ACS Victoria celebrates with Hall of Famer, Laurie Griffiths, on his 101st birthday

Last Friday, we were delighted to be invited along to the 101st birthday celebrations of Laurie Griffiths, Honorary Life Member of ACS.

Laurie Griffiths was a foundation committee member of the Victorian Computer Society at its inauguration in 1961 until the Australian Computer Society was formed from a federation of the various State and Territory societies in 1966. Laurie, as a committee member of the Victorian Computer Society, worked actively with others to ensure that the federation was a success. The early intention was to form a federated society consisting of one half academics and the other half commercial members.

An active member of the ACS committee which developed the guidelines for the award of Fellow (FACS), the committee deliberations resulted in the foundation of the College of Fellows together with appropriate guidelines. He was appointed as a Fellow (FACS) of the Society in 1970.

Laurie is one of the very few people still alive who commenced with mechanical accounting machines, proceeded to punched card devices, and on to real computers commencing with the very early ones. Believe it or not he used them for commercial purposes keeping in mind that commerce was just as important as academia.    

Laurie was thankful for ACS Victoria taking the time on Friday to celebrate with him and admired the commitment that ACS upholds to members.

ACS wishes Laurie a very happy birthday!

Laurie Griffiths, Honorary Life Member of ACS