Monday, 20 November 2000

MEDIA RELEASE - HEAD OFFICE - 2001 Australian Weather Calendar

Calendar tribute for Bombala farmer

80-year-old New South Welshman Tony Garnock has been recording rainfall for the Weather Bureau for more than half a century. In recognition of the Bombala farmer's commitment, Tony is featured in the 2001 Australian Weather Calender. The calendar is dedicated to the Bureau's network of 6200 volunteer rainfall observers, and includes an observer from each Australian state. New South Wales has a network of 1685 rainfall stations, of which 1450 are operated by volunteers.

The rainfall records on Tony's property "Bukalong" date back nearly 150 years, to 1858, and are a more complete record than those of Sydney, Melbourne or Hobart. The original property owner, John Boucher, performed the daily ritual for 26 years, from 1858-84. Tony's grand-uncle then took over and kept the records for 58 years. Tony took over in 1943: "I'd just returned from the war - from Papua New Guinea," he says. "My uncle died in August that year and I just carried on from then. I feel that I'm impelled to follow on because the records are so old and so complete. It's in the back of my mind all the time," Tony says.

The most unusual weather event Tony has recorded was the metre of snow that fell on the Southern Tablelands of NSW in July 1987. In his report, Tony wrote of the volunteers who worked for days to help those affected, and of the community spirit. "There were lessons for us all, and I hope that some of these observations will in some small way serve not only as a record of a most unusual event in our small arena, but to remind us of the inimitable strength of nature, and the durability of men when coping with an emergency, especially when fortified by united effort."

Tony received an individual excellence award from the Bureau in 1995 for 50 years of rainfall observations. The award has strict criteria and is only presented to individuals who have served for 50 uninterrupted years and to families that have served for 100 years.

Tony's stint has now stretched to 57 years, just one short of his grand-uncle's marathon. "I knew I was pretty close to it, but I wasn't sure." And he says there are a few good years left in him yet. He is even looking forward to his next anniversary. "Tell the Bureau that for the 60th anniversary I'll take a bottle of whisky!" He pauses a moment, and says: "You can come and share it with me!"

The 2001 Australian Weather Calendar is available from the Bureau of Meteorology. It costs $13 over the counter and $17 posted within Australia. Special prices apply for overseas delivery.

Ends

Further information:
The 2001 Australian Weather Calendar website: www.bom.gov.au/announcements/calendar/
Mark Jenkin, Public Affairs Unit, tel: (03) 9669 4552, e-mail: pro@bom.gov.au
Main media release on volunteer rainfall observers featured in the 2001 Australian Weather Calendar.

Calendar sales (New South Wales):
Postal orders: Weather Calendar, Public Affairs Unit, Bureau of Meteorology, GPO Box 1289K, MELBOURNE VIC 3001
Fax orders: (03) 9669 4113
Telephone orders: (02) 9296 1555
Over-the-counter sales:
Sydney: 16th floor, 300 Elizabeth Street (opposite Elizabeth Street entrance to Central Station). tel: (02) 9296 1555
Cobar: Met Office, Louth Road, tel: (02) 6836 2149
Coffs Harbour: Met Office, Coffs Harbour Airport, tel: (02) 6652 3485
Lord Howe Island: Met Office, Lord Howe Island, tel: (02) 6563 2083
Moree: Met Office, Blue Berry Drive, tel: (02) 6752 1655
Norfolk Island: Met Office, Norfolk Island, tel: 0011 672 322 079
Wagga Wagga: Met Office, Wagga Wagga Airport, tel: (02) 6921 3185