Achievements of the Dwyer Years

The circular was a copy of a paper prepared for the Minister for the Interior. Len Dwyer had occupied the position of Assistant Director (Administration) or had acted as Director in the absence of E. W. Timcke for much of the Timcke years so the period 1950 to 1961 had a special significance for him.

Figure 37 This photograph of the late 1960s includes some of the principal contributors to Bureau progress in the Warren, Timcke, L. J. Dwyer years. Seated, left to right, A. J. Shields, V. J. Bahr, G. W. Mackey, J. "Doc " Hogan, R. L. Southern, A. K. Hannay, H. G. Bond, F. A. Daw. Standing, left to right, J. N. McRae, C. McCue, H. T. Ashton, W. J. Gibbs, G. O'Mahony, E. A. Mizon, A. T. Bath, J. W. Lillywhite. (Clarrie McCue, head of the Ionospheric Prediction Service, was a newcomer to the Bureau).

The circular also indicated that the Bureau's budget had increased from 1.4 million pounds to 3.0 million pounds and that staff had grown from 607 to 774. On 30 June 1961 staff was located at a central administration in Melbourne, six Divisional Offices located at the capital cities of the States, at 29 forecasting offices and 29 observing offices. These offices were located on the continent, in Tasmania, in New Guinea, Antarctica and various islands in the Indian, Pacific and Southern Oceans. By June 1961 plans were well advanced for the establishment of a Divisional Office in Darwin which, like Brisbane and Perth, would contain a Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre.

Figure 38 Bob Southern and Ray Wilkie. Two post-war recruits who made significant contributions to Bureau development.

The Bureau also had 515 part-time observing and climatological stations operated by postal, DCA, lighthouse, police and other people who were paid a modest allowance for their observations. A major contribution was made by approximately 7000 voluntary rainfall observers who made daily observations, some for periods of over 50 years, without any remuneration.

The circular also indicated that new or improved services for the general public and for special users included a tropical cyclone warning system, fire weather service, hydrometeorological service (providing flood warnings and information for engineering works), an area forecast service for light aircraft, forecasts and warnings for small craft in harbours and coastal waters. For the general public the Bureau also provided staff and information for weather programs on television and weather programs from forecast centres which were broadcast from ABC and commercial radio stations. An automatic telephone weather forecast system operated in all capital cities. Some weather beacons were installed on high city buildings.

Figure 39 John Zillman, who joined the Bureau on 11 February 1957, was one of the many
young Cadet Meteorologists in the Warren, Timcke, Dwyer years whose recruitment was important in the development of the Bureau in later years.

Bureau of Meteorology