The Advent of Television (continued)

Allan recalls that the Sydney ABC TV station ABN 2 was officially opened on the eve of Melbourne Cup day by Prime Minister R. G. Menzies in November 1956. Regular transmissions began on Melbourne Cup day with Allan presenting the weather program immediately following the 7 pm news. It says a great deal about Allan's self-confidence and ability to communicate that he was chosen by the ABC to be one of the Bureau presenters and that he made history in presenting the very first broadcast by a member of the Bureau.

He mentions discontent among some of the forecasting team when the ABC had not selected them to be weather presenters. Another unhappiness was that rosters were amended to enable the forecasters who were TV weather presenters to be available to attend ABN 2 in the evening.

Allan also mentions that his visits to Gore Hill were full of interest as he met many interesting celebrities appearing on ABN 2 and enjoyed working with the ABC staff. He observes that the appearance of Bureau staff on television contributed much to the improvement of relations between the Divisional Office and the news media. The Sydney newspapers had been critical of the Bureau for some time, possibly because of a lengthy period of temporary occupancy of the Deputy Director's position in the Sydney office. David Mares had a very cordial relationship with newspaper staff in the pre-war days, possibly because he had occupied the position for many years during which he had developed harmonious working arrangements.

We will hear much of Allan later. He was one of the many cadet meteorologists whose contributions to the development of the Bureau were significant in the progress made during the Dwyer years.

Bureau of Meteorology