX BEAch Arthur Roy – Second SET SUBJECT |
Red Headed Weavers Carol Barry – Third OPEN |
Green light Paul Henson – Third SET SUBJECT |
Malachite Kingfisher Mike Barry – Highly Commended OPEN |
An Amazing Effort Grace Bryant – Highly Commended OPEN |
Shoeing the Clydesdale Fiona Lambell – Highly Commended OPEN |
8927 JELLY FISH George Hardy – Highly Commended OPEN |
Pyrotechnics David Spratt – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
SubMerge Soelast Soelastijono – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
Little cascade at sea Trung Cang Nguyen – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
The Grotto Barbara Blades – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
by Anthony Douglas Spratt, May 14, 2021
Winner of May Mobile Phone Photography Challenge
“At The Beach”– Rainbow – Tobias Lindsjo –
by Anthony Douglas Spratt, May 14, 2021
Winner of April Mobile Phone Photography Challenge
“Bird(s) In A Landscape”- Birds In The Sky – Tobias Lindsjo –
by Anthony Douglas Spratt, April 9, 2021
Results for April Digital Image Competitions – Open & Set Subject “ABSTRACT” Judge – Dianne English
click here to see a pdf catalog of all competition results
Bagan Fisherman Neil Vincent – First OPEN |
Lines and Angles Fiona Lambell – First SET SUBJECT |
Exceptional Skill Grace Bryant – Second OPEN |
Textures Tobias Lindsjo – Second SET SUBJECT |
The Crazy Flyunder David Spratt – Third OPEN |
Wound Between the Earth and the Sky Barbara Blades – Third SET SUBJECT |
Dinner time Trung Cang Nguyen – Highly Commended OPEN |
Waves Trung Cang Nguyen – Highly Commended OPEN |
Glow in the Dark Peter John O’Brien – Highly Commended OPEN |
Hunting monitor Mike Barry – Highly Commended OPEN |
flowing lines Pablo Ducarme – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
Stumped Allan Lambell – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
Stones Jeff Troy – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
Lines Tobias Lindsjo – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
by Anthony Douglas Spratt, April 9, 2021
Winner of March Mobile Phone Photography Challenge
“YOUR BEST SHOT” (Open) – Barbara Blades – Sydney Opera House On A Wet Day
by Anthony Douglas Spratt, March 12, 2021
Results for March Digital Image Competitions – Open & Set Subject “SHADOWS” Judge- Sandra Dann
Members can view all images and comment on them by following this link
View / Comment entries in March – DIGITAL
click here to see a pdf catalog of all competition results
Besties Paul Prouzos – First OPEN |
curve shadows Leonie Edwards – First SET SUBJECT |
Egret & Chicks Fiona Lambell – Second OPEN |
Shadow Ballet Barbara Blades – Second SET SUBJECT |
I Got Here First Peter John O’Brien – Third OPEN |
Morocan Window Allan Lambell – Third SET SUBJECT |
NATURES WAY Arthur Roy – Highly Commended OPEN |
Baby Lorikeet First Honey Fix Michelle Alcorn – Highly Commended OPEN |
Droplets Grace Bryant – Highly Commended OPEN |
BARREL RACER IN BLUE SHIRT Arthur Roy – Highly Commended OPEN |
Shadows have more to say. Natalie Poole – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
Early morning shadow Trung Cang Nguyen – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
In the Misty Shadows Jeff Troy – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
Lion Shadow Carol Barry – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
by Anthony Douglas Spratt, March 12, 2021
Results for February Digital Image Competitions Open & Set Subject “A new Angle” Judge- Barry Collier
click here to see a pdf catalog of all competition results
Turtle Island Neil Vincent – First OPEN |
Young barrel rider Leonie Edwards – First SET SUBJECT |
Delivering Sustenance Grace Bryant – Second OPEN |
Cave Diver Neil Vincent – Second SET SUBJECT |
A Spine Bill David Spratt – Third OPEN |
Peacock New angle Michelle Alcorn – Third SET SUBJECT |
SCRUB WREN WITH WORM Gail Hardy – Highly Commended OPEN |
LOOKING FOR DAD 1136 George Hardy – Highly Commended OPEN |
Me First Peter John O’Brien – Highly Commended OPEN |
The Catch Carol Barry – Highly Commended OPEN |
THE RANCH SORTERS CHALLENGE Arthur Roy – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
Strangler Fig Neil Bevege – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
Making it across Barbara Blades – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
Inside lighthouse Mike Barry – Highly Commended SET SUBJECT |
by Anthony Douglas Spratt, February 12, 2021