A skinny kid, who looked 14 at most

BRUCE and I were on the meteorologist course that ran from February 1963 to about March 1964—they were marathons then—along with notables such as Bill Kininmonth, Patrick Sullivan, Graham Furler and Hugh Hutchinson.

Bruce was the baby of the class, a skinny little kid of 19 years who looked 14 at most, with an infectious grin and other elf-like qualities.

Any initial thoughts that he belonged in high school were soon dispelled when he started passing exams with the top or near-top marks.

His easy nature allowed us to use him as a knowledge resource, and he became a really popular guy.

We were then posted to different states, and I didn't see Bruce again until 1980 when I attended a conference in Darwin. It was a great thrill to see him.

Bruce was Acting Northern Territory Regional Director and I was working in the Western Australian Regional Office. We quaffed a few beers and caught up on 17 years.

Bruce moved to Head Office soon after that, and we saw each other more regularly at meetings.

Bruce was Superintendent Program Coordination and Information (STCI) through much of the '80s while I was the rookie RD in WA.

His presentations of financial and resource scenarios at Budget meetings were not only impressive but gloomy. Bruce was a worrier, and it showed!

It was decline time in the Bureau, and I'd go home to Perth after Bruce's presentations to tell the troops how tough things were going to be and to generally spread depression.

We kept on seeing each other during the '90s, and Bruce and Denise hosted some very enjoyable evenings at their home and during the odd weekend outing.

It has been my fortune and privilege to count Bruce as a friend and colleague. His demeanour, humour, work ethic and loyalty have been an inspiration to me and many others.

Bureau of Meteorology