A Period of Consolidation

Figure 22 E. W. Timcke, Director of Meteorology 1950–55.

Luckily, the post-war staff had the dedication, imagination and initiative to assist Timcke. Those in the Central Office included Len Dwyer and Tom Hall in administration and management, Walter Dwyer and Ralph Holmes in aviation and telecommunications, Bill Brann in instruments and observations, Harry Ashton in training and publications, and a strong team working on research, central analysis and special investigations. All of these areas had experienced staff, some with long experience in the Bureau, some newly recruited when the RAAF Meteorological Service was formed and a special group of bright younger men who had joined towards, or just after, the end of the war.

Tim was fortunate that those in charge of the Divisional Offices were highly experienced meteorologists. The two John Hogans were Deputy Directors, John Hogan (1896–1970) in Sydney, and 'Doc' Hogan (1912–1978) in Adelaide.

Tommy Camm was Deputy Director, Melbourne, and was succeeded by John Lillywhite when Tommy retired in 1953. George Mackey was Deputy Director, Perth. Stan Richards, Deputy Director, Brisbane, was replaced after his retirement by Barney Newman. Arch Shields became Deputy Director, Hobart, when Vic Bahr left that position to join the WMO Secretariat in Geneva.

All Deputy Directors had experienced, hard working meteorologists on their staffs who contributed new ideas for the provision of services to the general public and to special users. The Bureau's field offices had a blend of meteorologists, weather officers and observers working in small groups at about 40 locations in Australia. Like the staffs of the Divisional Offices they had direct and individual responsibility for the making of observations and the provision of meteorological services.

Bureau of Meteorology