The recent deaths of Allan Cornish and Bill Brann, who were heavily involved in this part of the Bureau's development, give me a special reason for recording my personal reminiscences of that time. It is difficult to recall all the activities spanning a period of 40 years and if I miss a few names, please excuse me.

After completing my training as a tool maker in 1938 I was employed in the munitions factory at Maribyrnong, near Melbourne. During the war this was classified as a reserved occupation which was supposed to exclude me from military service. My brother Ron was also employed in the munitions factory at Maribyrnong.

In our youth we were encouraged by our Dad to take an interest in sport, and chose cycling. We rode the board track located near the Exhibition Building on the northern edge of the city of Melbourne, and later at the track at North Essendon. We chose the board track because we did not have time to train on the road circuits. Ron and I won many championships and life was full of wonderful events.

Late in 1940 Ron joined the RAAF and I felt like a fish out of water. We were a close knit family and as young people we had always been together.

I talked to my parents about joining the RAAF. I wanted to be in electronics. I had Radio and Hobbies magazines delivered each month and built many radio and electronic sets.

Bureau of Meteorology