Monday, 20 November 2000

MEDIA RELEASE - HEAD OFFICE - 2001 Australian Weather Calendar

Calendar tribute for NT and Tasmanian park rangers

Tasmanian park ranger Jennifer Mudge measures the consistent rainfall of the cool and temperate Maria Island each day for the Weather Bureau, while her colleague Amber Wallis records the rain and other weather elements of Australia's Red Centre at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. In recognition of the commitment of park rangers to weather observation, Jennifer and Amber feature 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. Tasmania has a network of 432 rainfall stations, of which 348 are operated by volunteers, while the Northern Territory has a network of 383 rainfall stations with 318 volunteers.

Jennifer says the weather is an important part of a park ranger's life. "We all take an interest in the weather; you have to for your work. It helps you to plan each day ... to determine whether to do track work or which walks you'll recommend to visitors. There's some walks you can only get to with mild weather and low tide."

Maria Island, about 70 kilometers north-east of Hobart, was sighted by Abel Tasman in 1642 and was first inhabited by sealers and whalers in the 1800s. The island has been home to convicts and was later developed for vineyards and cement works. The area was declared a national park in 1971.

Jennifer says it is a pleasure to take readings for the Bureau. "Around here it's open grassland which spreads out into a dry eucalypt forest. The average day is blue skies, mild weather (about 15 degrees) and light breezes, but we can have big storms. Big easterlies come through and we have 50 to 60-knot winds and waves crashing over the jetty. It does get a bit wild at times."

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:
Postal orders: Weather Calendar, Public Affairs Unit, Bureau of Meteorology, GPO Box 1289K, MELBOURNE VIC 3001
Fax orders: (03) 9669 4113
Telephone orders (Northern Territory): (08) 8920 3819, (Tasmania): (03) 6221 2043
Over-the-counter sales:
(Tasmania)
Hobart: 5th floor, 111 Macquarie Street, tel:(03) 6221 2043
Launceston: Weather Service Office, 1st floor, Terminal Building, Launceston Airport (cash, cheque only), tel: (03) 6391 8377
(Northern Territory)
Casuarina: Floor 3, 13 Scaturchio Street, tel: (08) 8920 3819
Alice Springs: Met Office, Alice Springs Airport, tel: (08) 8952 1943