Bettye Dixon Heads Canberra Liaison Section

Bettye's appointment is as a Clerk Class 11, and her staff will comprise a Meteorologist Class 3 and a Typist.

Bettye joined the Bureau in Melbourne as a Cadet in 1961, and after completing a Bachelor of Science degree at Melbourne University, she undertook the meteorologist training course in 1964.

In 1965, Bettye transferred to Adelaide where she worked in the Regional Office and at Adelaide Airport as an aviation forecaster.

After returning to Melbourne, Bettye lectured in meteorology at the Central Training School for approximately three years, followed by a period in the Head Office Research and Development Section.

In 1971, Bettye moved to Perth to take up an appointment in the Regional Office Special Services Section.

In 1979, she left the Bureau and shifted to Canberra where she lectured at the Canberra College of Advanced Education. During her time in Canberra, Bettye was also the weather presenter for Channel 7 for around 12 months during 1981–82.

Bettye considers the highlight of her career to be her recent graduation as a Master of Resources and Environmental Studies. As part of her Masters studies, Bettye compiled a thesis on Air Pollution in the Hunter Valley, examining the effects of effluent from powerhouse stacks on residents of the Valley and on the wine growing industry in the region. Naturally, to ensure the accuracy of her findings, Bettye felt obliged to sample some of the local produce.

Papers from her thesis will be published in a number of international journals.

Completion of the thesis was made all the more rewarding following two previous starts on papers which were not completed. While studying in Melbourne, Bettye had commenced a paper on the topic of cloud studies which was abandoned following a move interstate. A thesis on the subject of air pollution in Perth also suffered a similar fate.

Bettye feels she has been most fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in such a variety of areas. She spent a few days in Head Office recently renewing past contacts, and establishing some new ones, and is now looking forward to becoming involved in her latest appointment.

Bureau of Meteorology