Foreword (continued)

Colin finds it easy to recall the names and personalities of at least sixty Bureau people with whom he has worked. These include old-timers like Harry Ashton, Alan Brunt, Reg Clarke, Ted Desmond, Trevor Donald, Arthur Douglas, Andy Garriock, Aub Gotley, Joe Hobba, Des Hart, Keith Hannay, Charlie James, Kevin Lomas, Jack McDonough, Andy Murfett, John Sylvester Maher, George Mackey, Jack Nance, Des Nolan, Peter Orr, Pat Ryan, Keith Stibbs, Bob Southern, Ginty Stevens, Arthur White (one of the earliest aviation forecasters), Don Wright and Bob Walsh.

In this article Colin reminisces about his time in Papua and New Guinea in the 1950s when aviation technology was primitive by today's standards and when the Bureau's aviation forecasts were more critical for aircraft operation than at the present time.

Col now lives in Caringbah, a suburb of Sydney, with his wife Shirley. They had two sons, Douglas MB BS (deceased) and Bruce BA(Hons) who lives in the UK.

The editorial work of Ian Forrest of the Bureau's Head Office has made an important contribution in preparing this article for publication.

W. J. Gibbs

Melbourne
June 1995

Bureau of Meteorology