“Funny thing about Flynn, he looked like a bloke from the city but always had the smell of the bush about him” Fred McKay.
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.