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John Flynn (minister)
Encyclopedia
John Flynn OBE was an Australia
n Presbyterian minister who founded the Royal Flying Doctor Service
, the world's first air ambulance
.
town of Moliagul
, about 202 kilometres north-west of Melbourne
. His mother died whilst giving birth when Flynn was three, and he spent part of his childhood growing up with relatives. He moved to the town of Braybrook Junction (now Sunshine
in the western suburbs of Melbourne) as a child, and there he completed secondary school in 1898. Later he worked as a schoolteacher. By 1903 he decided to become a Presbyterian minister and entered Ormond College
, a college of the University of Melbourne
, to study divinity in 1907. He graduated in 1910 and was ordained in 1911.
Throughout his training, Flynn had worked in various then-remote areas through Victoria and South Australia
, and his second posting after ordination was to the Smith of Dunesk Mission at Beltana
, a tiny settlement 500 kilometres north of Adelaide
. Beltana is a relatively isolated place even today, and in those days was extremely remote. By 1912, after writing a report for his church superiors on the difficulties of ministering to such a widely scattered population, Flynn was made the first superintendent of the Australian Inland Mission
. As well as tending to matters spiritual, Flynn quickly established the need for medical care for residents of the vast Australian outback
, and established a number of bush hospitals.
By 1917, Flynn was already considering the possibility of new technology, such as radio and aircraft, to assist in providing a more useful acute medical service, and then received a letter from an Australian pilot serving in World War I
, Clifford Peel
, who had heard of Flynn's speculations and outlined the capabilities and costs of then-available planes. This material was published in the church's magazine, the start of Flynn turning his considerable fund-raising talents to the task of establishing a flying medical service. The first flight of the Aerial Medical Service was in 1928 from Cloncurry
, Queensland
. A museum commemorating the founding of the Royal Flying Doctor Service is located at John Flynn Place in Cloncurry.
Surviving the Great Depression
, Flynn guided the organisation, lobbying both politicians and his church, to take the service nationwide. In 1934 the Australian Aerial Medical Service was formed, and gradually established a network of bases nationwide. Flynn remained the public face of the organisation (through name changes to its present form) and helped raise the funds that kept the service operating.
Bob Hughes, who was Postmaster-General at the time, was very impressed with Flynn's work, and offered to take over the provision and maintenance of the entire radio network, converting every pedal wireless into a Public Telegraph Office. This was rejected out of hand by Flynn, as otherwise he could not prevent messages placing bets on horses and ones ordering liquor from being sent and received.
While undoubtedly most famous for the organisation that became the RFDS, Flynn's work with the Mission extended well beyond it. As well as the nursing homes, Flynn instituted travelling ministries - ministers travelling vast distances on horseback through the inland. In 1939 Presbyterian Church of Australia
elected Flynn to the primus inter pares
role of Moderator-General
.
Flynn married the secretary of the AIM, Jean Baird, in 1931 at the relatively advanced age of 51. He finally retired and died in Sydney
. He was cremated and his remains placed under a large boulder from the Devil's Marbles. In an unfortunate postscript to Flynn's life, the Northern Territory
Department of Public Works had taken the rock from a site sacred to its traditional owners. After many years of negotiations the rock was returned to its original location in 1998 and replaced with one acceptable to the Aboriginal people, both of the original rock's home and the people on whose land his grave lies.
Flynn was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
in 1933. He is featured on one side of the current Australian 20 dollar note. The Canberra
suburb of Flynn
honours his memory. The federal electorate of Flynn
in Queensland was created by the Australian Electoral Commission
in 2006.
Qantas
has announced that they intend naming one of their Airbus A380
s after Flynn in recognition of his contribution to the aviation industry and particularly to his achievement of founding the Royal Australian Flying Doctors Service.
Author Ion Idriess
wrote Flynn of the Inland in 1953. The book told of Flynn's life and the establishment and running of the Australian Inland Mission
.
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Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Presbyterian minister who founded the Royal Flying Doctor Service
Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia is an emergency and primary health care service for those living in rural, remote and regional areas of Australia...
, the world's first air ambulance
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
.
Biography
John Flynn was born in the gold rushVictorian gold rush
The Victorian gold rush was a period in the history of Victoria, Australia approximately between 1851 and the late 1860s. In 10 years the Australian population nearly tripled.- Overview :During this era Victoria dominated the world's gold output...
town of Moliagul
Moliagul, Victoria
Moliagul is a small township in Victoria, Australia, 202 kilometres north west of Melbourne, notable for the discovery of the world's largest gold nugget, the Welcome Stranger in 1869...
, about 202 kilometres north-west of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. His mother died whilst giving birth when Flynn was three, and he spent part of his childhood growing up with relatives. He moved to the town of Braybrook Junction (now Sunshine
Sunshine, Victoria
Sunshine is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia lying 11 to 13 km west of the CBD. Its Local Government Area is the City of Brimbank. At the 2006 Census, Sunshine had a population of 8,070.-History:...
in the western suburbs of Melbourne) as a child, and there he completed secondary school in 1898. Later he worked as a schoolteacher. By 1903 he decided to become a Presbyterian minister and entered Ormond College
Ormond College (University of Melbourne)
Ormond College is the largest of the residential colleges of the University of Melbourne. It is home to 332 undergraduates, 30 postgraduates and 27 professorial/academic residents.-Establishment:...
, a college of the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, to study divinity in 1907. He graduated in 1910 and was ordained in 1911.
Throughout his training, Flynn had worked in various then-remote areas through Victoria and South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, and his second posting after ordination was to the Smith of Dunesk Mission at Beltana
Beltana, South Australia
Beltana is a semi-ghost town north of Adelaide, South Australia. Beltana is known for continuing to exist long after the reasons for its existence had ceased...
, a tiny settlement 500 kilometres north of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. Beltana is a relatively isolated place even today, and in those days was extremely remote. By 1912, after writing a report for his church superiors on the difficulties of ministering to such a widely scattered population, Flynn was made the first superintendent of the Australian Inland Mission
Australian Inland Mission
The Australian Presbyterian Mission was founded by the Presbyterian Church of Australia to reach those "beyond the farthest fence" with God's Word. It is better known as the Australian Inland Mission . Rev...
. As well as tending to matters spiritual, Flynn quickly established the need for medical care for residents of the vast Australian outback
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
, and established a number of bush hospitals.
By 1917, Flynn was already considering the possibility of new technology, such as radio and aircraft, to assist in providing a more useful acute medical service, and then received a letter from an Australian pilot serving in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Clifford Peel
Clifford Peel
Lieutenant John Clifford Peel was an Australian pilot serving in World War I. He also provided the information that Royal Flying Doctor Service needed to start fundraising.-References:...
, who had heard of Flynn's speculations and outlined the capabilities and costs of then-available planes. This material was published in the church's magazine, the start of Flynn turning his considerable fund-raising talents to the task of establishing a flying medical service. The first flight of the Aerial Medical Service was in 1928 from Cloncurry
Cloncurry, Queensland
-Notable residents:*Writer Alexis Wright grew up in Cloncurry.*Association Footballer Kasey Wehrman was born in Cloncurry . He went on to play domestically and in Scandinavia. His achievements include winning a NSL Championship in 1996-1997 with the Brisbane Strikers and being capped several times...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. A museum commemorating the founding of the Royal Flying Doctor Service is located at John Flynn Place in Cloncurry.
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Flynn guided the organisation, lobbying both politicians and his church, to take the service nationwide. In 1934 the Australian Aerial Medical Service was formed, and gradually established a network of bases nationwide. Flynn remained the public face of the organisation (through name changes to its present form) and helped raise the funds that kept the service operating.
Bob Hughes, who was Postmaster-General at the time, was very impressed with Flynn's work, and offered to take over the provision and maintenance of the entire radio network, converting every pedal wireless into a Public Telegraph Office. This was rejected out of hand by Flynn, as otherwise he could not prevent messages placing bets on horses and ones ordering liquor from being sent and received.
While undoubtedly most famous for the organisation that became the RFDS, Flynn's work with the Mission extended well beyond it. As well as the nursing homes, Flynn instituted travelling ministries - ministers travelling vast distances on horseback through the inland. In 1939 Presbyterian Church of Australia
Presbyterian Church of Australia
The Presbyterian Church of Australia is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Australia. .-Beginnings:...
elected Flynn to the primus inter pares
Primus inter pares
Primus inter pares is Latin phrase describing the most senior person of a group sharing the same rank or office.When not used in reference to a specific title, it may indicate that the person so described is formally equal, but looked upon as an authority of special importance by their peers...
role of Moderator-General
Moderator of the General Assembly
The Moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a presbyterian or reformed church. Kirk Sessions and Presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator....
.
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. He was cremated and his remains placed under a large boulder from the Devil's Marbles. In an unfortunate postscript to Flynn's life, the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
Department of Public Works had taken the rock from a site sacred to its traditional owners. After many years of negotiations the rock was returned to its original location in 1998 and replaced with one acceptable to the Aboriginal people, both of the original rock's home and the people on whose land his grave lies.
Flynn was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1933. He is featured on one side of the current Australian 20 dollar note. The Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
suburb of Flynn
Flynn, Australian Capital Territory
Flynn is a suburb in the Canberra district of Belconnen the postcode is 2615. The suburb is named after John Flynn, who was a Presbyterian Minister and Missionary who was mainly responsible for the formation of the Australian Inland Mission Aerial Medical service in 1928. Flynn was the forerunner...
honours his memory. The federal electorate of Flynn
Division of Flynn
The Division of Flynn is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was created in 2006, following a redistribution of seats in the state. It was first contested at the 2007 federal election. The electorate generally extends west from the port city of Gladstone, as far as the...
in Queensland was created by the Australian Electoral Commission
Australian Electoral Commission
The Australian Electoral Commission, or the AEC, is the federal government agency in charge of organising and supervising federal elections and referendums. State and local government elections are overseen by the Electoral Commission in each state and territory.The Australian Electoral Commission...
in 2006.
Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
has announced that they intend naming one of their Airbus A380
Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
s after Flynn in recognition of his contribution to the aviation industry and particularly to his achievement of founding the Royal Australian Flying Doctors Service.
Author Ion Idriess
Ion Idriess
Ion Llewellyn Idriess, OBE was a prolific and influential Australian author. He wrote more than 50 books over 43 years between 1927 to 1969 - an average of one book every 10 months, and twice published three books in one year...
wrote Flynn of the Inland in 1953. The book told of Flynn's life and the establishment and running of the Australian Inland Mission
Australian Inland Mission
The Australian Presbyterian Mission was founded by the Presbyterian Church of Australia to reach those "beyond the farthest fence" with God's Word. It is better known as the Australian Inland Mission . Rev...
.
External links
- Australian Inland Mission collection - digitised images from the National Library of Australia
- http://www.abc.net.au/btn/australians/flynn.htm
- http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/About-Us/Our-History/The-John-Flynn-Story - Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), History of John Flynn
- http://www.rba.gov.au/CurrencyNotes/NotesInCirculation/bio_rev_john_flynn.html
- http://www.clc.org.au/ourculture/flynn.asp
- http://www.churchmousewebsite.co.uk/alice_springs.htm
- http://www.action-graphics.com.au/matilda/pages/cloncurry/cloncurryjohnflynn.html - John Flynn Place, Cloncurry
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