Chapter 8: I Leave the Bureau (continued)

I had also applied for a position in the PMG Research Laboratory. Two days after the appeal hearing Tommy Goodall phoned to say my appointment to the PMG Research Laboratory had been gazetted and there were no appeals. He asked me which of the two jobs I preferred. I elected to take the PMG research job and left the Bureau after about 16 years in that organisation.

From a professional point of view my decision to take the PMG job was the greatest thing I ever did. My job was to maintain standards for calibration of PMG instruments. I was put in charge of the laboratory equipment section with about 30 technicians to look after maintenance. I was PMG representative on the Australian Standards Committee. I visited the National Standards Laboratory in Sydney to become familiar with the problems of establishing and maintaining standards.

As Divisional Engineer I had authority to approve expenditure of up to 50,000 pounds. I attended a cost-accounting course to become familiar with accounting procedures. I inspected a Linesmen's Camp at Starvation Creek for a fortnight to see how Lineys put up with the mud.

Everything was going well when my first wife became seriously ill. This involved prolonged treatment in hospital and frequent medical attention over a period of five years. I was under considerable financial pressure and looked for a position with a higher salary. I found a position in Department of Air and moved there after eight years with PMG Research.

Bureau of Meteorology