(1880 - 1951)

John Flynn was born in Moliagul in the State of Victoria. He became a Presbyterian minister in 1911 and one year later was commissioned to report on the needs of the both the Aborigines and white settlers in the Northern Territory and Central Australia.

His work on this report resulted in the establishment of a special mission, the Australian Inland Mission, of which he became superintendent. In 1928 he founded the Aerial Medical Service in Queensland.

He utilised a system of pedal wireless receivers which were located in the outback and connected to his base at Cloncurry. Medical assisance could be offered over the radio, or if the case was more serious, a doctor was flown out to the patient. This service later became known as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and provided a crucial medical service to isolated Australians in need of medical assistance.

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