John Flynn (minister) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Flynn
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John Flynn, 1929
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| Born |
John Flynn
25 November 1880 Moliagul, Colony of Victoria, British Empire
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| Died | 5 May 1951 (aged 70) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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| Education | University High School |
| Occupation | |
| Organisation | Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, Frontier Services and Presbyterian Inland Mission |
| Known for |
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| Spouse(s) | Jean Baird |
John Flynn (born November 25, 1880 – died May 5, 1951) was an Australian Presbyterian minister. He is famous for starting two very important groups. These are the Australian Inland Mission (AIM) and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The Royal Flying Doctor Service was the world's first air ambulance service. It helped people living far away from towns.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
John Flynn went to primary schools in Snake Valley, Sunshine, and Braybrook. He finished high school at University High School in Melbourne when he was 18. He wanted to go to university, but he didn't have enough money.
So, he became a student teacher. He also became very interested in photography and first aid. In 1903, he started training to become a minister. He worked in places like Beech Forest and Buchan. He also wrote a book called Bushman's Companion in 1910.
Helping People in the Outback
In September 1910, John Flynn published The Bushman's Companion. This book was given out for free to people living in the Australian inland. He then became a missioner in a small town called Beltana, about 500 kilometers north of Adelaide.
He was officially made a minister in January 1911. As a missioner, he visited many remote farms and stations. He offered both practical help and spiritual support. Flynn saw how hard it was for people living so far from help.
In 1912, he wrote a report to his church leaders. He explained the challenges of helping people spread out across such a huge area. Because of his ideas, Flynn became the first leader of the Australian Inland Mission. This mission later became Frontier Services.
Flynn had a big dream: to create a "Mantle of Safety" for everyone in the Outback. This meant not just spiritual care, but also medical help. He quickly set up several small hospitals in the bush.
The Flying Doctor Idea
By 1917, Flynn was thinking about new ways to help. He thought about using new technology like radio and airplanes. He believed these could provide faster medical care.
Then, he received a letter from an Australian pilot named Clifford Peel. Clifford was fighting in World War I. He had heard about Flynn's ideas. Clifford wrote about how planes could be used and how much they might cost.
Flynn shared this information in his church's magazine. This was the start of his big effort to raise money. He wanted to create a flying medical service. The very first flight of this Aerial Medical Service happened in 1928. It took off from Cloncurry, Queensland.
Today, there is a museum in Cloncurry called John Flynn Place. It celebrates the start of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Family Life
John Flynn married Jean Blanch Baird on May 7, 1932. Jean was the secretary of the Australian Inland Mission. They got married at the Presbyterian Church in Ashfield, Sydney. John was 51 years old when he got married.
Later Life and Passing
John Flynn retired and passed away in Sydney on May 5, 1951. He was 70 years old. His body was cremated. His ashes were placed under a large rock from the Devils Marbles.
This rock was later returned to its original sacred place in 1998. A new rock, approved by the Aboriginal people, was put in its place.
The land around his grave became a historical reserve in 1957. It is now known as the John Flynn's Grave Historical Reserve.
His wife, Jean, passed away in 1976.
Awards and Recognition
In 1933, John Flynn was given an award called Officer of the Order of the British Empire. This award recognized his important work.
Flynn's Lasting Impact
The work that John Flynn started continues today. The Australian Inland Mission's work is carried on by Frontier Services and the Presbyterian Inland Mission.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service still helps people across the Outback. It continues Flynn's dream of a "Mantle of Safety" for everyone in remote Australia.
Remembering John Flynn
John Flynn is remembered in many ways across Australia:
- He is shown on the back of the Australian twenty-dollar note.
- A suburb in Alice Springs is named Flynn.
- A suburb in Canberra is named Flynn.
- A federal voting area in Queensland is called the Division of Flynn.
- Qantas, an Australian airline, named one of its Airbus A380 planes after him. This was to honor his help in aviation and starting the Flying Doctor Service.
- The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine has a John Flynn Placement Program. This scholarship helps medical students learn about practicing medicine in the Outback.
- The John Flynn Memorial Uniting Church in Alice Springs was opened in 1956.
Many books have been written about John Flynn's life and work:
- Ion Idriess wrote Flynn of the Inland in 1932.
- Barry Brown wrote John Flynn and the Flying Doctor Service in 1960.
- Allan Drummond wrote John Flynn in 2012.
- Rudolph Ivan wrote John Flynn of Flying Doctors and Frontier Faith in 1996.
- Brian C. Peachment wrote Aeroplanes or a Grave: The Story of John Flynn and the Flying Doctor Service.
- W. Scott McPheat wrote John Flynn - Apostle to the Inland in 1963 and John Flynn : Vision of the Inland in 1976.
- Everald Compton wrote John Flynn : The man on the 20 dollar notes in 2016.
A memorial was built for him in 1952. It is located about 24 kilometers north of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. The land around it became the John Flynn Historical Reserve in 1978.
Images for kids
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Flynn's grave, near Alice Springs.
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John Flynn Memorial Church, Alice Springs, 2015
