Around the Regions [Keith Stibbs]

Those present included the Director, Regional Directors and Assistant Directors who took a break from their annual conference to join in the many tributes to Keith's outstanding service to the Bureau.

Keith joined the public service as a Clerk with the PMG in 1938, and during WW2 saw service with the AIF (1941–44) and in the latter stages of the war as a navigator-wireless operator with the RAAF.

Joining the Bureau in 1948, he completed the Weather Officer course and was posted to Mascot. In 1951 he had his first posting to Macquarie Island as leader of the ANARE party and OIC of the Met Section. His second 12-month stint in 1954, was undertaken at one week's notice.

After further service at Mascot, Keith was posted to Darwin in 1957, and then to Essendon in 1962. Promoted to Met. Officer Gr 3 in 1964, he returned to Darwin the following year as OIC, and then as PTO (Met) back to Essendon as OIC in 1969. He moved to the new Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine when it was opened in 1971, and from 1973, when the RPC was established, worked in the Vic RO.

The speakers at Keith's farewell all highlighted his great dedication and enthusiasm for his work, at the same time recounting many anecdotes of the memorable events that studded his career.

ADS Bob Crowder recalled that Keith's tours of the Antarctic were commemorated in Mt Stibbs on Macquarie Island, and Stibbs Bay, west of Mawson, being named after him. His knowledge of aviation meteorology had resulted in his attendance as Australian delegate at the 5th Session of the Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology in Geneva, 1971, and his expertise in meteorological radar interpretation led to a six-month tour of duty in Saudi Arabia in 1980 as a consultant instructor. Keith's great interest in aviation procedures was indicated by the presence of several Department of Transport staff at the function, and the high regard in which he was held throughout the Bureau was reflected in the wide cross section of those present.

Other tributes were paid by Senior Met Ian Russell and Supervising Met Colin Pierrehumbert, the latter presenting Keith with a watch as a present from his many friends in the Bureau.

Bureau of Meteorology