In Memoriam – VIC

NSW QCC member David Lee passed away on Anzac Day after a short battle with cancer. David started in the IBM Support Centre in the late 80’s, providing customer support for the newly announced AS/400. After many years in the support organisation, David’s career progressed into Sales, where he had various roles in the Systems business, primarily focused on IBM Business Partners selling Power systems running IBM i – the new name for what was the AS/400 of old. In this role, David developed many great relationships with IBM partners and this no doubt helped him achieve success in this role. 

During his career, David made many good friends in the IBM Systems family, and especially in the close-knit team around the IBM i platform. David was known for his positive attitude and thoughtful approach to dealing with all people. He often had personal anecdotes to relate that would help in most sales situations.  He will be missed by all who worked with him.

Our deepest sympathies go out to David’s family, his wife Jacqueline and his seven children.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

Wednesday 8^th May at 11:am

St. Matthias Anglican Church, 471-475 Oxford St. Paddington

Refreshments from 1:00pm at Horizons (Level 2), South Maroubra Surf Club, Bernie Kelly Drive, Maroubra

Quarter Century Club member Aivars Saulitis passed away on Sunday, 24th March 2024.  Julian Robertson attended the funeral service on 2nd April and passed on the condolences of our QCC Members to Aivars’ son Peter and daughter Anda.  The funeral was well attended by the local Latvian community with a feast of Latvian dishes offered at its conclusion. 

Aivars Saulitis may not have been well known to many of our current members, but an article by Jānis Kārkliņš (Laikraksts Latvietis Nr. 569, 2019. g. 3. nov.) pays tribute to his character and achievements.  See extract below.

Aivars was born in Riga, Latvia on October 22, 1929.  In 1944, the family fled to Germany and later to Australia in 1949, where they lived for the first year in the Bonegilla camp outside Albury.  Aivars already had excellent English and was assigned to the labor camp in the office of the Department of Social Services . In 1950, Aivars moved to Melbourne and, along with working in an electric motor manufacturing factory, entered the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Melbourne. However, studies had to be stopped when his father died suddenly and Aivars had to take care of the family.

In 1952, Aivars married Māra Pilskalnas, and together they raised a daughter Anda and a son Pēteris. Aivars worked during the day and studied accounting at RMIT in the evenings, which he also successfully completed. In 1961, he started his career at IBM, where he worked until his retirement in 1991.  During his time with IBM, Aivars and his family lived in Melbourne,  Adelaide, Perth and Sydney.  In retirement, he and Mara moved back to Melbourne, where their children and grandchildren lived.

Throughout his working years, as well as most of the time after his retirement, Aivars actively participated in Latvian society. He was also active in Latvian umbrella organizations, the Association of Latvians in Australia and New Zealand (LAAJ), and a member of the board of the World Association of Free Latvians (PBLA). Aivars participated in the Christian life of Latvians in Australia, being a member of the board of the Holy Cross Church in Melbourne in the 1970s. Aivars also took active in the cultural life of Australian Latvians, leading the group of Applied Arts in Melbourne and later singing in the Sydney mixed choir. Aivars chaired the Australian Latvian Cultural Days in 1987 in Sydney and in 1994 in Melbourne.

R.I.P. Aivars

With regret we pass on news of the passing of Keith Jones in Geelong on Thursday 1st February after a long battle with cancer.

Keith joined IBM in Melbourne in October 1964 and worked as a Software Services Representative. 

Keith’s Funeral will be held at East Geelong Uniting Church on Monday 12th February at 2pm.  It will be streamed live through Jonathan Hepner Funerals.

Many thanks to Ian Harry for sharing details with his QCC colleagues.

Sad news of the passing of John Kidd on Monday November 15.  Our deepest condolences go to his wife Grita and family.  John was well respected by colleagues and customers over his many years as a CSR in Melbourne.  He qualified as a QCC member in September 1990. 

Sad news on the passing of Terry Disher in Melbourne on 25 May 2021, aged 78.

Qualified for the IBM QCC on 3 October 1991.

33 years at IBM, retired Dec 1999, retired up onto Lake Eildon for many wonderful years.

Went back to IBM for consultancy twice in the following years.

He is survived by his wife, Anne, children: Shauna, Heath, Trent, grandchildren: Deni, Kale, Dakoda, Beauie, Zanek, Kushla, Keeley, great grandchildren: Hudson, Cooper, 2 more to come.

Rob Owens passed away in Melbourne on Monday 29th June after a courageous battle with cancer.   Rob began his career as a Program Support Representative (PSR) with IBM in November 1975 and became a guru on IBM’s large systems operating systems software.  After some years as a Systems Engineer, Rob moved into Sales and Marketing where he applied his in-depth product knowledge and persuasive skills to great effect.

Rob will be long remembered by for his good humour, wit and his love of wine, vintage sports cars, outdoor adventures and travel.  He was a much loved husband to Sue, and father to Clare (dec), Mark and Louise.

His family would like his friends and former colleagues to share any memories of him via https://www.forevermissed.com/robert-edward-owens/about?invitation_code=a4045839e41c30d579ab22949700a62&utm_source=fm_emails&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=memorialInvitation&utm_content=visit_link

It is with great sadness that we heard in recent weeks that Mark Chan had passed away in October 2013.  Mark was a banking systems specialist in the Banking and Retail Branch in Melbourne and was highly respected by banking clients and all IBMers who worked with him for more than 30 years across various accounts.

The following death notice was published in the Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper on 29th October 2013:

CHAN. _ Mark. 02.11.1947 – 22.10.2013

We will always love you. Lost to us too soon and sadly missed _ Your loving children Milton and Michelle, wife Maria and daughter-in-law Amy. Beloved sisters Lucy, Sue and Catherine.

Alan Lee Ackland passed away on Sunday, 3rd November 2019, at the age of 86 years.  He worked for IBM in Melbourne for 32 years, qualifying for the Quarter Century Club on 18th November 1982. 

Alan was a much loved husband of Joan (dec) and father to Diane and David.  His funeral service will be held at the Le Pine Chapel, 513 Greensborough Road, Greensborough on Friday 8th November commencing at 2:30pm.

We have received notification that George Hawthorn passed away on 20th April 2017.  George qualified as a QCC Member in Victoria in January 1991.

Joo Thong Ng joined IBM (Malaysia/Singapore) in April 1966, reached his 25 years with IBM Singapore and worked with IBM for over 30 years including a massive project with IBM Australia on Ansett Airlines in the 1990s.  He and his wife Doreen (also a QCC Member) moved to Melbourne after retirement and transferred their QCC memberships to the Victorian Chapter.

The family have requested no flowers.

On behalf of all IBM QCC Members we extend our deepest condolences to Doreen and her family. 

Pat Seivers worked with IBM in the UK from 1963 and joined IBM Australia in Melbourne in 1969. She was inducted into the QCC in 1988 and left in 1991 and subsequently moved to the Gold Coast.  Her husband Kevin passed away in 2011.

Pat was 85.  May she rest in peace.  Her funeral will be held on Thursday 15th August 2019 at 2.00pm at Sacred Heart Church, 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters, Gold Coast, QLD.

We have received confirmation that Roy Mitchell passed away at Myrtleford in November 2017, just five months after the death of his wife Valerie.

Roy qualified as a QCC Member in November 1998.  

Derek Neill passed away at his home in Frankston on Sunday 14th July 2019 at the age of 88.  Derek is survived by his wife Maureen, 2 sons, 4 grand-children and 10 grand-children.

Derek qualified as a QCC Member on June 4, 1987.

We have recently learnt of the passing of Barb Perley  who  will be fondly remembered by all who worked with her in Melbourne over many years. Barb qualified as a QCC Member in September 1991.  The obituary notice below was published in The Age on June 23, 2018.  Her husband John passed away on March 22, 2012.

PERLEY, Barbara Diane
Daughter of the late Gordon and Marjorie Morley, New Zealand. Wife of the late John Perley. Friend to Geraldine, Christopher, Andrew and many more.
Requiescat in Pace – privately cremated.

Peter Byrne passed away at Mt Martha on Tuesday, 20th November 2018 after a long and difficult illness.  He is survived by his wife Joy.

Friends and former colleagues of Peter are invited to pay tribute by adding Comments to this page.

Regretfully, the advice of Frank’s passing in July 2016 was not communicated to our QCC Members at that time.   Frank is survived by his wife Anne who still resides at their home in Viewbank.

His friends and former colleagues are invited to share their memories of Frank by adding comments to this page.

IBM QCC Victoria is saddened to hear of the passing of Gerard Holuigue on Wednesday 24th October 2018. Many will have fond memories of Gerard’s years as a Systems Engineer in Melbourne.

A service to celebrate his life will be held on Thursday 1st November 2018 at 2.00pm in Gardens House, Botanical Gardens, South Yarra.

The following Obituary notice appeared in The Age newspaper:

HOLUIGUE, Gerard

Formerly of Le Touquet – Paris – Plage France died peacefully last Wednesday in his favourite chair, in his favourite room with his favourite dog by his side.

A selfless and devoted family man who was loved by Di, Marni, Nick, Fi and Stu and his five grandchildren Noah, Alfie, Louis, Billy and Charlie.

Il va nous manquer beaucoup.

Quentin Bradfield passed away on 25th October 2018. He became a Member of the IBM Quarter Century Club in March 2002.  A ceremony to celebrate his life will be held at the Mission to Seafarers Victoria, 717 Flinders Street, Docklands on Thursday (November 1, 2018) at 11.00 am. No flowers by request – donations to Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia would be much appreciated. 

Memories of Quentin – contributed by his IBM friends Paul Clayton, Justin Murphy and Will Davis

Quentin Bradfield, better known to his many IBM colleagues as QB joined IBM in March 1977 and was a very likeable South African with a pleasant smile and engaging accent.  He soon became a team player at IBM, quick to welcome and assist others, and happy to receive assistance when needed.

Throughout his 35 years at IBM, QB’s flexibility enabled him to take on many roles, from ‘Office Products Customer Engineer’ to Management, Account Management & Administration Roles.  QB was always willing to help – at the great IBM Christmas Parties held at Luna Park, there was QB transporting Father Christmas in his MG sports car.

At weekends, Sue and QB often enjoyed early morning runs in the MG with Don & Greta Hayes in their MG. However, like most sports car enthusiasts, more time was spent procrastinating about his two MG’s than driving them.

Quentin’s well developed social skills were exercised regularly at Billy Bell’s South Melbourne tavern, (when we were located at Sturt St) after work, with many of his work colleagues. This was a great time to relax together and discuss their crazy customers!!

QB started his long IBM career fixing IBM golf-ball typewriters. His mechanical mastery and suave personality was perfectly matched to his assigned patch of sophisticated ‘marketing’ and ‘advertising agencies’ clients in Albert Park and South Melbourne…. he loved those dimly lit and smokey offices. IBM Management then leveraged his ‘Are You Being Served’ skills when they got QB to introduce Point of Sale terminals into Fletcher Jones men’s stores in the city and some large regional Victoria centres. He also led the IBM support for the POS revolution in retail at Coles Doncaster and Melbourne City stores. They were challenging and successful times for IBM,. Quentin’s cool professional nature, coupled with his technical skills, made him a standout performer of that era.

QB enjoyed flying model airplanes, and he did this with IBM colleagues Will Davis and Trevor Pugh. 
Quentin joined the GMAC (Greensborough Model Aircraft Club) in 2006 (approx) and remained a member for many years, actively supporting the club at working bee’s and annual show days. After learning to fly, he built and flew several types of remote control model planes at the GMAC flying field located at Yarrambat Park. His favourite model was a Great Plane’s ‘Spacewalker’ an advanced sports model which he built and expertly flew at the clubs field on his regular Sunday morning visits. Quentin was a highly valued member of the GMAC and will be sadly missed by his many friends at the club.

Amidst his busy working career, fatherly responsibilities and hobbies, QB managed to renovate and extend his home in leafy Glen Iris. Not surprisingly he was hands-on with all aspects of the project such as roof tiling, plumbing and painting those lovely weatherboards. All challenges of the projects were met with his typical good nature and can do attitude.

QB loved an adventure. He particularly enjoyed retelling stories of two big family trips, to central Australia and a safari holiday in his homeland of South Africa.

In recent years, QB joined with various IBM groups for occasional lunches, his presence always welcome. He loved his mid-morning coffee chats at his local cafe, Bella Sistas. Was it the lovely waitress or the eccentric ‘Basil Faulty’ like boss (Pino) that kept him entertained??

QB will not be forgotten, he will always be remembered as a good friend, a gentleman with a pleasant smile and engaging accent.