Flynn of the outback

Another expression of the progressive nature of the Cloncurry community was displayed with the opening of the refurbished John Flynn Place last week.

The museum and art gallery honours the incredible efforts of John Flynn and those who recognised the benefits of a flying medical service to the living conditions of remote Australians and supported his dream.

The refurbishing was only made possible by the untiring efforts of the Friends of John Flynn Association. Apart from its own fundraising efforts it attracted grants from the Anzac Centenary Program and philanthropist the Everald Compton Charitable Trust. The Cloncurry Shire Council funded the exterior renovations.

Mr Compton attended the opening and spoke of the boundless and endless enthusiasm of John Flynn in getting the Royal Flying Doctor Service up and running. He said John Flynn was an expert fund raiser who used his “magic Lantern” one of the original cameras, to attract donations. The camera is on display at John Flynn Place.

Click on the image below for a photo gallery from the opening night.

In his address at the opening ceremony, ex-deputy Prime Minister of Australia and now author, Tim Fisher revealed that the original idea of an aerial service for remote Australia came from a WW1 pilot Clifford Peel who wrote to John Flynn from Europe during the war explaining his idea of using Oodnadatta, Australia, Katherine, NT and Cloncurry in Queensland as the three original bases for a flying doctor service.

He was killed during the war but the letter got back to Flynn and he dedicated the rest of his life to establishing and operating the RFDS. Mr Peel’s grandson Douglas Peel attended the opening as did many grandchildren and great grandchildren of some of the original pilots of the RFDS.

They travelled from all parts of Australia to attend the opening of centre that pays homage to the incredible efforts of their ancestors.

He official opening was followed by a dinner at the Cloncurry Community Centre where 200 guests were treated to some excellent food catered entirely by volunteers. Another example of the great community spirit of this thriving outback town

The Cloncurry John Flynn Place art gallery and museum would not be out of place in any of Australia’s capital cities and is certain to be a major attraction to Cloncurry and the North-West.