Our Man in the Region Retires [Keith Hannay]

So keep the back page where he is pictured with his off-sider Tony Powell. It's probably the last time you will see him in Weather News.

Keith became RD Vic in 1959. Before that he served for eight years in Sydney RO and was in charge of the office at Kingsford-Smith Airport.

Keith joined the bureau in September 1937, as part of the first-ever training course for new professional staff.

Although more than half Keith's career was spent in Melbourne, his earlier life was much more exciting.

After his course, Keith was posted to Kingsford-Smith Airport under the legendary Arthur White. He also served at Sydney RO and at the Rose Bay Flying Boot Base.

Not much later World War II broke out and Keith underwent elementary flying training with the RAAF.

"Arthur White was called for in a Tiger Moth and would squeeze his bulk into the observer seat," he recalls. "He would then be flown to Richmond to give lectures to the RAAF."

Keith was posted to Port Moresby in October 1940 as OIC Papua New Guinea. At first his staff consisted of a "young chap" named Bill Gibbs and one observer.

"We virtually went straight into the RAAF," Keith said. "in those days our office was at Kila Kila with the RAAF No. 11 Squadron of Flying Boots."

In December 1941 Keith was posted to Malaysia—Khoto Bahru in Kelanatan. He and the other members of the party took part in several adventures but never stayed in one place long enough to learn more about equatorial met. or establish a thriving clientele.

The following year they were posted to Polembang and a month after arriving were forced to flee from the advancing Japanese.

"They were exciting but rather humiliating times," Keith said. "The party was ordered to board ship and sail back to Australia, reaching Fremantle early in March."

After a short time in Broome, Keith was sent to Townsville OIC met section at Garbutt aerodrome. The CO was Freddie Thomas who later become Lord Mayor of Melbourne.

In mid-1942 after the Battle of the Coral Sea, the US Army Air Force and the RAAF met service attempted a merger but this idea was later abandoned.

In January 1943 Keith, now a squadron leader, was posted as Area Met Officer to RAAF HQ Eastern Area. His area of responsibility extended from Bundaberg to Charleville and all NSW bounded by Tocumwal and Moruya Heads.

Bureau of Meteorology