Miscellaneous Training and Lectures

Other tasks of this nature that fell to D.Met.S. research and training section included formation of a syllabus of lectures for the training of RAAF and Department of Civil Aviation aerodrome control personnel in courses conducted at Laverton, and provision of training facilities for Dutch meteorological personnel at RAAF 88OBU, Bundaberg (Qld).

Another activity was the training of three members of the prewar civilian staff of the weather organisation as cadet meteorologists—a task commenced in April 1940, and continued by the RAAF Directorate of Meteorological Services until the project was brought to a conclusion during 1942. This plan of training included lectures in theoretical meteorology at the University of Melbourne, under Dr F. Loewe; in applied meteorology at the Melbourne Weather Bureau, and in practical work in the research and training, aviation, climatological and forecasting sections. Cadets also spent a little time in the administration and drafting sections, together with an apprenticeship in the meteorological section at Essendon aerodrome (Vic). Responsibility for this instruction was in the hands of the research and training section, which furnished to the University authorities certificates of satisfactorily performed practical work that were accepted in place of the prescribed work in a university meteorological laboratory. Incidentally, this training extended over two years instead of three, as in normal times, largely due to experience gained with three cadets trained earlier in the meteorological organisation.

Meteorology I—a year long course which gives permanent officers of the Commonwealth Public Service who are successful at the examination some rights towards subsequent advancement—also was necessarily carried on during the war. Candidates offered themselves for this instruction every year throughout the war, so that five courses were completed by August 1945, and a sixth commenced almost immediately. One section—theoretical meteorology, was conducted by Dr Loewe, principles and practice of forecasting, by Wing Commander H. M. Treloar and the others—aeronautical, synoptic and instrumental meteorology and meteorological statistics—by Sqn Ldr Hogan (1896–1970), with Mr K. C. McKenzie as assistant. Mr McKenzie later conducted the major part of this course.

At the commencement, syllabi were framed, text and reference books allotted and lecture notes prepared for distribution. The near year long course commenced about September, trainees thereafter receiving lecture notes and problems for working out at regular intervals until examinations, which were usually held in July.

Bureau of Meteorology