A Launceston Boy Gone Wrong: Peter Noar Bows Out

Speakers at his farewell at Coopers Inn on January 22 whipped through his career: cadet meteorologist, Central Training School, Special Services, Commonwealth Meteorological Research Centre, Analysis Centre, then ADS in 1983.

Master of Ceremonies Grant Sabin told how Peter started as a cadet meteorologist on 8 March 1957 on 369 pounds a year ('just a few days of Travel Allowance now').

Peter has an enviable reputation for one-liners, and Grant recalled a few Noar trademarks: 'This document needs a few weasel words'; 'You need rat cunning'; 'I've been Zillmanized'; 'I don't want to make a p**** of myself, BUT . . .'

Bob Crowder spoke of a big arbitration case in 1962. 'The arbitrators asked to see a Grade 1 meteorologist . . . we ran one to ground in Tassie and young Peter gave evidence . . . a lot of the prosperity we enjoy now is due to P. F. Noar . . . he worked for years in the industrial arena.'

Bob praised Peter's role among the pioneers of Australian numerical forecasting . . . 'I was almost surprised when he took over from me as ADS,' he added. 'It's a difficult job, and Peter's more into accord than discord'.

Recently-retired Neil Streten welcomed Peter to the 'land of layabouts and lotus eaters' and took part blame for tempting Peter to join the Bureau. 'Peter was in a school careers group that visited the Hobart office in '56. I was one of those to speak to them. Next year he turned up as a cadet! Peter's whimsical sense of humour was obvious early, and we got used to his bowing to colleagues.

As ADS he did a wonderful job of keeping the RDs together, happy and pleased . . . plus our big customers, particularly aviation . . . his marvellous sense of humour helped in the task of dealing with SES and media.

Bureau of Meteorology