John Flynn (minister)

John Flynn was a minister who helped many people in Australia.

He was born on 25 November 1880, in Moliagul, Victoria. His mother died when he was born. His aunt helped raise him in Sydney for a while. He later lived with his family at Snake Gully. Flynn went to several primary schools in Victoria. He finished high school in Parkville when he was 18. He could not afford university, so he became a teacher. He also learned about first aid and photography. In 1903, he began training to be a minister. He worked in places like Beech Forest and Buchan. He even wrote a book called The Bushman's Companion in 1910.

Flynn spent his life thinking about people in far away places. He saw that people in the outback needed help. These people lived in very isolated spots. In 1911, he moved to Beltana, north of Adelaide. This was a tiny settlement. He worked as a missioner there. He visited many stations in a wide area. He provided both spiritual and practical help to them. By 1912, he became the first leader of the Australian Inland Mission. He wanted to create a "Mantle of Safety" for everyone. This meant making sure people felt protected in the bush. He started by building several bush hospitals.

Flynn knew that new technology could save lives. He thought about using radio and planes to help. In 1917, he received a letter from a pilot named Clifford Peel. Peel was serving in World War I. He wrote about what planes could do and how much they cost. Flynn used this information to raise money. He worked hard to start a flying medical service. The first flight of the Aerial Medical Service happened in 1928. This flight took place in Cloncurry, Queensland. This service became the Royal Flying Doctor Service. It was the first air ambulance in the whole world.

Flynn lived a very busy life. He married Jean Blanch Baird in 1932. She was the secretary of the Australian Inland Mission. The wedding was in Ashfield, Sydney. In 1933, he was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Flynn died in Sydney on 5 May 1951. He was 70 years old.

He was cremated after he died. His remains are near Alice Springs. His grave is in a special historical reserve. This land was made a reserve in 1957. It became a historical reserve in 1978. A special rock marks his grave site.

Many things in Australia remember John Flynn today. You can see his face on the twenty-dollar note.

Some suburbs, like Flynn in Canberra, are named after him. There is even a federal electorate named Flynn in Queensland. The airline Qantas planned to name an Airbus A380 after him. His vision of a "Mantle of Safety" still works today. The Royal Flying Doctor Service still helps people in the outback. The Australian Inland Mission continues through two different church groups. His work changed how people live in remote areas. He showed how planes and radio could bring help to anyone.