PreviousNext
Page 1175
Previous/Next Page
Federation and MeteorologyBureau of Meteorology
----------
Table of Contents

Radio Technical Officers

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Early Years

Chapter 2: The Training School

Chapter 3: Equipment Installation Records

Chapter 4: The 'Techs' in Antarctica

Chapter 5: The 'Techs' Tell Their Stories

Appendix 1: 'Techs' Roll Call

Appendix 2: Trainee Intakes

Appendix 3: 'Techs' Who Have Served in the Antarctic Region

Appendix 4: Summary of Major Installation Projects

Appendix 5: Summary of Major Equipment Variously Installed at Sites and Maintained by Radio Technical Officers


Index
Search
Help

Contact us
Introduction (continued)

When the Bureau indicated, in principle, that it would support this Metarch Paper, I initiated contact with serving Technical Officers, Frosterley Clubs and, where possible, retirees. Contacting the latter group was particularly difficult since many of these 'techs' proved to be untraceable and, of course, some were deceased.

For some months I sought submissions from all possible sources and it proved to be a painstaking and, at times, frustrating task. Gradually, I was gratified to receive information and memorabilia from 'techs' and 'ex-techs' from all over Australia. Everyone I contacted thought the project was a great idea, but it was not an easy task getting these people to put pen to paper or even pass on a verbal anecdote. To those 'techs' who I cajoled, begged and made myself a general nuisance endeavouring to get their contributions, I apologise for intruding into their private lives. I can only plead guilty to over-enthusiasm for the project and trust that the final publication proves adequate testimony to their valued co-operation.

I make no apology for any omissions, particularly of the technical roll-call, as records, other than those who graduated from the Bureau's Training School prior to regionalisation of the Bureau's services, are generally difficult to substantiate. This Metarch Paper, therefore, cannot be considered as a complete reference, however the records shown, particularly equipment installation data and the names of Training School graduates, are authentic and accurate up to the date of publication. It provides convenient background to the role and operation of the Bureau's 'techs' since 1948, and should serve as a quick reference for all current and ex-members of the Bureau's technical fraternity. It should also be of significant interest to other meteorological staff who, hopefully, will not look unkindly on 'the poor old tech' and perhaps appreciate his efforts and forgive his occasional failures.

Pictures tell a thousand words and consequently I have included a number of illustrations which add significant interest and substantiation to what I hope will prove to be a valuable addition to the Bureau's Metarch Papers series. To the reader, I wish you interesting reading and, for some, the stimulation of happy memories.

Ray Clarke

Brisbane
September 1998


Organisations in Australian Science at Work - Frosterley Club

People in Bright Sparcs - Clarke, Raymond W.

Previous Page Bureau of Meteorology Next Page

Clarke, R. 1999 'Stories of the Bureau's Radio Technical Officers from 1948', Metarch Papers No. 14 February 1999, Bureau of Meteorology

© Online Edition Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre and Bureau of Meteorology 2001
Published by Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, using the Web Academic Resource Publisher
http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/fam/1175.html