Cultured Views

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

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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!.

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