Vale David Kupsch: A Death in the Family

His untimely death at 52 was noted widely in the community he served.

Dave was one of the mets who are daily ambassadors for the Bureau: household names to Victorian ABC and commercial radio listeners through frequent 'live crosses' from the broadcast booth on the 26th floor.

ABC broadcasters Terry Laidler and Jon Faine, and 3AW (former ABC broadcaster) Doug Aiton interviewed Dave's colleagues to pay tribute to his professionalism and laidback communication style polished over decades of radio chats.

'Terry Laidler reckoned David was a Melbourne icon because he had been broadcasting longer than the ABC employees, and the listeners liked him,' Ward Rooney says. 'He had a fine way with customers and the media.' Former VRO colleague David Brown, now CH7 evening weather presenter, spoke of Dave at the end of the evening bulletin.

Veteran Melbourne TV weather presenters Rob Gell (CH9) and Edwin Maher (ABC) were among hundreds of friends and relatives at a standing-room-only memorial service at Ivanhoe on 21 January.

Scores of Bureau people were there to offer condolences to his wife Jill and twin daughters Jane and Suzy. The mourners shared memories ranging from Dave's joining the Bureau in 1963, through work at Adelaide, forecasting days in uniform in Penang in Malaysia (he did his two years' conscription as a RAAF officer), to Hobart, Sydney and Melbourne. They recalled his passion for golf, red wine and life in general.

The eulogy by old friend Ian Russell characterised David as a 'talented and dedicated meteorologist, highly respected by all. I have never heard a bad word spoken of him. The way he handled his illness was courage and dignity personified. Dave had a terrific sense of humour, he was laid back, mischievous . . . in the vernacular, a bloody good bloke.'

Phillip Kupsch spoke of the 'tremendous inspiration' of his brother's last months. RD VIC Kevin O'Loughlin remembers Dave's skills as leader, teacher and communicator: 'Dave was a consummate professional as an RFC forecaster. He gave a memorably vibrant presentation to a WMO Public Weather Services workshop during a remission from his illness.' Edwin Maher recalls a Kupsch trademark—'The front with grunt'.

Melbourne did Dave proud. Mourners exited into a magnificent summer day, clear sky, 27°C, a southwesterly at six knots. 'Just as well,' somebody muttered. 'There's nothing left at the office but a heap of AWS, the automatic voice messages and a couple of token mets.'

Bureau of Meteorology