text:
Compiler Construction/A recipe for writing a reusable grammar

So you need to write a grammar. But there are multiple important practical concerns that you will have to deal with:

 * You need your parser be usable from your language.
 * You also may want it be reusable from other languages.
 * The language you use may have a very immature parser generator that is difficult to use for anything complex:
 * It may completely lack debug tooling.
 * It may return very weird error messages even though your grammar looks OK.
 * Even if everything is compiled fine, the generated parser may crash in runtime.
 * The parsers generated by convenient parser generators may be damn slow.

So here is how we address these issues. The general idea of attacking the issues is simple:

 * do everything step-by-step;
 * use the right tools.

1. Create enough simple samples of the language you want to parse.

2. Look at them. Ask yourself what minimum class of a grammar your grammar must be. Is it possible to create a context-free grammar? If it is not, is it possible to reduce your grammar to a context-free, resolving non-context-free stuff after parsing tree has been built?

3. Select the language you want to target. In my case it was Python.

4. Find parser generators for it. For each generator get known the following info:

 * class of grammars it can generate;
 * is it tokenizer/lexerless or tokenizerful;
 * does it support modular grammars when each subpiece can be developed and tested separately;
 * availability of debugging and visualization tools:
 * if the parser is tokenizerful, there should be possible to print tokens before parsing;
 * tracer;
 * tree visualizer;
 * availability of libraries of precreated grammars;
 * availability of good documentation and examples;
 * is it compiled into target language constructions doing parsing directly or into a data structure interpreted by a runtime?
 * even if it is transformed into code, the code may still use some runtime. What is the efficiency and dependencies of the runtime used?
 * which other programming languages does the parser generator support?

5. Search Internet for precreated grammars. It can be possible that the grammar already exists, and you need only to adapt it to your parser generator.

6. Select your initial parser generator. For now you need to write your grammar at high level and make it work. I mean your primary goal for now is to create a grammar that parses the strings correctly, not fighting with the generator.

 * It should be GLR. You can lower the class and optimize the later. It spares you from resolving conflicts.
 * It should be tokenizerless. It spares you from defining distinct character classes for each token.
 * It must have tools allowing you to trace its execution.
 * It must return a parse tree, not build it using semantic actions. Semantic actions are language-specific and their syntax is often parser-specific. In some parsers generators they allow to disambiguate using own code, but it is not universal and the API use is highly parser generator specific.
 * It must be possible to visualize the parse tree.
 * it must support naming tokens and skipping irrelevant tokens.

I used parglare in GLR mode. parglare has tool for debugging, allowing me to see the transition graph and path in it and possible paths and where an error has occurred.

7. Select other parser generators. The criteria are the same, but they may be of another class. Your final goal is to make your grammar compatible to all of them and wrap the resulting parse tree into an abstraction layer, so your handcode should deal only to the abstraction layer. Changing a parser generator for the same or higher class is usually easy: just determine the mapping of one grammar DSL syntax features to another grammar DSL syntax features.

Downgrading a grammar class may require changing the parser generator and the grammar. It is very important to keep all the grammars for different generators in sync to have the same structure. Your goal is to write a grammar for one parser generator the way that it can be automatically transformed for other parser generators. Keeping in sync may mean that the grammar for the higher or even the same class will get unnecessarily uglier: different parser generators have different syntax sugar, so you have to use the common subset. It doesn't matter that it goes a bit uglier. You can postprocess the tree to make it more convenient to work with later, after the tree is already parsed. What matters is that when you downgrade the parser you improve

 * performance
 * explainability of error messages
 * increase the set of parser generators that can be used with your grammar (one can use an LL(1) grammars in PEG and LR(1) parser generators but one cannot use an LR(1) grammar in LL(1) parser generator and one cannot use GLR in LR(1) parser generator).
 * you increase the set of debug tools you can use to debug the grammar when developing it further;
 * your grammar gets usefulness because more people can reuse it in the parser generators available for their languages;
 * you restrict your grammars to the features universal to all parser generators, so it would be easier to port further.

Fortunately I have developed a tool for it called UniGrammar. It has the following features:
 * an own format based on YAML (in fact any format that can serialize any object that can be serialized into JSON can be used), so one doesn't need a grammar to parse and serialize;
 * it generates grammars for other DSLs;
 * It also generates wrappers (only in python for now) transforming parser-specific parse trees into ones in our own format, that are meant to be the same for the same texts parsed by different parsers generated from the same UniGrammar grammar;
 * it provides unified CLI to test the grammar using any subset of the supported parsers;
 * it provides a lib that may make plugging third-party tools into UniGrammar easier;
 * it has a modular architecture allowing adding support to parsers generators easily;
 * It has so called templates. These are high-level constructions transformen into lower-level grammar chunks. For example, you can specify that you have a list of items, each of which is specified using some (non)terminal, with separators specified using another (non)terminal between them, and the tool will generate the rules needed for that, and also a wrapper, allowing you to get the results as a real python list, so your code won't have to treat the first item specially.

The rest of this article is written with an accent to using of the tool.

8. Write a high-level GLR grammar.

 * Resolve all the errors and warnings emitted by the generator.
 * Debug it. Use tracing and parse tree visualization.
 * Make it work anyhow on the simplest example.
 * Then make it work on all the examples.
 * Then make it return the parse tree you want an all the examples.

9. Optimize the grammar to make it look clean. Separate tokens from productions. Debug and test it.

9. Deoptimize the grammar:

 * if the tokenizer uses regexps, replace the regexps with tokens and productions. Most of generators don't support regexps as tokens. It may degrade performance (regexps are executed in native code, but the parser is executed in python), but universality is more valuable here;
 * separate groups into separate tokens/productions. Rationale: some generators don't have them;
 * separate character classes from tokens consisting of them. Rationale: for some generators (more precisely, LL(1) ones) tokens cannot contain the same characters iterated as in other tokens, otherwise they cannot be disambiguated. So all the tokens have to be partitioned to distinct character classes. What once was a single tokens now will be multiple tokens within a production. For example (in parglare syntax)

terminals Something: /[^0-9]+/; Name : /[a-zA-Z_0-9-]+/;

must be transformed into

somethingSegment: NonDigitNonAlphaNum | Alpha; nameSegment: Digit | Alpha; name: nameSegment+; something: somethingSegment+;

terminals Alpha: /[a-zA-Z_-]/; NonDigitNonAlphaNum: /[^0-9a-zA-Z_-]/; Digit: /[0-9]/;

This will be beneficial when transforming to LL. UniGrammar, as it must generate LL grammars, enforces this structure in an own syntax. (Note: it doesn't mean that you can specify only LL grammars in UniGrammar).

 * separate stuff that is captured into own productions. Rationale: some parser generators don't have captures. So we have to implement an own surrogate: we just save a mapping of parser-specific AST nodes names that must be captured and recover capture groups from them on post-processing step.

Test the grammar after each step.

10. Commit the grammar file into the repo.

11. Translate the grammar from parser generator-specific DSL into UniGrammar DSL. Compile the grammar to your parser generator. Compare the generated file to the one you have hand-crafted. Eliminate insignificant differences, decide what to do with significant ones and do it. Commit again. Repeat until the 2 files are the same. Remove the original hand-crafted file from the repo.

13. Test your grammar using.

12. Downgrade the grammar to LR(1) (I have used the same parglare in LR mode), resolve all the compilation issues and debug and improve it again.

12. Port the grammar to PEG. I have used waxeye. It don't have any debug tools, but it is an interpreter and a pretty simple one, I had to embed some tracing code into its python runtime. Debug, synchronize, fix the code test.

13. Downgrade the grammar to LL(*). I have used ANTLR, it has a debug tool allowing me to see the tokens types and match traces and inspect the parse tree.

Make sure that all the backends work as intended and fix them and the grammars until everything works.

16. Downgrade the grammar to LL(1). It may require further resolution of conflicts detected in compile time the same way (some conflicts that are here in compile time are not conflicts in LL(*)). I used -|my fork of CoCoPy - a variant of w:CoCo/R. It has very weird error messages and almost no debugging tools. The only reason why I was able to make this grammar work on CoCo/R is because of similarity of it to other parsers generators, so adapting this grammar to them resulted in adapting this grammar to CoCo/R.

17. Optimize, refactor, clean, test everything.

18. Add to the repositories of grammars so other people can use it.


text:
History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Ernest Richard Cooling

Ernest Richard Cooling
Ernest Richard Cooling was a prominent amateur operator, amateur broadcaster and amateur club participant from the early 1920s to the early 1930s. His station callsign was 4BN (4=Queensland, B=?, N=?) and he operated from Toowoomba, Queensland. He was appointed honorary radio inspector for Toowoomba (no doubt due to his employment in the PMGD) during the brief period before the PMGD Wireless Branch assumed all such responsibilities. He was employed by the PMGD throughout his working life, rising slowly through the ranks from letter carrier, telegraphist and postal assistant. His service was mostly Toowoomba-based, but he was transferred for brief periods to Bowen, Barcaldine and Clifton. Despite his relatively young age, after a number of years of poor health, both mentally and physically, he became depressed and took his own life in tragic circumstances. A summary biography has not yet been prepared however the following resources have been assembled in preparation:
 * Transcriptions and Notes - Ernest Richard Cooling - More than 90 transcriptions and notes
 * Photos, QSL cards and other graphics - Ernest Richard Cooling - Nothing uploaded as yet

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


text:
History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Ernest Richard Cooling/Notes

1936 09
Detailed report of 4BN's suicide "TRAGIC DEATH OF POSTAL OFFICIAL. Mr. E. R. Cooling, Of Toowoomba TOOWOOMBA, Thursday. The third senior official in the Toowoomba Post Office — Mr. Ernest Richard Cooling — died in tragic circumstances this morning from a bullet wound in the side of his head. He was 51 years of age, and for 39 years had been associated with the Postal Department. He was entrusted with handling large sums of moneys for the department, and officially his affairs were found to be in order. The late Mr. Cooling had been attached to the Toowoomba Post Office for 25 years, and prior to that was a telegraphist at Bowen and Mackay. About 10 a.m. today Mr. Cooling was missed from his table, and one of the employees in the mail room on going to a building at the rear, saw him lying in a crumpled heap, with a revolver near him. He was unconscious when taken to the General Hospital, and died about 11 a.m. For some time Mr. Cooling had not enjoyed good health, and had been granted sick leave. The death of his mother-in-law (Mrs. Currey). a very old resident of Toowoomba, some months ago, caused him worry. That was followed by an accident, in which he fractured his wrist, and later he underwent an operation for appendicitis. Mrs. Cooling collapsed on hearing the news of his death. The postmaster stated that Mr. Cooling was a very conscientious and obliging officer, as well as a very competent man at his work, and his affairs officially were in order. He was due for four months' longservice leave, to commence in November. The revolver which was found alongside the deceased is the property of the Postal Department, and, as he took substantial sums of money to and from the bank, he had access to the weapon. The deceased, who resided in Donation Lane, off Neil Street, leaves his widow and four children. One of his brothers-in-law is Mr. J. Currey, the representative Toowoomba cricketer."

Inquest into death of 4BN "Inquest on Postal Clerk. TOOWOOMBA, September 24. In the Coroner's Court this morning before Mr. P. G. Knyvett, Police Magistrate, inquired further into the manner and cause of the death of Ernest Richard Cooling, who died in the Toowoomba General Hospital on September 17. Ethel Dorothy Cooling, the widow, said that during the last 13 years her husband had suffered from bad health. On September 16 he acted strangely. Next day he seemed all right before going to work to which he went as usual. She was satisfied that he was from time to time temporarily out of his mind. He had no financial or domestic troubles. He was 51 years of age and was born in Toowoomba. There were four children. When returning from the witness box Mrs. Cooling saw a revolver on the table and cried out and wept bitterly. Michael Edward CuIIen, postmaster, of Toowoomba, said that Cooling was his clerk. The inquiry was closed."

1965
Plaque commemorating early Toowoomba "Wireless" Experimenters EARLY TOOWOOMBA "WIRELESS" EXPERIMENTERS
 * THIS PLAQUE. ERECTED IN 1965, COMMEMORATES AS A PART OF THIS CITY'S HISTORY. THE NAMES OF EARLY "WIRELESS" EXPERIMENTERS OF TOOWOOMBA WHOSE PIONEERING ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE PERIODS 1913 TO 1914, & 1920 TO 1923, ASSISTED IN LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS OF EXPERIMENTAL "WIRELESS" COMMUNICATIONS IN AUSTRALIA.
 * "SPARK" TRANSMISSION ERA (1913-14), (1920-22): W. H. H. BRIGHT, F. J. CAREY A.M.I.R.E.E., J. FULCHER, V. HOLMES
 * "VALVE" TRANSMISSION ERA (1922-23): E. COOLING, C. FORTESCUE, E. GOLD, J. GROOM, L. GIBSON, E. NORRIS

1864 05
Death notice for 4BN's paternal grandmother in Melbourne "DEATHS. COOLING.— On the 20th inst, at 45 Bourke-street east, Sarah Georgiana Cooling, aged sixty-one years, widow of the late Mr. Richard Cooling, Jermyn-street, London, and mother of Messrs. Richard Henry Cooling and William Cooling, of this city."

1869 11
Vic marriage registration for 4BN's father (first marriage)
 * Vic BDM
 * Event: Marriage
 * Family name: COOLING
 * Given name(s)ː William
 * Spouse's nameː KELLY, Elizabeth Agnes
 * Registration yearː 1869
 * Registration numberː 4129/1869

1874
Vic death registration for 4BN's half-brother Frederick Cooling
 * Vic BDM
 * Event: Death
 * Family name: COOLING
 * Given name(s)ː Frederick
 * Mother's given nameː Elizabeth Agnes
 * Mother's family name at birthː KELLY
 * Father's Given Names: William
 * Father's Family Name: COOLING
 * Place of birth: Carlton
 * Place of death: blank
 * Age at death: 9
 * Registration yearː 1874
 * Registration numberː 10434/1874

1875
Vic birth registration for 4BN's sister Maude Carroll nee Cooling
 * Vic BDM
 * Event: Births
 * Family name: Cooling
 * Given name(s)ː Maude
 * Mother's given nameː Honorah (sic, Honora)
 * Mother's family name at birthː Ryan
 * Father's Given Names: William
 * Place of event: Emerald Hill
 * Registration yearː 1875
 * Registration numberː 22777/1875

1875 03
Vic marriage registration for 4BN's father (second marriage)
 * Vic BDM
 * Event: Marriage
 * Family name: COOLING
 * Given name(s)ː William
 * Spouse's nameː RYAN, Hanoria (sic, Honora)
 * Registration yearː 1875
 * Registration numberː 608/1875

1877 04
Vic birth registration for 4BN's brother William John Cooling
 * Vic BDM
 * Event: Births
 * Family name: COOLING
 * Given name(s)ː William John
 * Mother's given nameː Hannah (sic)
 * Mother's family name at birthː RYAN
 * Father's Given Names: William
 * Place of event: FITZROY
 * Registration yearː 1877
 * Registration numberː 8911/1877

1883 02
Qld birth registration for 4BN's sister Amy Cooling
 * Qld BDM
 * Birth registration: Amy Cooling
 * Birth date: 27/02/1883
 * Mother's name: Honorah Ryan
 * Father/parent's name: William Cooling
 * Registration details: 1883/C/2318

1883 08
Vic marriage registration for 4BN's half-sister Marion Agnes Cooling (first registration)
 * Vic BDM
 * Event: Marriage
 * Family name: Cooling
 * Given name(s)ː Marion (note, no second given name Agnes)
 * Spouse's nameː CAMPBELL, Alexander
 * Registration yearː 1883
 * Registration numberː 4110/1883

Vic marriage registration for 4BN's half-sister Marion Agnes Cooling (a second registration)
 * Vic BDM
 * Event: Marriage
 * Family name: Cooling
 * Given name(s)ː Marion Agnes (now with second given name)
 * Spouse's nameː CAMPBELL, Alexander
 * Registration yearː 1883
 * Registration numberː 4438/1883

1885 04
Qld birth registration for 4BN
 * Qld BDM
 * Birth registration: Ernest Richard Cooling
 * Birth date: 06/04/1885
 * Mother's name: Honorah Ryan
 * Father/parent's name: William Cooling
 * Registration details: 1885/C/2764

1890 09
Qld birth registration for 4BN's wife Ethel Dorothy Cooling nee Curry
 * Qld BDM
 * Birth registration: Ethel Dorothy Curry
 * Birth date: 21/09/1890
 * Mother's name: Sarah Farrow
 * Father/parent's name: John Robert Curry
 * Registration details: 1890/C/4004

1895 05
Qld death registration for 4BN's father-in-law John Robert Curry
 * Qld BDM
 * Death registration: John Robert Curry
 * Death date: 27/05/1895
 * Mother's name: -
 * Father/parent's name: Ralph Curry
 * Registration details: 1895/C/932

1904 05
4BN promoted from Switch Board Attendant to Junior Letter Carrier in Toowoomba "Ex. Min. 162. Commonwealth of Australia. Postmaster-General's Department, 9th May, 1904. HIS Excellency the Governor-General, by and with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, has been pleased to approve of the following promotions, confirmation of appointments, &c., in the Postmaster-General's Department, namely:— . . . QUEENSLAND. Ernest Richard Cooling, Switch Board Attendant, Toowoomba, to be Junior Letter Carrier, Toowoomba, vice Hogan, resigned; . .."

1904 06
4BN reclassified after full review of all previous State public service position for Commonwealth classifications CLASSIFICATION OF THE COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE. C.6977. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Page#

 * Explanation of the principles governing the Classification ... ... ... — iii — xiv
 * Postmaster-General's Department ... ... ... .. ... ... ... v
 * Department of Trade and Customs ... ... ... ... ... ... ix
 * All Departments ... ... ... ... . ... ... ... ... x
 * Schedule I., showing rates of Annual Salary to Clerical Division Office's ... ... ... xv
 * Schedule II., showing rates of Annual Salary to Professional Division Officers ... ... ... xv
 * Schedule III., showing rates of Annual Salary to General Division Officers ... ... .. xv
 * Schedule IV., showing the Classification of Post Offices in each State —
 * New South Wales ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... xviii
 * Victoria ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... xx
 * Queensland ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... xxi
 * South Australia .... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... xxii
 * Western Australia ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... xxiii
 * Tasmania ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... xxiv
 * Schedule V., showing Scales of District Allowances ... ... ... ... ... xxv
 * Schedule VI., Diagram showing Lines of Promotion in the General Division (Postmaster-General's Department) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... follows page xxvi
 * Schedule VII., Classification of Officers —
 * Principal List.
 * Department of External Affairs ... ... ... ... ... ... 1
 * " Attorney-General ... ... ... ... ... 2
 * " Home Affairs ... ... ... ... ... 3
 * (Public Service Commissioner) ... ... ... ... 4
 * " Treasury ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5
 * " Trade and Customs —
 * Central Staff ... ... ... ... ... ... 7
 * New South Wales ... ... ... ... ... ... 10
 * Victoria ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 18
 * Queensland ... ... ... ... ... ... 24
 * South Australia ... ... ... ... ... ... 29
 * Western Australia ... ... ... ... ... 32
 * Tasmania ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 35
 * Department of Defence —
 * Central Staff ... ... ... ... ... ... 8
 * New South Wales ... ... ... ... ... ... 37
 * Victoria ... ... ... ... ... ... 38
 * Queensland ... ... ... ... ... ... 39
 * South Australia ... ... ... ... ... ... 40
 * Western Australia .. ... ... ... ... ... 41
 * Tasmania ... ... ... ... ... . . ... 42
 * Department of Postmaster-General —
 * Central Staff ... ... ... ... ... ... 9
 * New South Wales ... ... ... ... ... ... 43
 * Victoria ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 122
 * Queensland... ... ... ... ... ... ... 166
 * South Australia ... .. ... ... ... ... 190
 * Western Australia ... ... ... ... ... ... 214
 * Tasmania ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 242
 * Supplementary List. Department cf Trade and Customs —
 * Western Australia ... ... ... ... ... ... 249
 * Department of Defence —
 * Queensland... ... ... ... ... ... ... 249
 * Department of Postmaster-General —
 * New South Wales ... ... ... ... ... ... 250
 * Victoria ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 251
 * Queensland... ... ... ... ... ... ... 254
 * South Australia ... ... ... ... ... ... 256
 * Western Australia ... ... ... ... ... ... 257
 * Tasmania ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 259
 * Index to Names of Officers —
 * Central Staffs ... ... ... ... ... ... 261
 * New South Wales ... ... ... ... ... ... 262
 * Victoria ... ... ... ... ... ... 271
 * Queensland ... ... ... ... ... ... 278
 * South Australia ... ... ... ... ... ... 281
 * Western Australia ... ... ... ... ... ... 284
 * Tasmania ... ... ... ... ... ... 288
 * #The paging referred to is that printed at the foot of each page.

To His Excellency The Right Honorable Henry Stafford, Baron Northcote, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, Companion of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth of Australia, &c., &c., &c.: May it Please Your Excellency : In conformity with the provisions of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, I beg to submit, for Your Excellency's consideration, the Classification of the permanent officers of the Commonwealth Public Service, showing the disposition of offices and officers, and their arrangement in Classes and Sub-divisions of Classes, in the case of the Professional and the Clerical Divisions, and in Grades or Positions, in the case of the General Division, as on the 31st March, 1904. The Service has been divided into the four Divisions provided for by Section 15 of the Act, viz.:— The Administrative Division, the Professional Division, the Clerical Division, and the General Division.
 * The Administrative Division includes all Permanent Heads and Chief Officers of Departments.
 * The Professional Division includes all officers whose duties require in the persons performing them some special skill or technical knowledge usually acquired only in some profession or occupation different from the ordinary routine of the Public Service.
 * The Clerical Division includes all officers whose duties are wholly of clerical nature.
 * The General Division includes all persons not included in the other Divisions of the Service.
 * In the Administrative Division the salaries received by officers are those approved by Parliament each year, and provided in the Appropriation Act. The Third Schedule of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902 (a copy of which appears as Schedule I. hereto), fixes the rate of annual salary of officers of the Clerical Division, and the officers have been placed in the Classes and Subdivisions of Classes shown therein.
 * The arranging of the Professional Division into Classes, as provided for by Section 80(a), has been carried out, and the limits of salaries to be paid to persons in such Classes have been fixed by regulation, a copy of which appears as Schedule II.
 * The arrangement of the General Division into Grades, also provided for by Section 80(a), has been completed, and the limits of salaries fixed by regulation are contained in Schedule III. hereto.

Additions to salary are only granted on the recommendation of the Commissioner after full inquiry, and report by the Permanent Head of the Department to which the officer is attached. The number of officers in each Division and Class or Grade necessary for the efficient working of each Department and Branch, has likewise been apportioned. In forwarding this recommendation, I deem it right to explain the principles by which I have been guided in making my classification and the means which have been adopted in arriving at the result. The end steadily borne in view has been the adoption of a scheme which, while being fair to the officers and allowing full value for the work performed, yet will not press unduly upon the finances of the Commonwealth. The Inspectors for the various States have inspected the Departments under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, and, so far as possible, have examined as minutely as practicable the work performed by each officer or group of officers; they have likewise visited many of the country offices, and have thus been enabled to recommend alterations and changes in the staffs which have already resulted in reduced expenditure, and will lead in the future to still further savings. The classification of the Public Service has been an undertaking that has involved arduous and painstaking labour and the most anxious consideration. It was found that the State Classifications, the conditions of employment, the rates of pay, and the special emoluments and concessions granted, were so diversified that an immense amount of time was absorbed in ascertaining and critically analyzing the many questions which necessarily arose in the preparation of a properly related scheme of classification. The designations of officers which had been adopted in the several States prior to federation afforded, in many instances, little or no indication of the duties performed, and even where it sometimes happened that a par-ticular designation was common to two or more States, it was found that the duties sought to be described were entirely dissimilar. No less than 470 different designations existed in the permanent staffs of the transferred Departments:— Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones, 302; Customs and Excise, 122; Naval and Military Defence, 46. Before any sound basis could be laid down for a Commonwealth classification, the whole of these titles demanded critical examination, with a view to introducing some measure of uniformity of designation of the positions in those Departments. To have classified the Service on the assumption that an officer's existing designation could be accepted as an indication of the nature of his duties and responsibilities would have created serious anomalies and injustice, and have made confusion worse confounded. Before the actual work of classification could be entered upon, a large amount of information bearing upon the diverse conditions existent in the States had to be collated, and some semblance of order evolved out of what was practically a chaotic condition of affairs. In formulating the scheme of classification, an endeavour has been made to provide that every officer in the employ of the Commonwealth who gives efficient and willing service shall have a fair chance of advancement, and, at the same time, the organization of the Service has been effected on such clearly defined lines as will, it is believed, materially assist in the economical and sound business administration of the Departments. To arrive at a proper estimate of the value of the services performed by officers, information had to be obtained as to the volume of business at every Post Office and Customs House throughout Australia. In assessing the value of the work at, say, a Post Office, I have had before me for comparison with other offices, the number of letters posted and received; mails despatched and received; telegrams despatched, received, and repeated; money orders issued and paid; Savings Bank deposits and withdrawals; Old-age Pensions paid; Telephone Bureau calls; Treasury transactions; Trunk Line calls; &c. It has also been nccessary to take into consideration the strength of staffs, the amount of telephone business, and the extent of night work. Similarly, in dealing with the Customs offices, consideration has been given to the number of entries passed and checked on goods for home consumption, and in connexion with excise, warehouse entries, entries passed for transhipments, drawback work, entries at fixed and ad valorem rates, pilotage, harbour and tonnage dues, inter-State debit and credit certificates, foreign, inter-State, and coastwise shipping, &c. In determining the value of the work performed by an officer, I have acted on the assumption that in cases where the rates fixed are lower than the amounts now paid, the reduced rates shall only apply to officers appointed, promoted, or transferred after such reduced rates have come into force. POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT. Classification of Post and Telegraph Offices. As far as it has been practicable these offices have been valued, as regards the salary of the officer in charge, on a uniform basis. As previously mentioned, returns for a definite period were obtained from all States, giving statistics of the more important classes of work performed at Post and Telegraph Offices, and the information thus obtained has largely formed the basis of the valuation. In addition, local features peculiar to any office, which appeared to increase or decrease its importance, received full consideration. The Post and Telegraph officers of South Australia will no longer receive allowances for conducting Savings Bank business; nor be paid a rebate on the sale of stamps, the Savings Bank work having been taken into consideration in assessing the classification of each office, and the provisions of the Post Office Act of that State as to rebates on the sale of stamps having been repealed by the Commonwealth Post and Telegraph Act 1901. In addition to the regular Post Offices, there are, in Queensland, a large number of stations which, though fulfilling the local requirements of a Post and Telegraph Office, are mainly established for line-repairing purposes. The value of these positions could not be determined by an analysis of the volume of work passing through the offices in question, as such, in almost all cases, is small, as compared with the officers' emoluments. The line-repairing work, therefore, has, in such cases, been the principal consideration, and the offices have been classified in the senior grades of Line Repairer, with allowances ranging from £12 to £36 per annum (commensurate with the value of the work) for the performance of the postal and telegraphic duties. These allowances, however, will not be made to any of the present occupants of the offices who are found to be overpaid. The existing allowances paid by the Department to the officers' wives for carrying on the office work during their husbands' absences from their stations on line work have not been disturbed. The Post Offices have been classified in accordance with the following table:—. ..
 * Name, Page No., No. on Page.
 * Cooling, E. R., 185, 42

1906 04
4BN included in list of federal public servants in Queensland "Index to Return of Officers — continued. STATE OF QUEENSLAND. Name. Page. No. on Page. . . . Cooling, Ernest Richard ... 221 35"

1906 06
4BN and wife added to the electoral list for district of Toowoomba BI-MONTHLY ELECTORAL LISTS. BI-MONTHLY (JUNE) LISTS OF Persons appearing to be Qualified to Vote at the Election of Members of the Legislative Assembly in the year 1906, for the Electoral District of DRAYTON AND TOOWOOMBA, and for the Electoral District of AUBIGNY (within the Toowoomba Division). Objections to Manes on these Lists must be sent to the Electoral Registrar at Toowoomba and to the persons objected to not later than the Twenty-fourth day of July, 1906. Dated this ?? day of June, 1906. REGINALD S.HURD, State Electoral Registrar.
 * Surname and Christian Name. Age. Place of Abode. Occupation. Particulars of Qualification. Date when Claim received by Electoral Registrar.
 * Cooling, Ernest Richard, M, Donation Lane, Letter carrier, 7 May 1906
 * Cooling, Maud, F, Donation Lane, Household duties, 7 May 1906

1907 03
4BN is transferred from assistant letter carrier to assistant in the Postmaster-General's Department "Postal Officials. Telegraphists and Telephonists. The following staff changes in connection with the Postmaster-General's Department in Queensland have been gazetted:— Walter Hamilton Hume, telegraph messenger, mail branch, to be assistant (letter carrier), Cooktown, vice Patching, transferred; as from 8th March, 1907. Frederick Armstrong, telegraph messenger, Townsville, to be telephone attendant, Townsville, vice McAlpine, promoted; as from 9th March, 1907. Henry Page, telephone attendant, Thursday Island, to be assistant, Blackall; as from 9th March, 1907. Frederick Rosenskjar,. telegraph messenger, Richmond, to be telephone attendant, Thursday Island, vice Page, promoted; as from 9th March, 1907. Herbert Kenneth Roylance, telegraph messenger, telegraph branch, to be assistant, telegraph branch; as from 5th March, 1907. William Henry Whitehead, telephone attendant, Bundaberg, to be assistant, Cairns, vice Jennings, resigned; as from 1st April, 1907. Albert Gayton, telegraph messenger, Bundaberg, to be telephone attendant, Bundaberg, vice Whitehead, promoted; as from 1st April, 1907. W. Lloyd, assistant, No. 6 line party, to be assistant, Irvinebank. J. Fitzgerald, assistant, No. 8 line party, to be assistant, No. 6 line party, vice Lloyd, transferred. C. H. Corkran, clerical assistant, Cairns, to be clerical assistant, Fortitude Valley, vice Dearnaley, transferred. R. H. Dearnaley, clerical assistant, Fortitude Valley, to be clerical assistant, Cairns, vice Corkran, transferred. J. R. Chapman, lineman, grade II., Isisford, to be lineman, grade II., Inglewood, vice Cheshire, resigned. J. Farrell, lineman, grade II., Urandangie, to be lineman, grade II., Isisford, vice Chapman, transferred. J. E. Lacey, letter carrier, grade I., Brisbane, to be letter carrier, grade I., Albion vice Lowe, dismissed. G. H. Dawson, assistant (letter carrier), Brisbane, to be letter carrier, grade I., Brisbane, to fill the grade vacancy vice Lacey, transferred, as from 25th March. T. Skelly, assistant, No. 7, maintenance party, to be assistant, Chillagoe. S. Sinnamon, postmaster, grade X., Clermont, to be postmaster, grade X., Junction Creek, vice Woodland, transferred. A. Haly, postmaster, grade X., Cunnamulla, to be postmaster, grade X., Clermont, vice Sinnamon, transferred. W. J. Stevens, Postmaster, grade VII., Barcaldine, to be postmaster, grade X., Cunnamulla, vice Haly, transferred. H. T. Clark, senior assistant, with clerical qualifications, telegraph branch, to be postmaster, Goondiwindi, vice Bishop, promoted. T. Little, senior assistant, Dalby, to be senior assistant, telegraph branch, vice Clark, transferred. R. J. Harris, lineman, grade II., Gladstone, to be senior assistant, Dalby, vice Little, transferred. H. W. McLennan, lineman, grade II., Dalby, to be lineman, grade II., Gladstone, vice Harris, transferred. T. J. Ford, lineman, grade I., Ipswich, to be lineman, grade I., Dalby, vice McLennan, transferred. E. A. Kluge, senior lineman, Townsville, to be senior lineman, Ipswich, vice Ford, transferred. L. J. Burnham, telegraphist, Charters Towers, to be telegraphist, Brisbane, vice Connolly, transferred. R. J. Connolly, telegraphist, Brisbane, to be telegraphist, Charters Towers, vice Burnham, transferred. E. R. Cooling, assistant (L.C.), Toowoomba, to be assistant, Toowoomba, vice Crawford, transferred. C. J. Kennett, assistant (L.C.), Ipswich, to be assistant (L.C.), Toowoomba, vice Cooling, transferred. FORFEITED OFFICE. Miss A. Hibbert, telephone attendant, Central Telephone Exchange, Brisbane, forfeited office on her marriage, under regulation 140, as from 5th February, 1907. RESIGNATION ACCEPTED. The resignation of D. W. Henry, telegraph messenger, Irvinebank, has been accepted as from 28th February, 1907. NEW OFFICE. A new office, that of assistant (general division), has been created at Blackall. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence, on full pay, for six months, has been granted to Alfred Billet, letter carrier, at Mackay, and Charles Bain, letter carrier in the mail branch."

1908
4BN's Electoral Roll registration 1908 Toowoomba Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
 * Name: Ernest Richard Cooling
 * Gender: Male
 * Electoral Year: 1908
 * Subdistrict: Toowoomba
 * State: Queensland
 * District: Darling Downs
 * Country: Australia
 * Entry: 1316, Cooling, Amy, Donation lane, tailoress, female (sister)
 * Entry: 1317, Cooling, Annie, Healy st, off Ruthven st, home duties, female (sister-in-law)
 * Entry: 1318, Cooling, Ernest Richard, Donation lane, letter carrier, male (self)
 * Entry: 1319, Cooling, Honora, Donation lane, home duties, female (mother)
 * Entry: 1320, Cooling, Maud, Donation lane, home duties, female (sister)
 * Entry: 1321, Cooling, William, Donation lane, coach builder, male (father)
 * Entry: 1322, Cooling, William John, Healy st, off Ruthven st, painter, male (brother)

1909 01
4BN transfers with PMGD from Toowoomba to Clifton "Post and Telegraph. The following orders, relating to the staff of the Postmaster-General s Department in Queensland, have been approved:— Robert Francis Hutchison, telephone attendant, grade II., Williamstown, Victoria, salary £110 per annum, to be telegraphist, fifth class, Townsville, Queensland, with same salary, as from 16th January, 1909, vice Dillane, transferred. E. R. Cooling, postal assistant, Toowoomba, to be postal assistant, Clifton, with present salary, vice Stewart, transferred. H. H. Booth, postmaster, Normanton, salary £270 per annum, to be postmaster, Cloncurry, with salary of £285 per annum, as from 1st February, 1909, vice Lewis, resigned. A. Barker, lineman (in charge of office), Donor's Hill, to be lineman (in charge of office), Clarke River, with present salary, vice Griffin, transferred. J. M. Adamson, telegraph messenger, Townsville, to be telephone attendant, Townsville, with present salary. The resignations have been accepted of George Henry Warren, telegraph messenger, Kingaroy, and C. E. Eames, tele-graphist, on probation Brisbane."

1909 02
4BN included in list of federal public servants for Queensland "Index to List of Officers — Queensland — continued. Name. Page. No. on Page. . . . Cooling, Ernest Richard ... 259 9"

1909 07
4BN wins best gentleman skater at Clifton skate carnival "WARWICK AND DISTRICT. WARWICK. . . . July 6. CLIFTON, July 6. There was a large attendance at the skating carnival last night. The competitions resulted:— Musical chairs, F. Devonport; race for Clifton lads, F. Devonport; best fancy dressed lady, little Miss H. Clark; best fancy dressed gentleman, Mr. E. A. Slaughter; best gentleman skater (this year's learner), Mr. E. R. Cooling; best lady skater (this year's learner), Miss Sharp; boxing on skates, J. Logan 1, F. Devonport 2."

1909 10
4BN passes examination for telegraphist with PMGD '''Commonwealth of Australia. Examination No. 171.''' FOR APPOINTMENT AS TELEGRAPHIST, POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT, QUEENSLAND, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AND TASMANIA. (Practical Tests held 14th August, 1909. Educational Examination held 4th October, 1909.) THE following are the marks obtained by the candidates who were successful in the Educational Section of the above Examination, and who, having also passed the prescribed Practical Tests in Telegraphy, are eligible for appointment to vacancies arising in the position of Telegraphist in the States under which their names appear:—
 * Name. Cooling, Ernest Richard
 * Position. Postal Assistant, Clifton
 * Subjects. Maximum Marks, Pass Marks, Actual Marks
 * Handwriting. 400, 240, 320
 * Dictation. 400, 240, 283
 * English. 400, 240, 306
 * Arithmetic. 400, 240, 400
 * Geography. 300, 150, 231
 * Total. 1,900, 1,110, 1,540

D. C. McLACHLAN, Commissioner. W. J. SKEWES, Secretary. Office of the Commonwealth Public Service Commissioner, Melbourne, 29th October, 1909.

1910 02
4BN included in list of federal public servants as at 1 January 1910 "INDEX TO LIST OF PERMANENT OFFICERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE ON THE 1st OF JANUARY, 1910. . . . Name. Page. No. on Page. . . . Cooling, Ernest Richard 254 7"

4BN promoted from postal assistant Clifton to telegraphist Bowen "POSTS AND TELEGRAPHS. Transfers, Promotions, &c. The following transfers, promotions, &c., of officers of the Postmaster-General's Department in Queensland are gazetted:— L. J. Burnham, relieving officer, 5th class, salary £170, to be relieving officer, 4th class, with salary of £185. T. J. D'Arcy, lineman, grade III., Augathella, salary £128, to be lineman in charge, grade V., Bauhinia Downs, with salary of £144. William Gillan, telegraphist, 4th class, telegraph branch, Brisbane, salary £185, to be clerk, 5th class, correspondence branch, with salary of £180, he having agreed to accept such transfer at the salary stated. A. I. C. Aked, postal assistant, grade III., Bourke, New South Wales, salary £126, who is qualified for transfer to the clerical division, to be telegraphist, 5th class, Cloncurry, with salary of £140. O. H. Nielson, postal assistant, grade II., Ingham, salary £110, who is qualified for transfer to the clerical division, to be telegraphist, 5th class, Townsville, with same salary. J. M. Sainsbury, postal assistant, grade III., Temora, New South Wales, salary £126, who is qualified for transfer to the clerical division, to be telegraphist, 5th class, Bowen, with salary of £140. James Corcoran, postal assistant, grade III., St. George, salary £126, to be telegraphist, 5th class, subdivision 5, Tambo, with salary of £140. E. R. Cooling, postal assistant, grade II., Clifton, salary £110, to be telegraphist, 5th class, subdivision 4, Bowen, with salary of £120. J. V. O'Donnell, postal assistant, grade II., Herberton, salary £72, to be telegraphist, 5th class, subdivision W, Cairns with salary of £80. G. J. Rice, telephone attendant, grade I., Bundaberg, salary £39, to be postal assistant, grade II., Nanango, with salary of £60. F. T. Vautin, telephone attendant, grade I., Charters Towers, salary £52, to be letter carrier (relieving), grade II., Charters Towers, with salary of £60. N. R. Schmidt, telephone attendant, grade I., Longreach, salary £52, to be letter carrier, grade II., Longreach, with salary of £60. John Egan, lineman, grade III., No. 4 party, salary £126, to be line foreman, grade VI., No. 3 party, with salary of £162. Services Terminated.— Alexander Jeffers, postal assistant, Cairns, from 11th January, 1910, resigned. J. S. Grealy, telegraph messenger, Gympie, from 31st December, 1909, resigned. W. H. Hoskin, junior instrument fitter, electrical engineer's branch. Brisbane, from 31st January, 1910, resigned. Thomas Ernest Bennett, instrument fitter, Warwick, from 31st January, 1910, resigned. James Watson, lineman, No. 5 party, electrical engineer's branch (maintenance and construction), dismissed. John R. Bradford, electrical engineer, to retire on expiration of furlough."

1911 02
4BN included in list of federal public servants as at 1 January 1911 "INDEX TO LIST OF PERMANENT OFFICERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE ON THE 1ST OF JANUARY, 1911. . . . Name. Page. No. on Page. . . . Cooling, Ernest Richard ... 275 25"

1912
4BN's Electoral Roll registration 1912 Bowen Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
 * Name: Ernest Richard Cooling
 * Gender: Male
 * Electoral Year: 1912
 * Subdistrict: Bowen
 * State: Queensland
 * District: Herbert
 * Country: Australia
 * Entry: 471, Cooling, Ernest Richard, Powell st, telegraphist, male

1912 02
4BN transferred at level as telegraphist from Bowen to Barcaldine "TRANSFERS. Mr C. Oaten, telegraphist, has been transferred to Bundaberg as Clerical Assistant and Mr W. A. Martin, telegraphist, to Maryborough, in the same capacity; E. R. Cooling, telegraphist from Bowen to Barcaldine. Mr J. Franklin, Brisbane, is transferred to Bowen, and also Mr Dwan from Brisbane to Bowen. Mr Moore comes from Bundaberg to Bowen."

1912 03
The reason for 4BN's transfer is explained "BOWEN NOTES. . . . The new classification of telegraphists throughout the Commonwealth has necessitated several changes being made at the local office. Those already announced as leaving here are Mr E. Cooling to Barcaldine, Mr Tom Little to Brisbane, Mr H. E. Jones to Brisbane, Mr W. A. Martin to Maryborough, and Mr C. G. Oaten to Bundaberg. These vacancies will be filled by officers from south and will, it is said, include Messrs A. J. Franklin and F. J. Haines, who were formerly stationed here. Further it is said that Mr E. W. Smith, late of Townsville, who has been relieving Postmaster for some months, will re-main here as officer in charge."

1912 09
4BN included in list of federal public servants as at 30 September 1912 "Index to List of Officers — continued. STATE OF QUEENSLAND. Name. Page. No. on Page. . . . Cooling, Ernest Richard ... 343 23"

1913
4BN's Electoral Roll registration 1913 Toowoomba Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
 * Name: Ernest Richard Cooling
 * Gender: Male
 * Electoral Year: 1913
 * Subdistrict: Toowoomba
 * State: Queensland
 * District: Darling Downs
 * Country: Australia
 * Entry: 1814, Cooling, Amy, Donation lane, tailoress, female (sister)
 * Entry: 1815, Cooling, Annie, Healy st, off Ruthven st, home duties, female (sister-in-law)
 * Entry: 1816, Cooling, Ernest Richard, Donation lane, postal assistant, male (self)
 * Entry: 1817, Cooling, Ethel May, Burston st, home duties, female (???)
 * Entry: 1818, Cooling, Honora, Donation lane, home duties, female (mother)
 * Entry: 1819, Cooling, Maud, Donation lane, home duties, female (sister)
 * Entry: 1820, Cooling, William, Donation lane, coach painter, male (father)
 * Entry: 1821, Cooling, William John, Healy st, off Ruthven st, painter, male (brother)

1913 02
4BN as unattached officer accepts a small reduction in salary to transfer from Clerical Assistant Fifth Class to be Assistant, Grade IV "COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE. Melbourne, 7th February, 1913. THE following notification respecting staff changes, &c., is made in accordance with the Commonwealth Public Service Act and Regulations:— . . . Ernest Richard Cooling, Clerical Assistant, Fifth Class, Unattached, salary £156, to be Assistant, Grade IV., Toowoomba, with salary of £150, from 1st February, 1913, he having consented to accept such transfer."

1913 08
4BN included in list of federal public servants as at 30 June 1913 "INDEX TO LIST OF PERMANENT OFFICERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE ON THE 30TH JUNE, 1913. . . . Name. Page. No. on Page. . . . Cooling, Ernest Richard 376 50"

1914 02
4BN appointed as Electoral Registrar for Toowoomba Department of Home Affairs, Melbourne, 18th February, 1914. APPOINTMENT OF ELECTORAL REGISTRARS. THE persons specified in the first column of the following Schedule have been appointed during the pleasure of the Minister for Home Affairs to be Electoral Registrars under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1902-1911, to keep the Rolls for the Subdivision set opposite to the names of the said persons in the second column of the said Schedule, the appointment in each case to take effect on and from the date of entry on duty.
 * SCHEDULE. Name. Subdivision. Division. Postal Address.
 * Ernest Richard Cooling. Toowoomba. Darling Downs. Post Office, Toowoomba

1914 04
Detailed report of wedding of 4BN's sister Amy Carroll nee Cooling. 4BN the groomsman "WEDDINGS. CARROLL — COOLING. Yesterday morning at St. Patrick's R. C. Church, by Rev. Father O'Connell, a pretty little wedding was celebrated. The bride, Amy, youngest daughter of' Mr. W. Cooling, Toowoomba, and the bridegroom, Thomas, son of Mr. Patrick Carroll, of Westbrook. Mr. Cooling gave his daughter away and she wore a beautiful gown of white satin charmeuse, with tunic of point lace. The draped skirt was slashed in front, showing a touch of pale blue chiffon and the pointed train was lined with pale blue silk. The V-shaped bodice was softly swathed and opened over a vest of point Iace and the elbow sleeves had frills of lace. An embroidered tulle veil was worn over a Juliette cap of lace and tulle and cluster of orange blossom, and the bridal bouquet was composed of white cactus dahlias and nephetos roses, veiled in fine maiden-hair fern and tied with satin ribbon. A pendant of olavines and amethysts which was the bridegroom's present was worn. Miss Alice Carroll (bridegroom's sister) attended as bridesmaid, and wore a frock of champagne and bronze crepe de chine, with sash and Tango ribbon. Her soft hat in the same shade, had a bow of Tango silk and she carried a bouquet of pink. dahlias and chrysanthemums tied with Tango ribbon, and wore the bridegroom's gift, a gold bangle. Misses Greta and Nessie Cooling (the bride's neices), were also little maids of honour and wore white Lingerie frocks of muslin and lace, with pale pink sashes and soft silk hats. They carried silver horseshoes, on pink ribbon decorated with posies of pink flowers and wore brooches set with pink tourmalines, presents from the bridegroom. Mr. Patrick Carroll was best man and Mr. E. R. Cooling groomsman. After the ceremony several photographs were taken at the Bain Studio, and afterwards Mr. Cooling entertained the bridal party at his house, where the floral decorations were carried out in Tango shades. The honeymoon is being spent at the Northern Rivers."

1914 08
4BN now listed on the East Toowoomba electoral roll "BI-MONTHLY ELECTORAL LIST. BI-MONTHLY (August) List of Persons appearing to be qualified to vote at the Election of a Member of the Legislative Assembly in the year 1914, for the Electoral District of TOOWOOMBA, EAST TOOWOOMBA, and DRAYTON (within the Division of Toowoomba). Objections to names on this List must be sent to the State Electoral Registrar at Toowoomba, and to the Persons objected to not later than the Twenty-second Day of September, 1914. . . . EAST TOOWOOMBA. Name in Full, Residence, Occupation, Freehold or Leashold (Sec. 6) Date of Claim, Sex. . . . Cooling, Ernest Richard, Donation Lane, Postal Assistant, 7 July 1914, M."

4BN ceases to be Electoral Registrar for Toowoomba, reason unknown Department of Home Affairs, Melbourne, 12th August, 1914. NOTIFICATION OF NAMES OF ELECTORAL REGISTRARS WHO HAVE CEASED TO HOLD OFFICE. THE persons specified in the following Schedule have ceased to be Electoral Registrars under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1902-1911, to keep the Rolls for the Subdivisions set opposite their respective names in the Schedule. . ..
 * Schedule. Name. Subdivision. Division.
 * Ernest Richard Cooling, Toowoomba, Darling Downs

4BN included in list of federal public servants as at 29 August 1914 "Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. . . . Name. Page. No. on Page. . . . Cooling, Ernest Richard, 281, 23"

1914 10
4BN regains his Clerical Assistant, 5th Class position "COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE. Melbourne, 23rd October, 1914. THE following notifications of staff changes, &c., are made in accordance with the Commonwealth Public Service Act and Regulations thereunder, viz.:— . . . Queensland. Promotions and Transfer, . . . Ernest Richard Cooling, Assistant, Toowoomba, salary £156, to be Clerical Assistant, 5th Class, Toowoomba', with salary of £168, from 30th September, 1914."

1915 09
4BN included in list of federal public servants as at 30 June 1915 "INDEX TO LIST OF PERMANENT OFFICERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE ON THE 30th OF JUNE, 1915. . . . Name. Page. No. on Page. Cooling, Ernest Richard, 286, 41"

1916 08
4BN included in list of Queensland federal public servants as at 31 August 1916 "Index to List of Officers — Queensland. STATE OF QUEENSLAND. Name. Page. No. on Page. . . . Cooling, Ernest Richard, 301, 8"

1916 09
Qld death registration for 4BN's mother Honora Cooling
 * Qld BDM
 * Death registration: Honora Cooling
 * Death date: 03/09/1916
 * Mother's name: Kathleen Slattery
 * Father/parent's name: John Ryan
 * Registration details: 1916/C/4159

1917
4BN's Electoral Roll registration 1913 Toowoomba Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
 * Name: Ernest Richard Cooling
 * Gender: Male
 * Electoral Year: 1917
 * Subdistrict: Toowoomba
 * State: Queensland
 * District: Darling Downs
 * Country: Australia
 * Entry: 1904, Cooling, Annie, Healy st, off Ruthven st, home duties, female (sister-in-law)
 * Entry: 1905, Cooling, Ernest Richard, Donation lane, postal assistant, male (self)
 * Entry: 1906, Cooling, Honora, Donation lane, home duties, female (mother)
 * Entry: 1907, Cooling, Maud, Donation lane, home duties, female (sister)
 * Entry: 1908, Cooling, William, Donation lane, coach painter, male (father)
 * Entry: 1909, Cooling, William John, Healy st, off Ruthven st, painter, male (brother)

1917 02
Qld marriage registration for 4BN and Ethel Dorothy Cooling nee Curry / Currey
 * Qld BDM
 * Marriage registration: Ethel Dorothy Currey
 * Marriage date: 10/02/1917
 * Spouse's name: Ernest Richard Colling (sic)
 * Registration details: 1917/C/651

Detailed report of marriage of 4BN to Ethel Currey "WEDDING. COOLING — CURREY. A pretty wedding was celebrated at St. Patrick's Church on Saturday February 10, when Mr Ernest Cooling, post office, Toowoomba, was married to Miss Ethel, only daughter of the late Mr. Currey and Mrs. S. Currey Ruthven-street. The bride, who was given away by her brother, Mr. Cecil Currey, wore a pretty gown of white crepe de chine, made with a full skirt, the dainty bodice being finished with silk shadow lace and pearls, and showing a vest of pink ninon. Her square train was also finished with silk lace and seed pearls. She wore a wreath and veil (kindly lent by Mrs. Cliff Currey), and carried a bouquet of white lillies and begonias with a frill of tulle. A touch of color was given by pale pink bows, and it was tied with broad white ribbons showered with silver horse-shoes. Miss Alice Carroll attended as bridesmaid. She were a pretty frock of white silk with full tucked skirt, and double caped bodice finished with picot stitching. Her dainty hat was of white ninon lined with pin ninon, and finished with pink rosebuds. She carried a posy of pink and apricot begonias veiled in autumn fern, encased in a pink holder and tied with ribbons to match. Mr. Jack Prior supported the bridegroom as best man. After the ceremony the party rnotored to Deazeley's Studio, where several photographs were taken, and thence to the residence of the bride's mother, where a dainty luncheon was served. Mr. and Mrs. Cooling left later for Brisbane, where the honeymoon will be spent. Mrs. Cooling travelled in a smart costume of silver-grey crepe de chine, and grey ninon hat lined with shell-pink ninon. The bridal frocks were made by Mrs. Lathem, and the bouquets were the artistic work of Mrs. J. L. Holmes, Mt. Lofty."

1917 09
4BN included in list of federal public servants as at 30 June 1917

1919 02
Qld birth registration for 4BN's son Leonard Ashley Cooling
 * Qld BDM
 * Birth registration: Leonard Ashley Cooling
 * Birth date: 12/02/1919
 * Mother's name: Ethel Dorothy Currey
 * Father/parent's name: Ernest Richard Cooling
 * Registration details: 1919/C/3450

1919 09
4BN's promotion from Assistant to Clerical Assistant Fifth Class "COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE. Melbourne, 11th September, 1919. THE undermentioned notifications of staff changes, &c., are made in accordance with the Commonwealth Public Service Act and Regulations:— . . . POSTMASTER GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT. Ex. Mins. Nos. 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338. . . . Queensland. Promotions and Transfer.— . . . Ernest Richard Cooling, Assistant, Toowoomba, to be Clerical Assistant, 5th Class, Toowoomba, with increase in salary from £168 to £192, from 7th August, 1919."

1920 03
Qld death registration for 4BN's father William Cooling
 * Qld BDM
 * Death registration: William Cooling
 * Death date: 19/03/1920
 * Mother's name: Sarah Shubrook
 * Father/parent's name: Francis (sic), Cooling
 * Registration details: 1920/C/2668

1920 10
4BN included in list of federal public servants as at 18 Oct 1920 "Index to List of Officers — Queensland — continued. STATE OF QUEENSLAND. Name. Page. No. on Page. . . . Cooling. Ernest Richard, 338, 33"

1924 05
4BN unanimously nominated for the honorary radio inspector position for Toowoomba at meeting of Toowoomba and District Radio Club "CLUB ACTIVITIES. . . . A general meeting of the Toowoomba and District Radio Club was held on May 26. There was an excellent attendance. The business of the meeting was the nomination of an honorary radio inspector by the club for Toowoomba and district. Mr. E. R. Cooling was unanimously nominated."

1924 08
Toowoomba Radio Club reports that 4BN will be operating his own transmitting set soon "RADIO CLUB NOTES. (By 'Electron.') The weekly meeting of the radio enthusiasts was held on Monday night, at the Gordon Club. There was a good attendance of members, and general practice of amateurs was the subject of discussion. Mr. E. L. Norris, in the course of his address, touched briefly on the theory of the receiving triode (1) as a detector, (2) as an audio frequency or note magnifier. It is the intention of the lecturer to go fully into this important subject at a later date. One result of the regulations that is very conspicuous is the rapid growth of aerial masts, or, as our American cousins have it, 'antenna poles,' and some very good specimens are noticeable, those owned by Mr. R. Boys being most prominent. Local transmitters are working as usual, and the hon. radio inspector for Toowoomba (Mr. Cooling) will be heard shortly on his own set, the preliminary tests have been successfully conducted."

1924 10
VK4BN - Ernest Richard Cooling - AOCP Issue
 * Certificate No.: 11
 * Date of Issue: 29 October 1924
 * Family Name: Cooling
 * Given Name: E. R.
 * Street Address: Lindsay St  (SSD: Post Office?)
 * City / Suburb / Town: Toowoomba
 * State: Qld
 * Transmit Endorsement: blank
 * Register Callsign: 4BN

1924 11
4BN has received his transmitting licence and will be on air shortly "RADIO CLUB NOTES. (By 'Electron.') The usual weekly meeting of the above club was held in the Gordon Club rooms on Monday evening. There was a fair attendance of members, which should improve as the summer 'static' makes listening-in more difficult. The evening instruction took the form of a general discussion, which covered many subjects, including Einstein's theory of relativity, and concluded with a description of a modern X-ray apparatus by Mr. E. L. Norris. Members have been busy during the last two Saturdays in building and erecting aerial masts, and one is now in position. The height is 54 feet, and when the other mast now under construction is erected the club will have an aerial which should prove very efficient, and of which we are justly proud. The club wishes to publicly acknowledge a donation of 10/6 by Mr. O'Kelly, of the Queensland Trustees. Local broadcasting of last Sunday reached a very fair standard of excellence, commencing at 2 p.m. with Colonel Fortescue 4CF, who broadcasted selections from 'The Micado,' followed by 4CK at 7 p.m., and by 4EG at 8 p.m. The latter also tested portable transmitter, and at 10 p.m., on a frame aerial, was clearly audible, especially the bagpipe items by Master D. Horn, 10 feet from the 'phones, using the detector and the stage audio. Mr. Cooling, of the G.P.O., has obtained his experimental transmitting license, and we hope to hear him on the ether at an early date."

4BN makes his first broadcasting test on air, but is hampered by lack of a proper microphone "RADIO CLUB NOTES. (By 'Electron.') The usual meeting was held in the Gordon Club last Monday night. There was a fair attendance of members. Local broadcasting during the weekend was worth hearing; 4CK showing a great improvement. Station 4BM (sic, 4BN) gave his first test and the results, considering the lack of improper microphone, were surprising. Mr. E. Gold, of 4EG, is at present on a motor boat in Moreton Bay, where he is testing his portable transmitter. He is conducting a test with with Mr. E. L. Norris, of 4CK. Any experimenter who hears him is requested to notify the secretary. To those who contemplate the installation of three valves and are uncertain as to the best arrangement, it is advised that one be employed as a radio frequency amplifier, the second as detector, and the third as a audio frequency amplified in preference to two valves used as radio amplifier or two as audio. Only special considerations warrant a departure from the above arrangement for general broadcast reception."

4BN again undertaking weekend broadcasting tests and reported good and improving "RADIO CLUB NOTES. (By 'Electron.') The usual weekly meeting of the Radio Club was held in the Gordon Club Rooms on Monday last. There was a good attendance of members. Arrangements were made for the erection of the second aerial mast next Saturday. It is unfortunate that the last few weekends have been wet, as this has delayed the work considerably. The first mast was erected under difficulties owing to persistent showers. The atmospheric disturbances familiar to every 'listener-in,' known as 'static,' have been particularly bad during the past few weeks, and have driven all but the experimenter from the radio set until conditions improve. Last Sunday's local broadcasting was of a very fair standard. 4GF (sic, 4CF) showed considerable improvement, but 4CK, in an attempt to increase his power, did so at the expense of modulation. 4BM (sic, 4BN) also good, and is improving. Static spoiled him as far as valve reception was concerned."

1925
4BN's Electoral Roll registration 1925 Toowoomba (first) Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
 * Name: Ernest Richard Cooling
 * Gender: Male
 * Electoral Year: 1925
 * Subdistrict: Toowoomba
 * State: Queensland
 * District: Darling Downs
 * Country: Australia
 * Entry: 1204, Cooling, Ernest Richard, Donation lane, postal assistant, male (self)
 * Entry: 1205, Cooling, Ethel Dorothy, Donation lane, home duties, female (wife)
 * Entry: 1206, Cooling, Margaret Maud, Healy st, home duties, female (neice)
 * Entry: 1909, Cooling, William John, Healy st, off Ruthven st, painter, male (brother)

4BN's Electoral Roll registration 1925 Toowoomba (second) Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
 * Name: Ernest Richard Cooling
 * Gender: Male
 * Electoral Year: 1925
 * Subdistrict: Toowoomba
 * State: Queensland
 * District: Darling Downs
 * Country: Australia
 * Entry: 1217, Cooling, Ernest Edward Percival, Cox's, James st West, bootmaker, male (nephew)
 * Entry: 1218, Cooling, Ernest Richard, Donation lane, postal assistant, male (self)
 * Entry: 1219, Cooling, Ethel Dorothy, Donation lane, home duties, female (wife)
 * Entry: 1220, Cooling, Margaret Maud, Healy st, home duties, female (neice)
 * Entry: 1221, Cooling, William John, Healy st, off Ruthven st, painter, male (brother)

1925 01
4BN listed as holding a transmitting licence, issued prior to 30 November under the 1924 Wireless Regulations "TRANSMITTING LICENSES. The following transmitting licenses have been issued or renewed under the new regulations up to and including November 30. . . . 4BN.— Cooling, Ernest R., Donation-lane, Toowoomba, Queensland."

4BN's weekend programmes, along with 4CF and 4EG, reported as excellent "RADIO CLUB NOTES. (By 'Electron.') The members of this club spent a very instructive evening on Monday, when, instead of the usual meeting at the Gordon Club, they visited the amateur experimental station, 4CK, owned and operated by the secretary (Mr. E. L. Norris). The low loss short wave receiver brought in a few 'U' stations and several Australian and New Zealand amateurs. Broadcasters were heard on a loop aerial wilh two valves. The transmitter was explained and a little two-way working demonstrated. Technical discussion of various subjects protracted the meeting until a late hour. Mr. C. Walker, 4CU, of Clifton, has his transmitter in working order and has been logged by several local amateurs. His transmission is reported as very fair. Stations 4BN, 4CF, and 4EG all put over excellent pro-grammes during the weekend."

1925 04
4BN included in list of Australian wireless experimenters "AUSTRALIAN EXPERIMENTERS. LICENSED TRANSMITTERS. Below are given details of wireless experimenters in Tasmania who have been granted transmitting licences: . . . QUEENSLAND . . . 4BN, E. R. Cooling, Donation Lane, Toowoomba;"

1925 08
4BN included in a list of Queensland and New Guinea wireless experimenters "QUEENSLAND AND NEW GUINEA TRANSMITTING LICENSES. . . . 4BN Cooling, E. R., Donation-lane, Toowoomba."

1927 06
Qld death registration for 4BN's brother William John Cooling
 * Qld BDM
 * Death registration: William John Cooling
 * Death date: 01/06/1927
 * Mother's name: Honora Ryan
 * Father/parent's name: William Cooling
 * Registration details: 1927/C/2390

1927 08
Qld marriage registration for 4BN's sister Maude Carroll nee Cooling
 * Qld BDM
 * Marriage registration: Maude Carroll nee Cooling
 * Marriage date: 11/08/1927
 * Spouse's name: Patrick Carroll
 * Registration details: 1927/C/2637

1927 11
4BN included in list of federal public servants as at 30 June 1927 "INDEX TO LIST OF PERMANENT OFFICERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE ON THE 30th OF JUNE, 1927. . . . Name. Page. No. on Page. . . . Cooling, Ernest Richard, 400, 52"

1927 12
4BN's surname featured in the classic VK4 prose "Corrupted Callsigns" '''Profiles. STRAYS. "THE OBSERVER'S LOVE STORY" or "CORRUPTED CALL SIGNS"''' Specially written for QTC Christmas Supplement 15th December 1927 by oa-4PM NOTE: To obtain the sense of this rhyme simply substitute the name of the operator (obtained from the key below] for the call sign of the amateur mentioned - and forgive the poet's licence.

 * He gazed into her pale puce eyes. "Darling," he cried, "you are my 4LJ. 4SM make you 4CR beyond your wildest dreams. 4CG I have in plenty. Dearest, you are 4YN to me are you not?"
 * The girl looked out into the 4RK and sipped her 4KY. "But you are only a 4HB," she said, "the 4DC you live in would not suit me. Why 4BD everywhere!"
 * "Ah," he cried, "I 4JG that but what were you before you inherited your 4CG. Just a 4AK. Remember you will not always be 4WA."
 * She tossed her pretty head and swept her 4RB hair from her eyes. "You are not 4AZ enough," she scoffed, "my love is 4BN. In the race to success you are but a 4DO."
 * "The prospects are not 4PG for me," he sighed and rising began to 4AC way.
 * "What tram do you catch?" she teasingly asked.
 * "4BWroo," he despairingly replied.
 * "Well, if you like, I'll let you take me to a dance to-4RK," she said, "but mind, if you 4AW with another girl, or sit out in a shady 4AT then it's all off."
 * That's 4PJ piece of spite," he angrily flung back and disappeared into the darkness.
 * "Well I'm no longer the 4HG of his ball I can see," she moaned and fell backwards into the cruet!
 * Key:
 * 4LJ - Feenaghty, 4SM - Ikin, 4CR - Rich, 4CG - Gold, 4YN - Harkin, 4RK - Knight, 4KY - Coffey, 4HB - Baker
 * 4DC - Cribb, 4BD - Grimes, 4JG - Grant, 4CG - Gold, 4AK - Milner, 4WA - Young, 4RB - Browne, 4AZ - Sharpe, 4BN - Cooling
 * 4DO - Hobler,  4PG - Golden,   4AC - Walker,   4BW - Couper, 4RK - Knight, 4AW - Walz,  4AT - Bauer, 4PJ - Jessop,  4HG - Bell

1928
4BN's Electoral Roll registration 1928 Toowoomba Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
 * Name: Ernest Richard Cooling
 * Gender: Male
 * Electoral Year: 1928
 * Subdistrict: Toowoomba
 * State: Queensland
 * District: Darling Downs
 * Country: Australia
 * Entry: 1267, Cooling, Ernest Richard, Donation lane, postal assistant, male (self)
 * Entry: 1268, Cooling, Ethel Dorothy, Donation lane, home duties, female (wife)

1929 03
4BN gives evidence in a break and enter trial "BREAKING AND ENTERING. Two Men Committed. CASE FROM HELIDON. Charged with breaking and entering, between February 18 and 22, the dwelling house of Walter Evans and John Morgan, with intent to commit a crime, Walter Joseph Edwards and William Wade appeared in the Police Court yesterday before Mr. F. C. M. Burne, P.M. After a good deal of evidence had been taken, the accused pleaded guilty and were committed for sentence at the Supreme Court at Toowoomba on April 9. Detective-Sergeant Kiernan prosecuted. Constable W. Herbert, in charge of the Wallangarra Police Station, said that he saw the accused Wade at Wallangarra on March 12. He said to him: 'You are suspected of being concerned in a robbery at Helidon a fortnight ago. Have you any objection to me searching your swag?' Accused: 'All right, you can have a look at it.' He went to a house in the town, and in a room there was a quantity of property. He asked Wade to place the property belonging to him on one side, and he did so, the articles including a gabardine overcoat, a tweed suit of clothes, a shirt, a razor and a pencil. Asked where he had obtained the suit of clothes and overcoat, Wade said he had purchased them for £2 from a pawnbroker in Newcastle about two years ago. The shirt he said he bought in Mackay some time ago, and the razor for 2/6 in Brisbane. Wade said that he had found a shirt under a railway bridge at Ipswich when he was camped there. Accused said that all the brands had been cut off the clothes. Witness told Wade that he thought, the articles had been stolen from the residence of a man named Evans at Helidon, and asked him to come to the police station where he was arrested and charged vrith stealing the articles found in his possession. On March 15 he went again to the room occupied by Wade and a search revealed a gold ring and watch in a tin. Ernest Richard Cooling, an employee of the Post Office, Toowoomba, attached to the Money Order Department, said that on February 21 last two postal notes, for 15/ each, were presented for payment at different times. Both amounts were paid by witness. Later he handed the postal notes to Detective-Sergeant Kiernan. Detective-sergeant Kiernan, of the C.I. Department, Toowoomba, said that he had already given formal evidence against Edwards in connection with the charge. When he saw Edwards on March 4 at the police station he was in the company of two other men named Hennessy and McCauI. Witness said to them: 'I belong to the police, and I have been making inquiries in connection with a house at Helidon which was broken and entered some time between February 18 and 22, and from which certain property was stolen.' Accused and the other two men replied: 'We know nothing about it.' Witness said to Hennessy, 'Where did you get that green sweater'? He replied: 'I swopped it with this man, indicating Edwards. If it is crook it is no good to me, and I don't want it.' Edwards said: 'What he says is correct. I gave it to him this morning for a looking glass.' Witness said the article answered the description of some of the property which had been stolen from a house at Helidon. Edwards said that he met a man at Oakey and they came on to Toowoomba by train. On the way the man offered him the property for 10/, which he gave him in return for the articles. When asked what had become of the other property, Edwards said that it was in his camp under the railway bridge. Going there, accused pointed out his swag, as did Hennessy and McCaul. In accused's swag he found a military overcoat, a pair of serge trousers, a pair of tan shoes, a grey hat, and a leather wallet. Witness said that the properly answered the description of some of the property stolen from a house at Helidon: Accused replied: 'If they are crook I cannot help it. The man I bought them off may be responsible.' Witness asked where the man lived, but accused said that he did not know his name or where he lived. He left him on the railway station platform at Toowoomba. Accused said that the man had mentioned that he was going to Sydney. Witness took possession of the property referred to, and brought the accused to the police station, where he asked for a description of the man with the object of finding him. Witness said: 'At the same time I am not inclined to believe your story regarding this man or the price you paid for this property. The tan shoes alone are worth more than 10/.' Accused was then charged with breaking and entering the house of Walter Evans at Helidon. On his return to the watchhouse after he had been remanded, accused said: 'I have been seriously thinking over the charge that is against me, and I can see very little hope of getting out of it. I have never been in trouble before on any serious matter, and I want to tell you the whole facts.' Witness said: 'You can please yourself what you tell me: I have not asked you for it. Remember anything you may say to me in connection with the charge I may use in evidence against you later at your trial.' Accused replied: 'That is all right, but why should I take all the blame.' There was another man in it as well as me. That was a tale I tried to put over you about the man I said I got the property from. There is no such person. About two weeks ago my mate and I jumped the train from Ipswich to Helidon and got there stoney-broke. I had a cruise around Helidon and saw a priest at the Presbytery and he gave me 1/ and a feed of grapes. I returned to where we were camped, and my mate joined me there. He had also been cruising around, and he said to me, 'I found a wooden house not far from here which I believe has a good deal of property inside; there is nobody about. If you will join me we will go there when it is dusk and we will get some of the things.' I went with him and found the door of the house was locked with a padlock. My mate, however, forced a window open and entered, and I followed him. We then stole some clothing and jewellery. We left the house by the same way as we had entered, closing the window again. We afterwards shared the property between us. On the following day we left Helidon and came to Toowoomba. Shortly afterwards I left Toowoomba and also my mate and went to Cecil Plains. The property, including the green sweater you found in my possession, is my share of the articles which I stole from the house.' Witness said that two postal notes had been taken from the house, but accused said that he had not seen them. His mate took the notes and cashed one at the Toowoomba Post Office and destroyed the other. If he cashed the two of them accused said his mate had put one over him. Accused said that his mate was a traveller looking for work, obtaining rations. He did not know where he was, but he might be anywhere between Brisbane and Wallangarra. . .."

1930
4BN's Electoral Roll registration 1930 Toowoomba Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
 * Name: Ernest Richard Cooling
 * Gender: Male
 * Electoral Year: 1930
 * Subdistrict: Toowoomba
 * State: Queensland
 * District: Darling Downs
 * Country: Australia
 * Entry: 1364, Cooling, Alice, Murphy's, Hill st, home duties, female (unknown)
 * Entry: 1365, Cooling, Ernest Richard, Donation lane, postal assistant, male (self)
 * Entry: 1366, Cooling, Ethel Dorothy, Donation lane, home duties, female (wife)
 * Entry: 1367, Cooling, George Mark, cnr Annand & Neil st, labourer, male (unknown)

1931 06
4BN forfeits land at Millmerran for non-payment of taxes '''IN THE SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND HELD AT TOOWOOMBA. TO ALL PERSONS CONCERNED.''' TAKE NOTICE that WARRANTS OF EXECUTION have been issued under "Tax Local Authorities Acts. 1902-1926."' against the Pieces of Land specified in the Schedule hereunder written, and that the said Pieces of Land WILL BE SOLD by the Bailiff of the above Court by Public Auction, at the Court House, MILLMERRAN on the THIRTIETH day of JUNE, 1931, at 12 O'CLOCK Noon, unless the respective sums set opposite to the Lands described in the same Schedule, and advertising charges have previously been paid. THE SCHEDULE ABOVE REFERRED TO.
 * Where Land Situated: City, Town or Shire; County; Parish. Occupier or Owner Owing Rates: Name; Occupation; Address. Name of Registered Proprietor Whether due as Occupier or Owner. Deed: Certificate of Title; No.; Vol.; Folio. Particulars of Land: Allotment, Subdivision, Portion. Area. Amount Due (exclusive of Advertising Charges). £ s. d.
 * Millmerran; Derby; Domville. Thomas King; Unknown; South-street, Toowoomba; Thomas John Stephen King. ditto, DG, 76570, 802, 80, Allot. 10 of Sec. 1, 0 2 0; 6 11 8.
 * Millmerran; Derby; Domville. Ernest Richard Cooling; ditto; Toowoomba; Ernest Richard Cooling of Toowoomba; ditto, DG, 76574, 802, 84, Allot. 3 of Sec. 2, 0 2 0; 5 1 9
 * Millmerran; Derby; Domville. Ernest Richard Cooling; ditto; Toowoomba; Ernest Richard Cooling of Toowoomba; ditto, DG, 76573, 802, 83, Allot. 8 of Sec. 4, 0 2 0; 5 1 9 . ..

1935 06
Qld death registration for Sarah Jane Curry/Currey nee Farrow
 * Qld BDM
 * Death registration: Sarah Currey
 * Death date: 17/06/1935
 * Mother's name: -
 * Father/parent's name: Henry Farrow
 * Registration details: 1935/C/3566

1936
4BN's wife's Electoral Roll registration 1936 Toowoomba Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
 * Name: Ethel Dorothy Cooling
 * Gender: Female
 * Electoral Year: 1936
 * Subdistrict: Toowoomba
 * State: Queensland
 * District: Darling Downs
 * Country: Australia
 * Entry: 1607, Cooling, Ethel Dorothy, Donation lane, home duties, female (wife)

1936 09
Qld death registration for 4BN
 * Qld BDM
 * Death registration: Ernest Richard Cooling
 * Death date: 17/09/1936
 * Mother's name: Honora Ryan
 * Father/parent's name: William Cooling
 * Registration details: 1936/C/3522

Early incorrect report of death of 4BN headlining shots fired from car "DIED FROM BULLET WOUND IN HEAD. Third Senior Postal Official at Toowoomba. SHOTS FIRED FROM CAR. TOOWOOMBA. September 17. The third senior official in thc Toowoomba Post Office (Mr E. R. Cooling) died in trade circumstances this morning from a bullet wound in the side of the head. He was aged 51 and had been associated with the postal department for 30 years. He was entrusted with the handling of large sums of money for the department and officially his affairs were found to he in order. Deceased had been attached to the Toowoomba Post Office for 25 years, and prior to that was a telegraphist at Bowen and Mackay. He was found lying in a crumpled heap in a building at the rear of the Post Office. He was unconscious and died later in hospital. He had not been in good health for some time, and had been granted sick leave."

Brief report of 4BN's suicide "TRAGIC END. Toowoomba Postal Official. TOOWOOMBA, September 17. The third senior official in the Toowoomba Post Office, E. R. Cooling, died in tragic circumstances this morning from a bullet wound in the side of the head. He was aged 51 years, and had been associated with the Postal Department for 39 years. He was entrusted with the handling of large sums of money for the department, and officially his affairs were found to be in order. Deceased had been attached to the Toowoomba Post Office for 25 years, and prior to that was telegraphist at Bowen and Mackay. Cooling was found lying in a crumpled heap in a building at the rear of the Post Office. He was unconscious and died later in hospital. He had not been in good health for some time, and had been granted sick leave. Deceased leaves a widow and four children."

Detailed report of 4BN's suicide "TRAGIC DEATH OF POSTAL OFFICIAL. Mr. E. R. Cooling, Of Toowoomba TOOWOOMBA, Thursday. The third senior official in the Toowoomba Post Office — Mr. Ernest Richard Cooling — died in tragic circumstances this morning from a bullet wound in the side of his head. He was 51 years of age, and for 39 years had been associated with the Postal Department. He was entrusted with handling large sums of moneys for the department, and officially his affairs were found to be in order. The late Mr. Cooling had been attached to the Toowoomba Post Office for 25 years, and prior to that was a telegraphist at Bowen and Mackay. About 10 a.m. today Mr. Cooling was missed from his table, and one of the employees in the mail room on going to a building at the rear, saw him lying in a crumpled heap, with a revolver near him. He was unconscious when taken to the General Hospital, and died about 11 a.m. For some time Mr. Cooling had not enjoyed good health, and had been granted sick leave. The death of his mother-in-law (Mrs. Currey). a very old resident of Toowoomba, some months ago, caused him worry. That was followed by an accident, in which he fractured his wrist, and later he underwent an operation for appendicitis. Mrs. Cooling collapsed on hearing the news of his death. The postmaster stated that Mr. Cooling was a very conscientious and obliging officer, as well as a very competent man at his work, and his affairs officially were in order. He was due for four months' longservice leave, to commence in November. The revolver which was found alongside the deceased is the property of the Postal Department, and, as he took substantial sums of money to and from the bank, he had access to the weapon. The deceased, who resided in Donation Lane, off Neil Street, leaves his widow and four children. One of his brothers-in-law is Mr. J. Currey, the representative Toowoomba cricketer."

Brief interstate report of 4BN's death "POSTAL OFFICIAL'S DEATH. BRISBANE, Thursday. Ernest Richard Cooling, postal official at Toowoomba, was found in an outhouse at the post-office this morning with a bullet wound in the head. He died in hospital a few hours later. Cooling, who had been in ill-health for some time, was to have commenced four months' long service leave in November. His affairs were in perfect order."

A brief report of 4BN's death in Bowen newspaper "A SUICIDE. EX-BOWEN POSTAL OFFICIAL. BRISBANE, Friday. The third senior official in the Toowoomba Post Office E. Cooling, was found dying in the office yesterday morning from a bullet wound in the head. Aged 51, he had been in the Department 39 years. He had been suffering from a nervous breakdown. He leaves a widow and four children. The late Mr. Cooling was at one time telegraphist at Bowen."

Inquest into death of 4BN "Inquest on Postal Clerk. TOOWOOMBA, September 24. In the Coroner's Court this morning before Mr. P. G. Knyvett, Police Magistrate, inquired further into the manner and cause of the death of Ernest Richard Cooling, who died in the Toowoomba General Hospital on September 17. Ethel Dorothy Cooling, the widow, said that during the last 13 years her husband had suffered from bad health. On September 16 he acted strangely. Next day he seemed all right before going to work to which he went as usual. She was satisfied that he was from time to time temporarily out of his mind. He had no financial or domestic troubles. He was 51 years of age and was born in Toowoomba. There were four children. When returning from the witness box Mrs. Cooling saw a revolver on the table and cried out and wept bitterly. Michael Edward CuIIen, postmaster, of Toowoomba, said that Cooling was his clerk. The inquiry was closed."

1937
4BN's wife's Electoral Roll registration 1937 Toowoomba Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
 * Name: Ethel Dorothy Cooling
 * Gender: Female
 * Electoral Year: 1937
 * Subdistrict: Toowoomba
 * State: Queensland
 * District: Darling Downs
 * Country: Australia
 * Entry: 1657, Cooling, Ethel Dorothy, Donation lane, home duties, female (wife)

1938 06
Qld marriage registration for 4BN's son Leonard Ashley Cooling
 * Qld BDM
 * Marriage registration: Leonard Ashley Cooling
 * Marriage date: 14/06/1938
 * Spouse's name: Evelyn Frances Ellis
 * Registration details: 1938/C/2461

1943
4BN's wife's Electoral Roll registration 1943 Toowoomba Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
 * Name: Ethel Dorothy Cooling
 * Gender: Female
 * Electoral Year: 1943
 * Subdistrict: Toowoomba
 * State: Queensland
 * District: Darling Downs
 * Country: Australia
 * Entry: 1861, Cooling, Doris Irene, 1 Willmot st, home duties, female (nephew's wife)
 * Entry: 1862, Cooling, Ethel Dorothy, Donation lane, home duties, female (wife)
 * Entry: 1863, Cooling, Evelyn Francis, 10 Donation lane, home duties, female (daughter in law)
 * Entry: 1864, Cooling, Francis William, 1 Willmot st, labourer, male (nephew)
 * Entry: 1865, Cooling, Leonard Ashley, 10 Donation lane, truck driver, male (son)

1949
4BN's wife's Electoral Roll registration 1949 Toowoomba Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
 * Name: Ethel Dorothy Cooling
 * Gender: Female
 * Electoral Year: 1949
 * Subdistrict: Toowoomba
 * State: Queensland
 * District: Darling Downs
 * Country: Australia
 * Entry: 2123, Cooling, Doris Irene, 1 Willmot st, home duties, female (nephew's wife)
 * Entry: 2124, Cooling, Ethel Dorothy, Donation lane, home duties, female (wife)
 * Entry: 2125, Cooling, Francis William, 1 Willmot st, labourer, male (nephew)
 * Entry: 2126, Cooling, Ronald Ernest, 3 Donation st, painter, male (son)

1954
4BN's wife's Electoral Roll registration 1954 Bulimba Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
 * Name: Ethel Dorothy Cooling
 * Gender: Female
 * Electoral Year: 1954
 * Subdistrict: Bulimba
 * State: Queensland
 * District: Bowman
 * Country: Australia
 * Entry: 4390, Cooling, Ethel Dorothy, 31 St Leonard's st, Coorparoo, home duties, female (wife)
 * Entry: 4391, Cooling, Ronald Ernest, 31 St Leonard's st, process worker, male (son)

1958
4BN's wife's Electoral Roll registration 1958 Rydalmere (first) Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
 * Name: Ethel Dorothy Cooling
 * Gender: Female
 * Electoral Year: 1958
 * Subdistrict: Rydalmere
 * State: New South Wales
 * District: Parramatta
 * Country: Australia
 * Entry: 12042, Cooling, Ethel Dorothy, 242 Kissing Point rd, Dundas, home duties, female (wife)

4BN's wife's Electoral Roll registration 1958 Moorooka (second) Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
 * Name: Ethel Dorothy Cooling
 * Gender: Female
 * Electoral Year: 1958
 * Subdistrict: Moorooka
 * State: Queensland
 * District: Moreton
 * Country: Australia
 * Entry: 1019, Cooling, Ethel Dorothy, 24 Salisbury st, Cooper's Plains, -, female (wife)

1960 12
Qld death registration for Ethel Dorothy Cooling nee Curry/Currey
 * Qld BDM
 * Death registration: Ethel Dorothy Cooling
 * Death date: 09/12/1960
 * Mother's name: Sarah Farrow
 * Father/parent's name: John Robert Curry
 * Registration details: 1960/B/41870

1962 01
Qld death registration for 4BN's sister Maud Carroll nee Cooling
 * Qld BDM
 * Death registration: Maud Carroll nee Cooling
 * Death date: 06/01/1962
 * Mother's name: Honora Ryan
 * Father/parent's name: William Cooling
 * Registration details: 1962/B/49141

1965
Plaque commemorating early Toowoomba "Wireless" Experimenters EARLY TOOWOOMBA "WIRELESS" EXPERIMENTERS
 * THIS PLAQUE. ERECTED IN 1965, COMMEMORATES AS A PART OF THIS CITY'S HISTORY. THE NAMES OF EARLY "WIRELESS" EXPERIMENTERS OF TOOWOOMBA WHOSE PIONEERING ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE PERIODS 1913 TO 1914, & 1920 TO 1923, ASSISTED IN LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS OF EXPERIMENTAL "WIRELESS" COMMUNICATIONS IN AUSTRALIA.
 * "SPARK" TRANSMISSION ERA (1913-14), (1920-22): W. H. H. BRIGHT, F. J. CAREY A.M.I.R.E.E., J. FULCHER, V. HOLMES
 * "VALVE" TRANSMISSION ERA (1922-23): E. COOLING, C. FORTESCUE, E. GOLD, J. GROOM, L. GIBSON, E. NORRIS

1965 09
Qld death registration for 4BN's son Ronald Ernest Cooling
 * Qld BDM
 * Death registration: Ronald Ernest Cooling
 * Death date: 15/09/1965
 * Mother's name: Ethel Dorothy Currey
 * Father/parent's name: Ernest Richard Cooling
 * Registration details: 1965/B/76072

1966 08
Qld death registration for 4BN's sister Amy Carroll nee Cooling
 * Qld BDM
 * Death registration: Amy Carroll nee Cooling
 * Death date: 11/08/1966
 * Mother's name: Honorah Ryan
 * Father/parent's name: William Cooling
 * Registration details: 1966/B/82998

1990 08
Index of Death Notice for 4BN's son Leonard Ashley Cooling
 * Surname: COOLING
 * Given Names: Leonard Ashley
 * Notice Type: Death notice
 * Date: 14 Aug 1990
 * Event: Death
 * Age: blank
 * Other Details: late of Dundas
 * Publication: Sydney Morning Herald
 * Published: 16 Aug 1990

2004 03
Index of Death Notice for 4BN's daughter-in-law Evelyn Frances Cooling nee Ellis
 * Surname: COOLING
 * Given Names: Evelyn Frances
 * Notice Type: Death notice
 * Date: 22 March 2004
 * Event: Death
 * Age: 88
 * Other Details: blank
 * Publication: Daily Telegraph (Sydney)
 * Published: 23 March 2004