Some Stories by Colourful Freddie Soutter (continued)

It was a very slow trip. Many cars were towing vans and often they were travelling in tandem. The station wagon I was driving was heavily loaded, too, so acceleration was not good which made it difficult to pass in such poor conditions. I made the Gunelda pub just on closing time. When I pulled up in front of the pub I could not have imagined the welcome in store for me.

I think it was the local drinkers who were first out onto the footpath with loud cheers; it was a great welcome. The publican raced out, greeted me warmly and virtually carried me into the bar with the statement that my drinks were on the house little knowing that I was virtually a teetotaller. Within minutes the vehicle was unloaded and an assessment made of still missing items for me to chase up when I returned to Brisbane. I think also there were a few bets on as to my arrival time, or if I would make it that night with the storms as bad as they were. I was treated as a VIP by the locals and the publican who apologised that he did not have a spare bed but saying that he had plenty of bedding and a mattress on the floor in one of the large rooms. In no way did he want me to return home that night, which was probably very wise. The cheers and thanks from both the installation party and the locals were a great way to end a trying day with its very difficult and fatiguing drive to help my fellow 'techs'.

Early next morning, after a very hearty breakfast and a friendly chat with the chef and the publican, I departed well before the installation party had surfaced; no doubt some with a heavy head.

The third and last of my particularly fond memories is of the late Arch Shields, a former Bureau Regional Director for Queensland.

In November of 1973 I went with the ever meticulous Merv Christensen, Observer Grade 3, Facilities, to relocate the anemometer at Double Island Point. As we headed along the beach from Tewantin in a four wheel drive we had a strong south-easterly wind, however, on arrival at the lighthouse keeper's residence and radio shack it was evident that this site was sheltered, in fact laundry on the clothes line was waving in a gentle north-westerly wind. The reason for relocating the anemometer from the residence to the headland near the lighthouse was clearly evident.

Bureau of Meteorology