The Life and Bureau Times of Graham Linnett (continued)

I don't know what it was that helped me through these troubled times. Was it the cold, miserably wet Melbourne weather? Was it the engulfment amongst all the other residents of the boarding house in front of the TV being continually bombarded with Aussie Rules? I actually attended a game with a couple of other Rugby League followers; had a couple of beers and a couple more and a couple more and a few more, still, I couldn't understand it.

There was only one 'bum' transfer to be handed out for our course. You've guessed who got it. After the course I was transferred to Eagle Farm, for a couple of weeks, just to pick up my gear and family, and was then thrust into the great outback at Forrest. This was a bit of rubbing salt into the wounds after spending three years in the desert at Cramsie via Longreach. The only differences were the presence of scrub at Cramsie and the larger population at Forrest. I suppose this must be considered as a step up in the world.

277F radar consoles at Eagle Farm.

All things considered Forrest was a great place. There were some great people there; and some strange ones. A railway fettler's wife of Chilean extraction, having had enough of Australia's great outdoors, decided she was going home to Chile, on foot. She had her very young child with her and when the going got tough decided to travel alone. The child was left to look after himself under a rock. Luckily, both were found about 30 kilometres out. The transit of notables through Forrest was something to be wondered at. These included R. G. Menzies, Donald Campbell and actress Ann Baxter to name a few. An air hostess stood at the top of the aircraft stairs and exclaimed "Oh my goodness, what an awful place, what do you do for entertainment?". The response was "see Gordon over there; he's been here three years and has three children". The DCA 'tech' at Forrest for the early part of my stay was one John Gilbery. John was transferred back to Perth by DCA, where he 'saw the light' and joined the Bureau.

On completion of my tour at Forrest I was relieved by Jannes Keuken and posted to Brisbane as Observer (Radio) where I joined Merv German. Merv could be considered as the father of the two piece radar targets although there may be some in the Bureau who would dispute this. After a few months we were joined by one of the 'better class English technicians'. There were some great 'techs' among these fellows who were 'imported' to overcome a severe shortage of locals.

Bureau of Meteorology