The Western Australian Divisional Office (continued)

These included 'Doc' Hogan (1912–1978) whom I first met when I took up my initial operational appointment at Port Moresby in 1940. 'Doc' had served there since 1938 and left to join the Training School at Central Office before moving to Perth where he worked at Pearce RAAF station and the Divisional Office. One of his major achievements was organising meteorological support for the Catalina service between Perth and Colombo. After acting as Deputy Director following the death of A. G. Akeroyd, 'Doc' supervised the provision of public forecasts and warnings. He also worked enthusiastically with the WA Forestry Department on bushfire warning services.

Another interesting recruit to the Bureau who joined after war had been declared in Europe, but before it had broken out in the Pacific, was G. O'Mahony, who will play a prominent role in these reminiscences.

Gerard O'Mahony was born in Perth on 21 December 1915, and was educated at Subiaco primary school and Christian Brothers' College in St. George's Terrace, Perth. When Gerry finished his secondary schooling in 1933 the economic depression had made jobs hard to get;
while searching for employment Gerry enrolled at university.

Gerry's Irish paternal grandfather had been discovered by the English teaching Irish children in what were called hedge schools, a practice which the English deemed unlawful. For this offence he was transported to the Swan River Colony (now known as Perth) where he was engaged as a headmaster in a local school, there being a shortage of educationally qualified people in the colony.

Bureau of Meteorology