Our decision to emigrate to Australia came about quite unexpectedly. Our younger daughter had been in indifferent health for some years and during a hospital visit her specialist said, almost as an aside, that she would benefit from a more temperate climate. The Australian High Commission was just a kilometre away so we went immediately and submitted our application. It was a decision we never regretted.

Arriving in Australia in 1964, my first Bureau posting was to Adelaide Airport. It took some time to adjust to the difference between forecasting in Australia and Europe, primarily due to the sparse network of observations. In the days when satellite imagery was either poor or non-existent I remember striving to accurately locate lows and frontal systems as they approached from the west, and contemplating that there were more ships reports on the North Atlantic Ocean than there were observations at 3 am over South Australia and Western Australia.

In one of the guides to forecasters in Adelaide at that time was advice to watch for a rising swell at Cape Leeuwin, which frequently was an indication of a deep low over the Southern Ocean. But colleagues of those days were very helpful and gradually I adjusted to the change.

In 1965 I had three weeks notice of my next posting to Lae. We were not at all keen to go but went anyway. As it turned out we had a very enjoyable and satisfying three and a half years there, followed by six months at Port Moresby.

Arthur Douglas was OIC at Lae for part of that time. He was very knowledgeable about weather conditions in Papua New Guinea, and also put a great deal of time and effort to ensure that Met houses were maintained in good condition and well equipped. This was much appreciated by the staff. We made several close and lasting friendships during those years with folk from various parts of Australia. We jokingly said at that time that we would all retire to Brisbane. In our case and a number of others that is how it has turned out.

And so after Lae and Port Moresby a return to Adelaide in 1969, and in 1983 a move to Brisbane. The major event in this period was the setting up of Regional Forecasting Centres.

Looking back over my career there naturally has been a great deal of change, particularly in the past ten or so years. The ability to 'read' and understand what is going on in the atmosphere has improved tremendously, but after so many years of involvement with aviation forecasting it is sad to see face to face briefing and personal interaction with pilots diminishing.

All in all it has been a happy and interesting experience. Would I do it again? The answer is a definite 'yes'.

Bureau of Meteorology