Cultured Views

Aussie hero’s 3: John Flynn - the Royal Flying Doctor Service

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

I wonder how many people actually realise just how remote many parts of Australia are.  And that people do live in these areas. There was a time when if someone fell ill, or had an accident, help often never got there in time. But today, because of Australian John Flynn, the people of outback Australia now have the Royal Flying Doctor Service to rescue them in their time of need.

The service was formed in 1928 by the Rev John Flynn, a Presbyterian mission worker and for it’s first year was known as the Aerial Medical Service. Flynn had been instrumental in establishing hospitals in bush communities after several tragic incidences befalling outback bush settlers, one significant case being that of stockman Jimmy Darcy. He had been injured and because of the remote region an operation was conducted on him with a local doctor performing the surgery from instructions transmitted to him via morse code from a surgeon in Perth. This surgeon then made a ten day trek to see the patient who had since died from complications. Because of the inadequate communications available to the outback doctors in times like these, plus lack of efficient transport to ill patients, Flynn decided that something needed to be done.

By combining the new technology of flight and radio, Flynn put together a service that saw doctors and nurses ( the first being Myra Blanch  the founder of the ‘Flying Sister’s’) being able to fly directly to wherever their patients were. The process of putting this all together was complicated and required heavy funding relying in community support.

Today, the Royal Flying Doctor Service exists providing a support network of doctors and nurses to all of the most remote regions of outback Australia. The service still depends heavily on community, public financial support and regular fundraising. Not only are aircraft used nowadays, but four wheel drives have been recruited into providing valuable transport to hospitals and townships.

Thanks to John Flynn!.

Popularity: 12% [?]

The shame in Burma

A Japanese photographer lies prone on the ground, his arms raised above his head in surrender, a camera in his right hand. Hovering over him is a soldier with a machine gun aimed at the man…seconds later the photographer is dead and the gunman moves away.

This is what is happening in Burma (Myanmar) right now. Bloodshed; troops firing on their own fellow countrymen, buddhist temples being ransacked and destroyed, buddhist monks being beaten and killed. It seems unbelievable that buddhism - that most universal advocate of peace - is at the centre of this violent human storm in Rangoon, Burma.

I always have the utmost admiration for people, living under oppressive and violent regimes, who have the courage to stand up against those regimes. Often at the cost of many of their own lives; remember the 1989 students uprising in Tiananmen Square China?. Again, many killed by their own people.

The Buddhist monks in Burma were bravely leading the people in a protest against the military regime there that is causing so much misery in that country. The citizens have had enough, they want freedom and peace. Two things that are so taken for granted in so many other places in the world. In countries like Australia, the UK and the US the people can protest peacefully; in places like Burma they get shot.

But that image of the dead Japanese photographer stands alone. An unarmed man seeking only to warn the outside world about what was going on at a moment in time, armed only with a camera, is killed. It represents the final stance that many ordinary citizens in Burma are now prepared to take.

For freedom and peace.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Looking for an X-Box?

With Xmas coming most parents with teenagers, well, kids of any age really, will be looking for gaming equipment. We all know that the xbox is at the top of things to have these days, but the cost can set you back. So, where can you purchase a cheap xbox 360?…actually at cheap xbox 360!.

This is a good site that parents will be able to use to source the stuff that the kids want a gifts these days, and ease of use is important if it us parents using it. Most of the gaming sites are overcrowded and ‘flash’ at you but this one has layout that is basic and easy to use. They don’t just deal in the 360’s though: would you like to able to get your hands on a nice cheap ps3 or some cheap iphones?. You will find that they have everything under the one roof here and not only that but reviews on the stuff so you can read up before you buy.

You will find the best deals here than anywhere else on the internet today and here’s a bonus; you can even take advantage of their free ten day trial on rental games. Sounds great to me.

Popularity: 12% [?]