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SILICON SILIC CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher/Editor Nicholas Vinen Technical Editor John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Technical Staff Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc. Bao Smith, B.Sc. Tim Blythman, B.E., B.Sc. Nicolas Hannekum, Dip. Elec. Tech. Technical Contributor Duraid Madina, B.Sc, M.Sc, PhD Reader Services Rhonda Blythman, BSc, LLB, GDLP Advertising Enquiries Glyn Smith Phone (02) 9939 3295 Mobile 0431 792 293 glyn<at>siliconchip.com.au Regular Contributors Dave Thompson David Maddison B.App.Sc. (Hons 1), PhD, Grad.Dip.Entr.Innov. Geoff Graham Associate Professor Graham Parslow Ian Batty Cartoonist Brendan Akhurst Founding Editor (retired) Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Staff (retired) Ross Tester Ann Morris Greg Swain, B. Sc. (Hons.) Silicon Chip is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. ACN 626 922 870. ABN 20 880 526 923. All material is copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Subscription rates (12 issues): $105 per year, post paid, in Australia. For overseas rates, see our website or email silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au Recommended & maximum price only. Editorial office: Unit 1 (up ramp), 234 Harbord Rd, Brookvale, NSW 2100. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9939 3295. E-mail: silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au ISSN 1030-2662 Printing and Distribution: Editorial Viewpoint Farewell to Gary Johnston A Remarkable Australian Over the last 70 years or so, many exceptional people have made great contributions to Australia and our way of life. One of those people was Gary Johnston, the owner of Jaycar Electronics and Electus Distribution, and a great friend of mine for over 50 years. So I feel privileged to have been asked by Nicholas Vinen to write this editorial. Gary was diagnosed and died of mesothelioma in March this year, at the age of 71. When I first met Gary, he was working for Philips. He was friendly and outgoing, a keen sportsman and very interested in all aspects of electronics, but otherwise just another young bloke aspiring to the good life. A few years later, he joined Dick Smith and quickly became a key man in what was to become the most dynamic retailer in Australia in the 70s and 80s: Dick Smith Electronics. Then in 1981, just as Dick Smith Electronics was being sold to Woolworths, Gary made a great leap into the unknown; he bought a very small shop in Sussex Street, Sydney: John Carr & Co. Gary quickly changed this to Jaycar Electronics and immediately began applying everything he had learnt while at Dick Smith Electronics. He worked very closely with me at Electronics Australia magazine and was the instigator of quite a few innovative electronics projects. But despite working very hard at his business, he did not have an easy run and encountered difficulties early on. He eventually surmounted those and after a few years, he was going very well. Before we started Silicon Chip magazine in 1987, Gary was one of the key people I approached for advertising support, along with Dick Smith Electronics and Jack O’Donnell of Altronics in Perth. Without their support, Silicon Chip would never have seen the light of day. Jaycar and Altronics have remained as key supporters of Silicon Chip to this day. As well as advertising, Gary took a keen interest in the magazine’s content and we often cooperated closely in the development of new projects and sourcing of hard to get components, which Jaycar then supported by producing the kits; a vital aspect for readers who wanted to build them. Also, Gary was often instrumental in enabling us to produce some interesting feature articles. These would not have been possible without him providing introductions to people in organisations that would otherwise have been inaccessible to us. While all this was going on, in the late 80s, Gary found the time to take a Master of Letters degree, majoring in American Literature, at the University of New England, in Armidale NSW. That gives an insight into his keen intellect; his interests were very wide-ranging. While Gary was most important to Silicon Chip, his influence spread right across Australia and he contributed to the personal development of thousands of young people as well as employing over 1300 people in Jaycar and Road Tech Marine stores in Australia. The overwhelming success of Jaycar enabled Gary to do his greatest work, becoming a very generous benefactor to many diverse organisations around Australia. Perhaps the most well known would be his endowment of a Chair in Water Management at the University of New South Wales. Apart from that, most of his work as a benefactor has gone largely unheralded. That would be in keeping with his philosophy; try to do good without seeking the limelight. He was a generous and good friend. I miss him so much. Guest Editorial by Leo Simpson 24-26 Lilian Fowler Pl, Marrickville 2204 2 Silicon Chip Australia’s electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au