Professor S.A. Wurm

[Malcolm Ross]

I am sad to inform you that Professor Stephen Wurm, founder of the 
Department of Linguistics in the Research School of Pacific and Asian 
Studies at The Australian National University, died yesterday 
afternoon at the age of 79. He had been ill for some months, and died 
at Calvary Hospital, Canberra.

Stephen pioneered the field study and analysis of the Papuan 
languages of New Guinea. He was both an outstanding fieldworker and a 
leader of research in this field, recruiting colleagues and students 
to work in what was then an unknown region. Until a few months ago he 
remained a regular visitor to this department, and his presence will 
be sorely missed.

Malcolm Ross
_____________________________________
Dr Malcolm D. Ross
Senior Fellow and a/Head
Department of Linguistics
Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
Australian National University
CANBERRA ACT 0200