Good read on the ABC today about Australia's declining weather observation stations - and the important work that historical climatologists like Linden Ashcroft do, unearthing old records of weather obs.
As a kid, my family kept daily rainfall observations - it was always fascinating looking at the old records.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-19/australias-shrinking-rainfall-observation-network/106502184

The quiet disappearance of Australia's rainfall observation network
For more than 60 years, Frank Pritchard has diligently checked the weather, adding to a record that stretches back more than a century. But he's part of a quietly shrinking network of observers around Australia. Without it, scientists say we risk missing out on important information that could help improve weather forecast models and climate projections.


