Honouring the Rainfall Volunteers

From T. Dickson of Cronulla, NSW—

"I was interested in records of observation of the different families, especially Mrs. Jackson of Hobart at the age of 85, with 65 years observation. I have no hope of emulating any of these as I started in 1957, but I think I might be the oldest or near the oldest observer at 96 Years of age, and if God spares me I will continue"

From Mr. Andrew Mathews, "Maryantha", Cobar, NSW.

"In 1890 my mother and father were appointed caretakers at "Brura Tank", 16 miles from Cobar on the Cobar-Hillston Rd. These Gov. tanks were provided for a water supply to travellers, horse and bullock teams, etc., of the time. The excavated tanks of 15-2000 cubic yd capacity were well serviced, and my father, a bushman, but very capable in that sort of thing, kept all the equipment in good order. He had no education, but my mother was a product of the old time private lady's school and had I think more than the average education of her time. The Dad would measure the rain and Mother would record it on the forms with some notes as to the conditions before the rain as droughts cloud and wind. I was born in Cobar in 1898. By the way, this house was built by the first Manager of Cobar Mine in the 80's. It is of stone, the walls being twenty inches through and eleven ft high, but that's just by the way. On arriving here they fancied a rain gauge like our neighbour's. In Cobar was a German plumber, a friend of the Dad, and one Sunday Scholtz walked out to where there was a Gov. rain gauge at one of the town reservoirs. He took his measure, and back in his shop he made one like it. An old friend of the Dad had a saw mill in the town; they selected a local pine log and squared it to six inches, the Dad then dressed it out in his workshop and made a stand for the gauge. They bought a gauge glass, and started records. The Dad died aged eighty-nine and Mother eighty-four. I am my seventy-third year but certainly not up to their standard; however I still try to keep the rain records as they did. When a man from your Department came along and asked me to take official records I put a glass plate in my old camera and took the picture—a glass plate is in keeping with the time of the old gauge. Your official gauge gives the measure as mine."

From Mrs. E. Greaves, Moningarin, WA—

"Dear Sir,

I wish to inform you that my husband started taking the rainfall reports in 1910. He continued until his death at the age of 84 in 1961. I continued taking them and hope to do so till my death, and then I hope some of my family will continue."

From Chas Cupps, 'Mumby', Northampton, WA:—

"We still have the original gauge with the fifty pt. Glass measure—Just imagine this surviving since 1903.

"Remember that year it rained for forty days and forty nights?? Well we only had 17 Pts."

From Mrs. E. Hairison, "Hopefield", Pyramid Hill, Vic.

"I have been trying to find out a few facts for you. My grandfather Mr. Humphrey Twigg used to send his mail on Cobb and Co's coach which started its Bendigo-to-Kerang run in 1859. He continued to use this method until the railway from Bendigo to Kerang opened in 1885, Pyramid Hill being the nearest station. He was asked to have a post office in his home and the Department allowed him to name it after his property "Gladfield". He had a Government gauge for years—my aunt, aged 85 years, has childhood memories of my grandfather measuring the rain. After my grandfather died in 1922, my husband's father kept the records until I took over for him. I have been doing it for 30 years or so."

From Mr. Ray Potts of 'Calliope', Langhornes Creek, SA:

"Official rain records started at this station in 1901 and were taken by my father, Frederick Potts. The number of the rain gauge supplied to him was 283. This copper gauge (8" diameter) in a strong wooden box, is still in use. After ray father's death I continued the records. I am now 79 . . ."

Bureau of Meteorology