History

Eight honorary life memberships have been awarded since the library’s establishment. They were bestowed either for significant contributions in maintaining a library service during the time when many mechanics’ institutes were closing their doors (see ‘Struggle to remain independent’), or for the initiatives and dedication that saw the library flourish once more. Life members past and present are:

• Louise Tobin – The first person to be awarded life membership, Louise was associated with Athenaeum Library committees for over 30 years, having first joined as a representative for the Country Women’s Association. She was then Honorary Secretary-Treasurer from 1952−1975 (21 years) and Librarian from 1952−1978 (26 years). She resigned from the committee in 1978 due to ill-health, and was awarded life membership in 1979.
• Beryl Evans – A committee member for more than 20 years, Beryl was Vice President in 1970 until 1975 when she took over as Secretary-Treasurer from Louise Tobin. Beryl resigned in 1984 and was awarded life membership in 1985. 
• Edward (Ted) Webb – President, 1975−1985, having held the position of Vice President in 1974, and serving as a general committee member for a number of years after. External politics and social changes during his time as President put in jeopardy the running of the Maldon Athenaeum as an independent lending library. Ted succeeded in continuing to provide a community-run service. He was awarded life membership in 2002.
• Phyllis Alexander – President, 1985−1998, and continuing as an active member of the library until 2008. Her time as President saw a period of expansion for the library – membership increased, opening hours were extended, and the number of books increased to the extent that the library itself expanded into a second room. Phyllis was awarded life membership in 2002.
• Margaret Dunne – Margaret was Secretary for more than six years before relinquishing the position in 1998 but continuing to play an active role in the library until late 2005. She was awarded life membership in 2003 for her many years of dedicated service to the library.
• Joy Leneaux-Gale – President 1998−2021, having been Vice President and Librarian for two previous years. Joy’s presidency was notable for its many initiatives, including the gaining of Registered Charity status for the library; enhancing the library’s profile through publicity and innovative fund-raising events; the introduction of a computerised borrowing system; and the establishment of the Children’s Library. Joy also organised and contributed financially to the construction of a third room at the library. She was awarded life membership in 2013.
• Winsome Stickland – Treasurer 2003−2021, having previously served as Secretary from 1999 to 2001. Winsome made a substantial financial contribution to the building of the third room to house the library’s expanding collection of books. Winsome was awarded life membership in 2018.
• Lesley Rolland-Jones – Vice President 2005−2018. Lesley was awarded life membership in 2018 for her exceptional organisational skills, especially in the reorganisation of the entire book collection when the third room was built; and for fund-raising for the library – including book sales which she often held in her own garden.

Joy Leneaux-Gale & Lynda Achren 2024

References

Library minutes, correspondence & photographs held in the Maldon Athenaeum Archive Collection.  For use within the library only.

Newspapers held in the Maldon Athenaeum Archive Collection. For use within the library only:

The Tarrangower Times, Sept 9, 1982, p.2.