My Springboard

Figure 42 W. J. Gibbs, Director of Meteorology 1962–78.

Warren had concentrated on building the network of observations essential for any improvement in Bureau services, had recruited staff and provided training facilities, had provided the opportunity for cadet meteorologists to join the Bureau at the beginning of their university education, and had broadened the horizons of Bureau staff by encouraging participation in international meteorology.

Timcke strove to maintain the momentum created by Warren despite a less than sympathetic Minister for the Interior at a time when the Commonwealth Government was pruning manpower and financial resources in an effort to balance the budget.

Len Dwyer was fortunate to have a helpful Permanent Head in Mr W. A. McLaren and an imaginative and enthusiastic Minister in the Hon Allen Fairhall who was keen to see the Bureau increase its public services, especially in flood and fire weather warning, to encourage the participation of the Bureau in the International Geophysical Year and to assist the Bureau in exploiting the technological opportunity of that time. The Hon Gordon Freeth, who succeeded Allen Fairhall in the later Dwyer years, also proved to be a supportive Minister.

Bureau of Meteorology