Presbyterian Minister John Flynn had a desire to bring “a mantle of safety” to those living in the remote areas of Australia. WWI Australian fighter pilot John Clifford Peel suggested a blueprint for such a service. Alf Traeger tested and designed equipment that would allow communication across the outback and Hudson Fysh acquired the planes that could be used by an Aerial Medical Service. The vision and tenacity of Flynn brought all these ideas & people together to create one of the most outstanding, helpful and appreciated services in Australia. Something that still serves those in remote & rural Australia since it’s beginning in 1928.
(57 Mins)
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REFERENCES Ep 65
FLYNN, JOHN. The bushman’s companion : a handful of hints for outbackers. Trove. Online. [Accessed February 2023]. Available from: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-52794363
ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE. History of the Flying Doctor |Online. [Accessed February 2023]. Available from: https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/about-the-rfds/history/
ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE. Lieutenant Clifford Peel – Providing a Blueprint for the RFDS |Online. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/news/lieutenant-clifford-peel-providing-blueprint-rfds/
ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE. How Alfred Traeger gave the outback its voice |Online. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/news/how-alfred-traeger-gave-outback-its-voice/
History | RFDS | Dubbo Visitor Centre. Online. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://dubbo.experience.flyingdoctor.org.au/about/history/
KNIGHT, Ken G. Affleck, Arthur Herbert (1903–1966). In: Australian Dictionary of Biography. Online. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/affleck-arthur-herbert-9314
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY. Welch, Kenyon St Vincent – Faculty of Medicine Online Museum and Archive. Online. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine/museum/mwmuseum/index.php/Welch,_Kenyon_St_Vincent
SHOALHAVEN NEWS AND SOUTH COAST DISTRICTS ADVERTISER, 1918. An Aerial Service for Inland Pioneers. Online. New South Wales, 2 November 1918. [Accessed February 2023]. Available from: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112540655
MCDONALD, ROGER, 2002. Australia’s Flying Doctors. . Fremantle Arts Centre Press. ISBN 1-86368-385-2.
School of the Air, 2022. Wikipedia. Online. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=School_of_the_Air&oldid=1127795041
WIKIPEDIA: JEAN WHITE, 2022. Jean White (physician). Wikipedia. Online. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jean_White_(physician)&oldid=1085055424
RFDS Governance | Royal Flying Doctor Service. Online. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/about-the-rfds/governance/
RFDS Statistics | Royal Flying Doctor Service. Online. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/about-the-rfds/facts-and-figures/
ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE. Great Pilgramage: The Royal Flying Doctor Service welcomes the “Great Pilgrimage” |Online. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/nswact/news/royal-flying-doctor-service-welcomes-great-pilgrimage/
Annual Reports for the RFDS | Royal Flying Doctor Service. Online. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/about-the-rfds/annual-reports/
Flying Doctor aircraft fleet | Royal Flying Doctor Service. Online. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/about-the-rfds/our-fleet/
WIKIPEDIA: HAM RADIO, 2023. Etymology of ham radio. Online. [Accessed February 2023]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Etymology_of_ham_radio&oldid=1136691776
History of the Royal Flying Doctor Service – Royal Flying Doctor Service Alice Springs Tourist Facility. Online. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://www.rfdsalicesprings.com.au/about-the-royal-flying-doctor-service/history-of-the-royal-flying-doctor-service
KIEZA, GRANTLEE, 2022. Hudson Fysh. . Sydney, N.S.W.: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-7333-4153-3.
Providing Trusted Primary Health Care | Royal Flying Doctor Service. Online. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/what-we-do/primary-health-care/
What does the RFDS do? | Royal Flying Doctor Service. Online. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/what-we-do/
WIKIPEDIA: RFDS, 2023. Royal Flying Doctor Service. Online. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Flying_Doctor_Service&oldid=1147351384
HANNAM, Peter, 2023. Hole 70 metres deep has opened up following collapse in Snowy Hydro tunnel, officials confirm. The Guardian. Online. 13 February 2023. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/13/hole-70-metres-deep-has-opened-up-following-collapse-in-snowy-hydro-tunnel-officials-confirm
QUINLAN, Heather, 2022. SNOWY 2.0 HEADRACE TUNNEL UPDATE. Snowy Hydro. Online. 16 December 2022. [Accessed April 2023]. Available from: https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/news/snowy-2-0-headrace-tunnel-update/
MARSH, BILL (ed.), 2010. New great Australian Flying Doctor Stories. Sydney, NSW: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-7333-2551-9.
Music, IMAGES & other links:
- Intro/Exit music modified from: ‘Grand Canyon’ by David Löhstana [CCFM Music – 2018]
- Sound snippet: 515293__breviceps__propeller-plane-FREESOUND
- Background: 515293__breviceps__propeller-plane-FREESOUND & 397445__kangaroovindaloo__spinifex-wind-1_FREESOUND
- Image: remote cattle station w airstrip: https://www.bristol.gs/maybe-airline-flying-can-wait-part-2/
- Image RFDS Medijet 24: https://news.anz.com/posts/2019/october/royal-flying-doctors-service-south-australia-remote-healthcare
- Image: pedal radio in use: https://floggerblogger.com/flynn-of-the-inland/
- Image: Pedal Radio [NMA]: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-16/royal-flying-doctor-service-at-national-museum/10122320
- Image: RFDS radio map: https://westprint.com.au/blogs/traegers-pedal-radio/
- Population density map image: https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/5a717784c2562a99ca2573d20010ff17/Body/0.B62!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif
- RFDS Fleet: https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/about-the-rfds/our-fleet/
- RFDS Podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/DXOjn2PO
Other Links:
- Flying Doctor live Flight Radar Map https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/map/
- Yarrangobilly Caves House https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/accommodation/yarrangobilly-caves-house
- https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7525257/yarrangobilly-was-home-to-me/
- Yarrangobilly firefighters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Juh7fwI_kw8