Reverend John Flynn was sent by the Chruch to investigate the needs of bushmen and women living in the Northern Territory in 1912. He found a complete lack of services. Communication was slow and difficult, and Illness and injury was often fatal.
Flynn’s report led to the Australian Inland Mission (AIM) to be established, Flynn became its first superintendent, bringing medical, social, and religious services to the outback communities.
Flynn wanted to have cheap and easy to use wireless communications in every home and bush camp in the outback. In 1928, AIM also set up the first flying doctor base in Cloncurry. This service was eventually handed over to the government, forming the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).
John Flynn died in 1951 and buried by Mount Gillen. In 1952, a year after his death, a large round stone was brought up from Tennant Creek as a marker for Flynn’s Grave.
The stone caused some controversy with the Warumungu and Kaytete people. It was taken from Karlu Karlu, a highly sacred women’s site, also known as The Devils Marbles. The stone is tied to many of their stories, names, and cultural beliefs.
Negotiations lasted for over 20 years, eventually a replacement stone for the grave was supplied from a sacred Caterpillar site.
