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Table of Contents

Memories of the Bureau, 1946 to 1962

Foreword

Terminology

Prologue

Preface

Chapter 1: The Warren Years, 1946 to 1950
Warren the Man
Warren Joins the Bureau
Wartime Perceptions and Attitudes
Return to Civvy Street
Frosterley
People in the Bureau
Re-establishing and Reorganising the Bureau
Reorganisation of Central Office
The Position of Chief Scientific Officer
Post-War Reorganisation
The Haldane Story
Public Weather Services
The New South Wales Divisional Office
The Victorian Divisional Office
The Queensland Divisional Office
The South Australian Divisional Office
The Western Australian Divisional Office
The Tasmanian Divisional Office
Pre-war Services for Civil Aviation
Post-War Meteorological Service for Aviation
Indian Ocean Survey Flight
The Aviation Field Staff
Synoptic Analysis, Prognosis and Forecasting
Antarctic and Southern Ocean Meteorology
A Wider Scientific Horizon
Research, Development and Special Investigations
Analysts' Conference, April 1950
Instruments and Observations
Radiosondes
Radar Winds and Radar Weather Watch
Telecommunications
Climate and Statistics
Training
Publications
CSIRO
The Universities
Achievements of the Warren Years

Chapter 2: International Meteorology

Chapter 3: The Timcke Years, 1950 to 1955

Chapter 4: A Year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Chapter 5: The Dwyer Years, 1955 to 1962

Chapter 6: A Springboard for the Future

Appendix 1: References

Appendix 2: Reports, Papers, Manuscripts

Appendix 3: Milestones

Appendix 4: Acknowledgements

Appendix 5: Summary by H. N. Warren of the Operation of the Meteorological Section of Allied Air Headquarters, Brisbane, 1942–45

Endnotes

Index
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Wartime Perceptions and Attitudes

The outbreak of war in 1939 created a subtle and somewhat gradual change in the perceptions and attitudes of the general public. When Prime Minister Menzies announced that Australia was at war with Germany as a natural consequence of England being at war with that country, many Australians felt the patriotic urge to assist the mother country in its hour of need. From our earliest years my generation was made aware that Australia was part of the British Empire. Our school maps of the world showed the extent of the Empire by colouring the British Isles and the dominions and protectorates in red. We learnt about the Empire "on which the sun never sets".

When war was declared many young Australians rushed to volunteer for service overseas in the RAN, AIF or RAAF.

The general civilian population and those engaged in primary and secondary industries gradually became aware that their lifestyles were also undergoing significant changes.

The introduction of wartime rationing produced a very significant change in civilian lifestyles. Civilians were issued with coupons which were required for the purchase of household items and supplies such as meat, butter, tea, clothing, etc. Petrol was rationed to the extent that many owners left their cars permanently in their garage 'up on blocks' for the duration of the war. Some owners fitted 'gas producers' attached to the rear of their vehicle, which yielded a petrol substitute from a device which required the operation of a charcoal-fuelled fire. New cars were not available for purchase. Travel for other than 'essential purposes' was discouraged.

A black market of rationed items soon developed but the majority of Australians preferred not to patronise this source of illegal supplies.

The civilian population was urged to help the war effort by conserving supplies required for military purposes.

Certain categories of employment were classed as 'essential services' and those so employed were informed that they would not be allowed to volunteer to join the armed services. Meteorology was classed as an essential service, although we were given the opportunity of enlisting in the RAAF, but only as part of the RAAF Meteorological Service.


People in Bright Sparcs - Warren, Herbert Norman

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Gibbs, W. J. 1999 'A Very Special Family: Memories of the Bureau of Meteorology 1946 to 1962', Metarch Papers, No. 13 May 1999, Bureau of Meteorology

© Online Edition Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre and Bureau of Meteorology 2001
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