In those days computers were enormous with operating systems that filled an entire room.

People came from everywhere to see the newfangled computer small enough to sit on a desk. Purchased for a whopping $32,000 it offered 32 kilobytes of memory.

The computer was intriguing but there was a hitch ... no-one knew what to do with it.

The top brass tossed the operating manual at Peter, the new electrical engineering cadet fresh from the University of NSW and the Sydney Institute of Technology.

“Today computers come with operating programs but back then people had to write their own,’’ Peter said.

“Fortunately I became a quick learner after wading through the books. It took a few months to deliver anything useful but before long the engineers were using the computer to draw plans.

“Industry experts from around NSW came to Dubbo to see what Macquarie County Council was doing.

“A year later a 12-inch floppy disc add-on system was purchased at a cost of $18,000.’’

Peter was hooked on the rapidly changing technology and started building his own home computer system.

He stayed with Macquarie County Council until 1988 when he transferred to Grafton.

Returning to Dubbo in 1996 Peter ran training sessions for Leadership Management Australia, achieving the third highest sales in the nation.

“Computers were still a great interest so I purchased a small technology business in North Dubbo.

“The business operated from various locations. Today IT West is based in Talbragar Street and offers computer service and support throughout the region. We also retail Jaycar electronics products.

“It’s amazing how far computers have come in a relatively short period of time.

“Technology has an enormous impact on everyday life and is a fundamental part of business and education.

“Rapid change continues and there will be enormous strides in technology in the coming years.’’