My Classmates (continued)

Page 3 gives the Toast List. 'The King' was proposed by the Chairman (Mr W. J. Greenfield). 'The Service' proposed by Mr J. M. Hall was responded to by Messrs H. N. Warren and E. W. Timcke. Page 3 indicates that at this juncture Mr G. F. Brown delivered the Monologue. This was probably "Albert and 'is 'orses 'ead 'andle" a happy tale (and popular recording of that time) of a young lad eaten by a lion at the zoo.

The toast list on page 3 continued with "The Training Staff" proposed by Mr B. Rofe with responses from Messrs L. J. Dwyer and H. N. Newell, Dr F. Loewe and Mr C. F. Allender.

The last page of the menu was reserved for autographs. Most of the signatures on my copy have faded but those of Bryan Rofe and Arch Shields are clear. Bryan's is preceded by the following comment "I have met some in my time, but I will remember him as the greatest of the artists".

Although civilian members of the Bureau of Meteorology, Department of Air, and not yet in uniform, we felt part of an exciting team. We were anxiously waiting to learn to which RAAF stations in Australia and adjacent islands we had been assigned. Bryan Rofe and I had become firm friends during the course and indicated that we had no particular preference for any particular location as long as we could work together. To our surprise and dismay I was posted to RAAF Station Port Moresby and Rofe was posted to RAAF Station Pearce (near Perth), the distance separating us being close to the maximum possible. Perhaps it had been decided that we would perform our duties more efficiently if we were separated.

Bureau of Meteorology