The Australian broadcast industry is mourning the loss of pioneering technologist Eric Hitchen who recently passed away at the age of 93 following a long illness.
Eric’s life was one of technology, travel and most of all opportunity. After working as a radar technician with the Royal Navy in WWII, he joined the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company in 1951 and was soon after engaged teaching a television course at the Marconi College.
After moving to Australia, he worked on the broadcast of the Melbourne Olympic Games (1956), was Engineer in Charge of Channel Ten’s broadcast of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles (1984) and Seoul (1988) and contributed to the winning bid for the Sydney Olympic Games (2000).
He was awarded a Prince Philip Prize for Australian Design for his work on the construction of the Sydney Opera House, and the Paul Marlan Award for his contribution to television engineering in Australia.
Eric was loving father of Judy and Tim, grandfather of Oliver and Ben, beloved husband of Joan Patrick, partner of Judy Dwyer, and father-in-law of Susan Dearn.
Those interested can find Eric’s biography at http://marconiintelevision.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/91460316/Eric%20Hitchen%27s%20book.pdf