PM Submission - Thomas Kearney - MCU18/0015

      anything from mythological creatures to politicians who may have annoyed
     him."

      (Bureau of Meteorology)


An unofficial naming tradition was started much earlier, by Queensland Government
Meteorologist Clement Wragge, but was no longer in use by 1954.

The flamboyant Clement Wragge, Government meteorologist in Queensland from 1887
until 1902, initiated the practice by naming weather systems after anything from
mythological creatures to politicians who may have annoyed him," the Bureau of
Meteorology website said.

The widespread disaster prompted calls from the Sunday Mail newspaper for better
preventative measures against future "terror from the tropics".

Writer David Berry recommended the then Robert Menzies-led Commonwealth
Government establish a 'Cyclone Fighting Organisation'.

"The Great Cyclone - as they are calling last weekend's hurricane - will not be the last to
strike," he said.

He suggested a 24-hour coast watch with cyclone charting assisted by the RAAF,
emergency back-up communications including a ham radio network and a rescue and
relief force at the ready.

The great cyclone cleared the Gold Coast overnight, with locals reporting sunshine
across the region on the Sunday morning.