DDR Doug Gauntlett recalled Peter's Hobart nickname ('Speedy') and the technological tightrope involved in pioneering TV weather forecasts, where CH7 would run stock footage of various Bureau forecasters at their desk, with live voice-over from the Bureau. 'Sometimes the station would run footage of a colleague, and you became adept at assuming another's personality.'

'More seriously, Peter's skills as a synoptic meteorologist helped to keep tile (modelling) bastards honest . . . the modellers would refer to him to check the verisimilitude of their models. At NMC, he built the relationship to Research; as ADS, his sense of fair play supported major contributions in weather services reviews.'

Peter crinkled a few laughter lines with tales of the perils of TV and radio mishaps. 'CH7 would run footage of meteorologist Carol Powers, and I would have to do the voice-over . . . a sudden sex change was needed. And I remember a live cross to radio 7HO during a Bureau Christmas party, trying to speak over the hilarity.

And somewhere there's a Bureau promotional video in which Noar and Gauntlett will be forever young.

I used to love severe weather—everybody comes to life, in fire season, for instance, I remember the great sense of trust we built up with the Forests Commission.

Without family support, I would not have been able to further my career . . . I remember Carolyn putting up with a lounge room filled with charts.'

Peter noted a decrease in the belief in 'public good' services: 'I find that distasteful. I hope the pendulum swings.'

Bureau of Meteorology