With his interests in local Royal and Royal Geographical Societies, the Historical Memorials Committee and the Field Naturalists’ Society, Fenner had a busy life outside of his duties in the Education Department. He and his wife were also members of the Adelaide University Theatre Guild and the Dual Club. However, the social activity he enjoyed most was the Wongana Circle (‘wonga’ being the Aboriginal word for ‘to speak’). It was a social group comprising Adelaide intellectuals of different backgrounds (men only, still, in 2006; the wives prepare supper). It first met in 1934 and Fenner was a foundation member; he attended every meeting that he could. They used to meet for supper and conversation (talk, talk, talk) in each others’ homes, and they still meet. Members at various times during father's membership included Professor Jack Wilkinson, who chaired the first meeting, Archibald Grenfell Price, Ray Hone, Hans Heysen, Henry Basten, Peter Karmel, Leonard Huxley, John Horner and many others.