ACS Pays Tribute to IT Pioneer
Friday 30 January 1998 - The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has paid tribute to Dr Trevor Pearcey, architect of Australia’s first working computer, who died in Melbourne on Tuesday.
"Dr Pearcey was a true visionary and pioneer at a time when the Information Age was only just beginning," said ACS President, Prins Ralston.
"He not only developed the original design for the CSIRAC* computer while working at CSIR in the late 1940s, but later built Australia’s first computer network, CSIRONET, also for the CSIRO."
Mr Ralston said that in addition to his work developing new technology, Dr Pearcey was committed to the profession, playing an active role in the formation of both the Victorian and Canberra Computer Societies.
One of a small group who first resolved to establish a national society for computer professionals, he served as Foundation Vice-President of the ACS when it was formed in 1966, taking over as President the following year.
"Dr Pearcey made a vital contribution to Australia’s IT industry and will be sadly missed. Even after his retirement from his position as Dean of the Faculty of Technology at Chisholm Institute of Technology, he continued to develop his vision and ideas on a wide range of subjects.
"The ACS expresses its sincere condolences to Mrs Norma Pearcey and their children at this time of grief," he said.
Dr Pearcey's funeral will be held on Monday 2 February 1998 at Bayside Funeral Parlour at Mt Martha, south of Melbourne.
*CSIRAC was only the fourth stored program electronic computer in the world and was built independently of work underway at the time in the UK and US. It remains on display at the University of Melbourne, the world’s oldest surviving computer.
This media release is available on the Web at http://www.acs.org.au/news/pearcey.htm
ENDS
Media Enquiries:
Prins Ralston, ACS President, Tel: (0411) 755 069, Email: P_Ralston@ntu.edu.au
Caroline New, Caroline New PR, Tel: (02) 9980 8060 or (0411) 889 456, Email: cnew@acslink.net.au
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