Memories of the Bureau, 1946 to 1962
Foreword
Terminology
Prologue
Preface
Chapter 1: The Warren Years, 1946 to 1950
Chapter 2: International Meteorology
Chapter 3: The Timcke Years, 1950 to 1955
A Period of Consolidation
Aviation Services
Services for the General Public
Rockets and Atomic Weapons
Instruments and Observations
Climate and Statistics
International Activities
Training
Publications
Research
Central Analysis and Development
CSIRO
The Universities
The Meteorology Act
Achievements of the Timcke Years
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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Nelson (1937) also remembers that in the late 1920s or early 1930s the results from pilot balloon observations made in Perth were passed (with the forecasts) from the Divisional Office to aviators, often by telephone and sometimes before take off from a distant aerodrome when Perth was the destination.
As we have seen in Chapter 1, before the establishment of meteorological offices at aerodromes in 193–/38, with one exception, all forecasts for aviation were provided by Divisional Offices in the form of the general forecast and a mean sea level weather map. The exception was in Darwin, where in 1934 W. A. (Walter) Dwyer worked in an office on the aerodrome at Darwin providing meteorological service for aviators. The main reason for his posting to Darwin was to provide forecasts for Qantas aircraft flying to Singapore to link with Imperial Airways in the Brisbane-London air service. Walter's services were also used by other aviators based in or flying though Darwin.
Timcke occupied the position of Supervising Meteorologist (Aviation) until 1940, when Warren became acting Director and Tim became Assistant Director (Administration). When the RAAF Meteorological Service was established in April 1941 Tim donned the RAAF uniform of a wing commander and throughout the war acted as Warren's deputy.
Tim was of great assistance to Warren. Like other Bureau staff who had served in World War I his military service had left him with a strong sense of duty and loyalty to the leader of his unit. Tim and the other ex-soldiers had a very special pride in the Bureau. They helped to create a friendly atmosphere which extended beyond the working day to social activity in off-duty hours. They also inspired younger colleagues who had served with them in the RAAF Meteorological Service in World War II with a sense of pride in the Bureau.
Tim was acting Director at the time of Warren's death on board ship in Adelaide on 5 August 1950 and continued in that position pending a decision on Warren's replacement.
I have a copy of a letter from E. W. Timcke to the Secretary, Department of the Interior dated 31 October 1950. The letter (which bears no file number and is labelled 'confidential') refers to a letter from the Secretary, Department of the Interior (G45/140 of 23 October 1950). The letter from the Secretary seems to have raised a suggestion from the Public Service Board that an "outstanding scientist in this particular field" should be sought to fill the position of Director of Meteorology.
People in Bright Sparcs - Dwyer, Walter Anthony; Timcke, Edward Waldemar; Warren, Herbert Norman
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