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Reverend John FlynnPrint Page Print this page

24-February-2016 (Roger Johnson)
24-February-2016 (Roger Johnson)

Photographs supplied by Roger Johnson / Henry Moulds

The monument commemorates the Reverend John Flynn, founder of the Australian Inland Mission and Royal Flying Doctor Service.  It was instigated by the Cloncurry Shire Council to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the formation of the Royal Flying Doctor Service at Cloncurry. It consists of an obelisk in which is cut a cross supporting a plaque.

The Very Reverend John Flynn D.D., DHF, was born at Moliagul on the Victorian gold-fields 25 November 1880. He became a State school teacher at the age of 18, joined the Presbyterian Church in 1908 and after preliminary training was appointed to the Home Mission Staff, becoming a Shearers` Missionary based at Hamilton Victoria. In 1911 he went to Adelaide and completed his studies being ordained as minister at the age of 31.

Appointed to the Smith of Dunesk Mission at Beltana, South Australia in 1911, he was given the task of surveying the needs of the Inland people. His report led to the establishment of the Australian Inland Mission in 1912 with John Flynn as its first superintendent, a position he held for 39 years. The small nursing home established at Oodnadatta in South Australia inspired the Inland Mission, by 1919 there were six such homes, including one at Cloncurry. In 1925 his stated aim was to minister to settlers of every creed and none, and to provide a nursing home within one hundred miles of every settlement of in the interior. He died in 1951. 

Cloncurry Shire Council is to erect a memorial to Dr. John Flynn ('Flynn of the Inland') at the Cloncurry aerodrome. Last month the council directed its engineer, Mr. J. Mclntyre, to prepare drawings for the memorial, which will be near the passengers' lounge.
Cloncurry Advocate (Qld.), 1 December 1953.

Location

Address:Sir Hudson Fysh Drive, Cloncurry Aerodrome, Cloncurry, 4824
State:QLD
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -20.668894
Long: 140.508619
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Medicine

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:1954
Front Inscription

To the memory of Very Rev John Flynn O. B. E. D. D., founder of the Flying Doctor Service of Australia.

First Superintendent (1912 - 1951) of the Australian Inland Mission

Moderator General of the Presbyterian Church 139 - 1942.

He brought the mantle of safety to the wilderness and the solitary places.

This monument, erected by the residents of the Cloncurry District, commemorates the 25th anniversary of the establishment in 1928 at Cloncurry, of the first operating base of the Flying Doctor Service of Australia.

Source: MA,NRUM,ADB
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au