Rain man’s fine day

GEMBROOK’S ‘Rain Man’ Genseric (Bill) Parker has been honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
Mr Parker, recognised recently as Victoria’s longest-serving rainfall recorder, was honoured on Monday.
The Gembrook man has diligently kept an eye on the skies for more than half a century.
Mr Parker, 91, has taken note of every drizzle, downpour, winter deluge and summer shower. He has also written a book on Gembrook’s early history and played an important role in the community as a long-serving member of several groups and organisations.
The OAM was announced as part of Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Gembrook’s wettest year on record was also Mr Parker’s first as the community’s official rainfall recorder — 1952.
“There was 97 inches (2463 millimetres) that year,” he said.
“The driest was in 1997 when we had a little over 32 inches (812 mm). Gembrook’s average rainfall in a year is 49.5 inches (1244.6 mm).”