The Australian Women's Register

The sixth child of James and Phoebe (née Hymus) Christie, Ida Spencer grew up in Fremantle and Perth and was a youth leader with the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). After completing a business college course she at first worked in a solicitor’s office. Later she worked with the state office of the Returned Services League (RSL) before spending five years as business secretary for the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) from 1936.

She joined the Darkan Country Women’s Association (CWA) following her marriage to a sheep farmer, John Spencer. Drawing upon her musical background – she had previously sung in church choirs, eisteddfods, hospitals, elderly persons homes and charity concerts – Ida Spencer organised the Darkan branch choir competition in 1951. The competition was to later develop into an annual Choral Festival. Ida Spencer became the Western Australian state president of the CWA in 1955. During her reign she established the Western Australian CWA branches of the air enabling women in isolated area to attend meetings, without leaving their homes, by using a pedal-radio link-up.

Spencer became national president of the CWA in 1957, a position she held until 1959. In 1958 she was awarded honorary life membership of the CWA. On 10 June 1961, Ida Spencer was appointed a Member to the Order of the British Empire for services to the Country Women’s Association in Western Australia.

Dedicated to the community Ida Spencer organised Darkan’s first Anzac Day Service with the RSL. She was awarded the thirty years’ service medal from the Red Cross and supported junior farmer organisations. She helped established Darkan’s kindergarten and assisted in welfare work with deserted wives. Spencer also was a member of the Good Neighbour Council, the Royal Historical Society of WA and Collie Repertory Club.