New weather station at Nelson Head

The state-of-the-art equipment honouring the unit's dedicated and decorated member, the late Barney Pinney, will be officially unveiled in a ceremony at the Inner Lighthouse on Wednesday, March 23.

Unit Commander Ben van der Wijngaart that that it was fitting that the technologically advanced weather station, along with a plaque, be named in honour of the former coxswain and watch officer.

"Barney's widow, Merrill, had expressed her wish to make a financial contribution to MRPS, which was so much part of Barney's life," Mr van der Wijngaart said.

"We all felt that applying Merrill's donation to the planned weather station and dedicating it to Barney's memory was an appropriate way of remembering a dear friend who had contributed so much to our work."

Close friend and colleague, operations officer Laurie Nolan, said that Barney was a respected coxswain, boat manager and watch officer who trained many members about navigation and weather.

The weather station will provide true and accurate data reporting wind speed, directions and gusts, temperature, dewpoint, barometric pressure and rainfall accumulation.

"It will replace the old station mounted on the roof of the communications centre, which was difficult to maintain and less than ideally located for accurate wind readings," Mr van der Wijngaart said.

The new sensor equipment is now located next to Stevenson Screen with wind sensors mounted to the main flag pole. The sensor data is displayed on PC consoles in the communications centre and on the MRPS webpage.

The project has been very much a community effort with assistance from Nelson Bay Stainless, ADDA Flagpoles, Mitchell Sails and Rigging and KMD Electrical. The ceremony will begin at 10am.

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