Remembering Keith Barnes and the Saudi Project A Tribute to Keith Barnes (1932–2025) and Recollecting the Saudi Project

Main Article Content

Jim Holmes https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7212-880X

Keywords

Keith Barnes, PMG, Telecom Australia, Telecom Australia (International), Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Keith Barnes died at age 92 on 3 January 2025.  He devoted his whole working life to PMG and Telecom.  He rose from the ranks in the Queensland State Administration to become Chief Planning Engineer in Telecom Headquarters.  Keith did it his way, but his story is broadly typical of many others who contributed to the great infrastructure-building era of telecommunications in the post-war era.  What is not typical is Keith’s last major assignment, which was to lead the in-country team from Telecom Australia to provide a wide range of professional advice and support to Saudi Telecom.  The assignment was unique, big and challenging.  In this article the authors pay tribute to Keith and the team, and reflect upon the Saudi project itself.

Abstract 52 | 1244-PDF-v13n1pp427-437 Downloads 6

References

Australian Telecommunications Commission (1979). Annual Report of Telecom Australia, 1978-79 (Canberra), pp. 57―9 in relation to telex and telegram services.
Australian Telecommunications Commission (1975). Telecom 2000: An exploration of the long-term development of telecommunications in Australia, National Telecommunications Planning Branch, Planning Directorate, Australian Telecommunications Commission, Melbourne.
Barnes, K. A. (1966) “ARM 50 Crossbar Transit Exchange”, Telecommunications Journal of Australia, Vol 16 (June 1966), p. 105.
Barnes, K. A. (1984) Editorial, Telecommunications Journal of Australia, Vol 34, Issue 1 (1984), p. 2.
Barnes, K. A. (1990). CV (unpublished), a copy of which was provided by Ross Barnes to the author.
Dubberley, A. (2025, February). Recollections of Keith Barnes and the Saudi Project, in conversation with the author, 5 February, 2025.
Flentje, D. (2025, February). Recollection of Keith Barnes, in conversation with the author, 13 February 2025.
Hoskins, D. (2025, February). Recollections, as a childhood friend and PMG colleague of Keith Barnes, in conversation with the author, (29 February 2025).
Loughnan, K. (2025, February). Notes for a tribute to Keith Barnes (unpublished) provided to the author, 8 February, 2025.
Neales, S. (1988, May). “Telecom Tipped for $125M Saudi Deal”, Australian Financial Review, 17 May 1988. https://www.afr.com/companies/telecom-tipped-for-125m-saudi-deal-19880517-k2s88
Newstead, I. A. (2000). “Telecom 2000 – In Retrospect”, Telecommunications Journal of Australia Vol 50, No 3 (Spring, 2000), pp. 11―18.
Rasmussen, M. (2025). Recollections as a colleague of Keith Barnes in Saudi Arabia, in conversation with the author, 3 February 2025 and 13 March 2025.
Ward, G. B. (2025, March). Recollections as a Telecom colleague and co-member of various horseracing consortia with Keith Barnes, in unpublished email to the author, 11 March 2025.