The Club had a strong year in FY25–26. Membership heldsteady at 122, event registrations rose 22 per cent to 330, and the Club’sdonation to its Charity Partner, Catherine House, rose 85 per cent to $2,500.
The year’s highlights included the Club’s firstcollaboration with the Art Gallery of South Australia, Dangerous Women,and a sold-out Bold Moves event in May. Behind the scenes, the Club setup a Member Engagement Committee, appointed its first Governance Officer,Katarina Watkins, audited its digital platforms and ran its first membersurvey. A review of the Club’s constitution will be put to members for a votein the coming months.
Three new General Board Members have been elected through to2028: Tracy Frankenfeld, Kelly Tagalan and Katie Toop. In addition,Jade Wright has been re-elected as Deputy Chair and Charlene McGrathas a General Board Member. The Club also welcomes three new volunteers: VickiPapas, Sara Gaertner and Maggie Cao.
The new Board members were presented with their badges at SpenceCub’s special Art After Dark event at Adelaide Central School of Art onWednesday 28 October.
The Club sincerely thanks its four outgoing Directors:
- Rosemary Simper and Katie Jansen who served on the CommunicationsCommittee and are leaving as they have secured new senior roles.
- Emma Dignon who played a key part in the Member Engagement Committee and led important changes to how the Club communicates with members. She is stepping down to become Chair of the SA Chapter of the CPRA.
- Paula Jacques who served for more than two and a half years, at times as the only member of the Communications Committee. Her energy, sincerity and high-quality work made her a tireless contributor to the Club.
Chair Beth Shimmin said: “Our focus this year wasreputation, retention and growth, and we made progress on all three. None of ithappens without our entirely volunteer Board, who stepped up enormously for theClub and our members. Looking to 2027, we’ll keep that focus and add a newtheme: legacy. We’re asking what we want Spence Club to stand for, and whatwe’ll leave for the members who come after us.”
