Victorian Forecasting Legend Bids Us Farewell [Ian Russell]

Retiring senior forecaster at the Victorian Regional Office, Ian Russell, offered a piece of advice for forecasters at a farewell lunch in Melbourne in August.

Be confident and make decisions, the meteorologist of 37 years said, and be prepared to live with the consequences.

Face the consequences of your bad forecasts and people will forgive you.

"It's the sort of a philosophy that I—I don't know whether it somehow cemented itself in the back of my skull at that stage (at Butterworth RAAF base in Malaysia in 1965), but it's been with me for the rest of my career," Ian said.

"And, I really think it's worth thinking about for some of the younger meteorologists."

As well as Malaysia, Ian had postings at Gilford and Port Hedland in Western Australia, Essendon and the Regional Office in Victoria, Sydney, and the Antarctic.

But Peter Smith of the VRO said he would best remember Ian for his media skills.

"I remember the day that John Jost (ABC Radio) asked him if we could trust his forecast, and Ian said: 'Would you trust your mother-in-law'."

Peter also recalled Ian's political incorrectness on one occasion when he described a developing south-west cold front with a phrase that the Macquarie Dictionary defines as "Colloq. A hidden snag."

A black day indeed.

The VRO stalwart of 25 years was reminded, too, of a tense exchange with another radio broadcaster.

In the week Ian retired, 3LO compere Jon Faine asked him if he had received a card from Peter Couchman. "No," said Ian.

Mr Faine also noted that a lot of people made a lot of demands on the Bureau.

"Indeed," said Ian, apparently more impressed with the new line of questioning.

"People are realising how useful we can be, so the demands on us (in the past 10 years) have increased commensurately,"

The high regard with which Ian is held was encapsulated by Bob Wright, manager of the Special Services Unit.

"Ian's career has been marked by several abiding characteristics," Bob wrote.

"Ian has always been a person of strong views; there has never been any shillyshallying. You know exactly where you stand. He's always been an opinion leader and a source of good advice.

"He is one of those people that the Bureau has been fortunate to attract and he will be sorely missed for his contribution. I regard myself as fortunate to have Ian as a friend and a colleague."

Bureau of Meteorology