The winners of the 1962 Prize and 1962 Medal are announced at the Oration.
These prestigious awards, sponsored by Professor Dennis Moore AM, showcase the best and brightest minds in WA and are a celebration of local talent, student excellence and the
next generation of ICT Professionals.
 

From a suggestion of Dennis Moore (and with his strong support), 2012 saw the setting up of an annual prize for the best graduating student in ICT from a WA university. Although the primary criteria are based on academic performance, the candidates are also judged on their ability to promote their ideas in computing and contribution so far.

The prize celebrates the year in which the first digital computer was installed in Western Australia and is sponsored by Dennis Moore FACS. This prestigious prize is annually awarded to an individual Computing/Information Systems student in Western Australia.

In 2019 the 1962 Awards was expanded to include a new award for the most outstanding candidate who completed Doctoral research (eg PhD) in Western Australia in the field of Information Technology and Computer Science.

The medal is named in honour of the year that Western Australia's first internally programmed digital computer was installed by Professor Dennis Moore FACS. This medal is awarded to the most outstanding completed Doctoral research (eg PhD) in Western Australia in the field of Information Technology and Computer Science.

New in 2023, the 1962 awards recognised teachers and lecturers who had received awards from other organisations. These are the dedicated people who make the other awards possible.

The 1962 Educators for 2023 that were recognised (in alphabetical order) were:

• Donna Buckley               John Curtis College of the Arts
• Michelle Chomiak          St Marks Community School
• Dr Michelle Ellis             Edith Cowan University School of Science
• Vinicius Madeiros           National Institute of Technology
• Dr Chris McDonald        CSSE, University of Western Australia

Photo from L to R: Dr Brian von Konsky FACS CP; Dr Chris McDonald; Dr Michelle Ellis; Michelle Chomiak MACS CP; Donna Buckley; Vinicious Madeiros

Thank you to the esteemed judges who have served on the 1962 awards panel for their service:

• Dr Bob Cross FACS CP
• Professor Tanya McGill FACS
• Associate Professor Doina Olaru
• Professor Terry Woodings FACS

Sadly, earlier in 2025 we lost a leading contributor to our industry – Professor Tony Watson FACS.

Tony was the Chair of the Oration committee for a number of years and a judge for the 1962 awards almost since their inception. More than that, he was a Deputy Vice Chancellor, Dean and Head of the Computer Science school at ECU and a Professor of the university.

Tony was a long-term stalwart of the Australian Computer Society - he was the Chair of the WA ACS Foundation, a Fellow and Honorary Life Member of the ACS, a past Chair of the ACS WA Board and chaired a number of ACS committees.

He was a strong promoter of equity for gender, race and disability and of VET and university education.

Tony also worked with IBM, ASIO, the CSIRO and chaired Academic Board at the Australia Data & Cyber Institute. He was a tower of strength in the information technology industry and will be missed.

From this award event next year, we add a new award in Tony's honour – the Tony Watson Early Achiever award. The award will include $1,000 to be put towards university study in an IT program. Entry will open early in 2026.

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