Career Details

Bob says his career in meteorology was a "sheer accident"—a fellow boarder at the guest house where he was staying while studying at Melbourne University was Bill Carkeet, an Observer at Laverton, who painted such a rosy picture of life in the Bureau that Bob applied for a position after completing a Science degree in 1951. (He admits his first choice as a career was with the RAAF but his legs were too short for him to be a pilot!).

Before beginning the Meteorologist course Bob spent six months at the Essendon Met Office under the late Ryan, who Bob says gave him a marvellous introduction to the Bureau culture.

After completing the 1951/52 Met course (which included other Bureau notables such as Peter Shaw, Kevin Lynch and Bill Moriarty) Bob's first posting was to the HO Climate Section where he worked with Harry Ashton, Col Hounan and the late Freddie Weisser. He recalls that Freddie was an indispensable member of the Section as he was the only person who could differentiate between the rainfall stations and the flyspecks on the map.

Bob then moved to the Analysis Centre (the forerunner of today's NMC) where he had some quite famous colleagues—Bill Gibbs, John Lillywhite, Jack Maher, Henry Philipot and Steve Lloyd among them.

He had his first taste of the "sharp end" when he was posted to the Vic RO as a forecaster in 1958. This move coincided with the decision by the ABC to employ Bureau staff as weather presenters, and Bob was one of several Vic RO personnel who became well known to TV viewers throughout Victoria. Channel 7 also made "on air" use of the Bureau experts.

From 1962-64 Bob was a member of the Central Training School lecturing staff, and takes pride in the fact that his students included current RDs Graeme Furier and Hugh Hutchinson, Saudi project leader Pat Sullivan, STCI Bruce Neat, and the present head of the BMTC, John Mottram.

Woomera

His next move was to Woomera where, with Ted Phillips (ex-RD Tas now retired), he provided special forecasting services for the Europa rocket trials. During his stay at Woomera Bob achieved the distinction of being elected captain of the local golf club, which he declares had the worst course he has ever seen.

After spending his final year at Woomera as OIC of the station, Bob was back in Head Office in 1967 in the Operational Services area where he carried out an extensive review of the Aviation Services Handbook. It was during this period that he had his first overseas visit, to attend a Regional Air Navigation meeting in Manila.

During the early 1970s, as head of the then Coordination and Planning Branch, Bob was involved with the introduction of the program budgeting system (the forerunner of today's Forward Program). It also led to the setting up of the Committee of Inquiry into the Bureau and a three-month stint for Bob on the Committee's secretariat.

In 1976 Bob was promoted to Regional Director Victoria but almost immediately was selected for the Executive Development Scheme, which saw him attached for various periods to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Premier's Department in Victoria, and the Public Service Board.

Bureau of Meteorology