Reorganising the Bureau (continued)

A. V. Atkins brought great energy and diplomacy to this new position. He also brought the advantage of one who had worked in the office of the Public Service Board in Canberra and knew the best channels through which to operate to secure approval for the many Bureau reorganisation proposals which the Board had under consideration. He soon established a Coordination and Planning Section within his Administration Division (which was renamed Management Division) with Allen Bath in charge, supported by Steve Lloyd, Tom Hall and John McGilligan. This unit was soon to become a focus for the planning and review of Bureau activities, flourishing under Allan Atkins' broad experience in a wide field outside the Bureau, Allen Bath's knowledge of Bureau Divisional Office work, Steve Lloyd's experience in the Central Analysis Office, Tom Hall's inside knowledge of Bureau administration and John McGilligan's eagerness to respond to the many and varied tasks allotted to him.

I was fortunate many years later, when Allan Atkins moved to a senior administrative position in Darwin, to have Allen Bath available to replace him as Assistant Director, Management (ADM).

Allen Bath began his career in the Bureau as the sole observer on the aerodrome in Cooktown in 1937 providing observations and service for the DH86 aircraft of Carpenters Airlines which operated the passenger service from Sydney to Rabaul with an overnight stop in Townsville. Having completed a weather officers' forecasting course in Melbourne in August 1938 he began forecasting at Archerfield aerodrome and whilst in the RAAF Meteorological Service served on RAAF Stations in Queensland and New Guinea. After the war Allen was a stalwart of the Brisbane Divisional Office for 14 years, making significant contributions in forecasting and warning, climatology and on occasions acting as Deputy Director. He made a major contribution to the operation of the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre after its establishment in the Brisbane Divisional Office in 1956 and also published papers on the result of his investigations of cyclones and floods. He also found time to acquire his B.Sc. in part-time study during his time in Brisbane.

Bureau of Meteorology