Hydrometeorology (continued)

I will leave the remainder of the information provided by Neil for discussion under later headings in this chapter but I must here include a direct quotation from one of Neil's letters which have a particular Bureau flavour and a special appeal for me.

Neil says, with reference to a visit he and Allan Rainbird made to the US in April 1961, "just prior to this trip I had a demonstration of Lenny Dwyer's direct approach to bureaucratic affairs. At that time proposals for overseas trips were vetted by the OVC (Overseas Visits Committee) in Canberra. Unknown to me this committee had indicated that only one delegate could attend. Lenny called me to his office and told me this as I walked in the door and then told me to sit down. He then rang the committee chairman and had a preliminary skirmish about rights and authorities. At the end he said 'I am Director of Meteorology. I am not here to be buggered about by a bunch of incompetent nincompoops. If I say two are to go, two will go'. And hung up".

"Short silence. 'Have you got your passport?' 'Have you got your ticket?' 'Have a good trip!' Two days later after Allan and I had arrived in Washington we received a telex saying the OVC had approved two delegates".

Neil also remarked that "no discussion of that period of my time at the Bureau would be complete without mention of the counter lunches at the City Court Hotel. These provided an opportunity for those located in various buildings around the city to keep in contact, but more importantly, they fostered a continuation of the camaraderie which characterised the Bureau at that time. Of course they were also most enjoyable interludes. When Lenny attended, sometimes things got a bit out of hand".

These quotations indicate the perception of a newcomer to the Bureau who enjoyed the friendly reception he received. Some Bureau teetotallers attended the counter lunches for the sheer enjoyment of the company. Neil's reference to things getting out of hand reminds me of the story of one counter lunch at which Lenny wished to discuss a matter of detail with Allan Rainbird which proceeded well after the luncheon break. Apart from the occasional joke most of the conversation in the City Court Hotel revolved around matters meteorological.

Bureau of Meteorology