DELIVERING the weather at Channel 7’s Melbourne studio at 6.25pm is a week-day occurrence for Jane Bunn.
However, once a year, she leaves the studio not to return home to the inner city, but to catch a light aeroplane from Melbourne airport to Deniliquin. This year, for the fourth time, she was one of two guest speakers for the annual Weather and Water event hosted by the Southern Riverina Irrigators.
West Berriquin Irrigators chairperson and organiser, Shelly Scoullar, explained how this was a real community event as financial support and sponsorship comes from many businesses and people in Deniliquin.
“Apart from being a very informative event with Jane and Professor Peter Gell, there’s the opportunity to ask questions you’ve been wanting to know the answers to for ages. Our guest speakers are experts in their field so their responses have great credibility,” she said.
“One question to Jane was, do you think the intense heat from under-ocean volcanoes could be adding to the warming of sea temperatures which is then being transferred to overall global warming? What a great concept and Jane’s response, which included she needs to look further into it, meant a lot to the person who came up with that concept.”
Ms Bunn’s career really began when she studied a Bachelor of Science in atmospheric science and mathematics, but it was as a young child the questions about weather started.
“Mum, why don’t we have snow at Christmas time?” was an annual query from young Jane while watching American Christmas movies. Her mother’s answers weren’t satisfactory but it would be a few more years before she understood why.
At school, drama and ballet were the main games for Jane, however she realised these activities may not deliver a full-time career for her, so, after completing her secondary schooling, she enrolled in an IT and software engineering degree.
“I learned very early this course was not for me,” Ms Bunn explained. “However, the upside was I met my husband as he, too, was doing this course.
“In the first year of university, he took me skiing and finally I got to experience what this white stuff was all about and my love affair with snow began. Being in the snow changed my life and I became obsessed with snow and weather from that day on.
The intermediate rated Bunn Run was recently opened at Mount Buller and Olympian Jackie Cooper and I were the first to ski it
- Jane Bunn
“After completing my degree in atmospheric science and mathematics at Monash University, I went to Sydney for five years with the Bureau of Meteorology and while there, I completed a graduate diploma in meteorology.”
“While at the BoM, I noticed media would seek information, change the words and with it, the meaning of our forecasts. This was extremely frustrating so I completed a graduate course in journalism and after that I joined the TV news weather team.”
“The weather in Sydney was a complete contrast to my next posting at WIN News Ballarat, where I spent five years. I enjoy taking scientific data and jargon and transforming it into plain English so everyone can understand the weather,” Ms Bunn said.
“One question frequently asked is, what is the difference between rain and showers? In summary, showers come from puffy clouds, often separated by blue sky. They are hit and miss as the wind pushes them around, and the percentage chance shows you how likely you are to get hit by one or more.
“On the other hand, rain comes from a grey, widespread sheet and it affects everyone. It’s longer lasting and steadier, so can start slowly, last for a while, then slowly taper off. Rain affects the whole area, usually in a uniform way, so all areas experience wet weather. Rain comes from stratiform cloud easily identified as they are widespread sheets of grey, with no blue sky in sight,” Ms Bunn explained.
Skiing and all things snow is one of her passions and Ms Bunn’s relationship with Mt Buller is strong and affectionate. “Ever since that first time of skiing years ago, snow weather patterns have been my obsession and I watch low pressure systems to see how much snow may eventuate.
“In April this year snow fell and there was great excitement about the possibility of a bumper season. However, May, and especially June were really dry months with a huge high pressure systems dominating the weather of south east Australia for around six weeks. As a result, no rain or snow,” she said.
“All will change this week as fresh, juicy conditions for heavy snowfalls are on their way, especially Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” Ms Bunn said.
Visit janebunn.net for regular forecasts.
Pennie Scott
I am an independent scholar with interests and expertise in regenerative agriculture, equity and justice for farmers, functioning healthy landscapes and the culture in agri-culture. My aim is to inform holistically and honestly to ensure readers have access to what they need, now.
I am an independent scholar with interests and expertise in regenerative agriculture, equity and justice for farmers, functioning healthy landscapes and the culture in agri-culture. My aim is to inform holistically and honestly to ensure readers have access to what they need, now.
