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| BACK HOME History Of The Royal Flying Doctor The RFDS began as a dream of the Rev John Flynn. As a minister with the Presbyterian Church, Rev Flynn saw the daily struggle of pioneers who had only two doctors serving an area of almost 2 million square kilometres. His vision was to provide a "mantle of Safety" for the people of the Inland. Flynn worked to draw together the experimental technologies of aviation and wireless to established the RFDS and serve the needs of these people. Originally known as the Aerial Medical Service, the Flying Doctors became operational in May 1928. The RFDS survived the depression of the early 1930s, and went on to established bases across the country. In 1936 the NSW Section was established with a base in Broken Hill. June, 1937 the Broken Hill branch of the Australian Aerial Medical Service (renamed the Flying Doctor Service in 1941) began operating under Dr L. E. Odlum from a residence in Wicks Street. Pedal-operated transceivers, the invention of Alfred Traeger of Adelaide, were distributed to outback station properties during the year in preparation for the establishment of a radio network. June 28 a new Flying Doctors Base four miles east of Broken Hill was officially opened by Lord Gowrie. At that time, the local service was under the control of Doctor John Woods and the Flying Doctor aircraft was piloted by Aero Club instructor, Dan Collins. 1948 Flying Doctor J.G. Woods who had been in the district for nine years resigned from the Flying Doctor Service to further his studies in London. The Flying Doctor Service appointed Sister Blanche to make regular outback patrols in a motor vehicle; on her first patrol she was accompanied by Mrs G. Alder who knew the district well. 1988 the Flying Doctors Base on the Wilcannia Road closed, and shifted to the Old Terminal at the Airport in April, and on April 9, 1988 the new Flying Doctor Base at the airport was officially opened. END |
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| Flying Doctors Base Wilcannia road closed in 1988 |