Akeroyd, Arthur Gordon (1890 - 1948)

Summary

Arthur Akeroyd was a renowned meteorologist who initially specialised in marine meteorology, helping plan Antarctic expeditions. Later Akeroyd's focus shifted to forecasting and he eventually took charge of the weather bureau's climatology section in Melbourne (Head office). From 1937 until his death in1948, Akeroyd was the Divisional Meteorologist at the Perth office of the Bureau of Meteorology. Arthur Gordon Akeroyd was an advocate for the use of weather science in everyday affairs.

Details

Upon completing his secondary schooling at Mr Krome's University High School in Melbourne, Arthur Akeroyd worked as a telegraph messenger for the Mooroopna Post Office. In 1907, after the death of his father, Akeroyd and his mother moved to Melbourne. By 1908 Akeroyd was working as a clerk for the Department of Home Affairs. The Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology ran a nation wide exam in 1915 to select an assistant meteorologist; Arthur Akeroyd got the highest result and was selected for the position. He was first trained in marine meteorology and helped plan some of the bureau's Antarctic expeditions. Akeroyd then moved into the climatology and forecasting section where he gained much respect. In 1937 Akeroyd was promoted to take charge of the Bureau's Western Australian division. He introduced the reporting of accurate daily maximum temperatures and helped move forecasting from educated guesswork to scientific based predictions. During World War II, Akeroyd and the Bureau provided the Air Force with critical weather forecasts to ensure their long-range aircrafts maintained a non-stop air-link between Perth and Ceylon. Arthur Gordon Akeroyd was the Bureau's media spokesperson and a foundation member of the Professional Officer's Association of the Commonwealth Public Services.

Chronology

1905 - 1907

Career position - Telegraph Messenger at the Mooroopna Post Office, Victoria (Vic)

1908 - c. 1915

Career position - Clerk at the Victorian Department of Home Affairs

1915

Career position - Assistant Meteorologist at the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology

October 1920

Life event - Married Alice Lister Smith at St Andrew's Anglican Church in Clifton Hill, Vic

1930

Education - Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), University of Melbourne

1937

Career position - Divisional Meteorologist at the Western Australia Bureau of Meteorology

c. 1939 - c. 1945

Career position - Honorary Wing Commander with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II

Published resources

Book Sections

• Southern, R. L., 'Akeroyd, Arthur Gordon (1890-1948), meteorologist' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 13: 1940 - 1980 A-De, John Ritchie, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1993), p. 19. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A130022b.htm. Details

Journal Articles

• Southern, Bob, 'Akeroyd the Great', Weather News, 237 (October-November 1976) (1976), 12-13. Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q24034354. Details
• 'Akeroyd, Arthur Gordon (1890-1948)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1469635. Details

See also

• Federation and Meteorology, 2001, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/fam/index_a.html. Details