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.
