John Flynn's Grave Historical Reserve
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Lot 690, Larapinta Drive. Town of Alice Springs (Reserve 995). | 
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| Gazettal Date | |
| 27th August 2003 Northern Territory Government Gazette No. G34 | |
| Description | |
| Occupying 0.34ha the reserve is situated amongst the low rocky hills that are found around the town and north of the MacDonnell Ranges.
Flynn's grave consists of the replacement granite boulder which sits on a base measuring about 1m x 1m x 0.8 and constructed of sandstone slabs set in a cement mortar with a cement render capping on top. |
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| Statement of Heritage Value | |
| John Flynn's Grave Historical Reserve is of both Territory and National significance as the final resting place of the man who is renowned for his contribution to the Territory and Outback Australia.
John Flynn's visionary ‘Mantle of Safety' included the provision of medical services, nursing homes, boundary-riding padres and traveling libraries together with a communication system that enabled people of the isolated outback to bond together and access medical care in times of emergency and other sickness. He was the instigator and first superintendent of the Australian Inland Mission and played a key role in the development of the pedal wireless in the mid 1920's. This development later ensured the success of the Flying Doctor Scheme that commenced in May 1928, the precursor to the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The Reserve is valued by the community for its associations with the Reverend John Flynn and as a tribute to his life and works. It is also valued by the local Aboriginal community as a symbol of reconciliation following the return of the original boulder to the Devil's Marbles, and replacement with a boulder from an Arrernte sacred site in September 1999. |
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| Further Reading | |
| Grant, A. (1989). Camel, Train and Aeroplane: The story of Skipper Partridge. Frontier Publishing: Erskineville.
Griffiths, M. (1993). The Silent Heart: Flynn of the Inland. Kangaroo Press Pty Ltd: Kenthurst. Idriess, I. (1932). Flynn of the Inland . Angus and Robertson: Sydney. McKay, J.F. (1995). Traeger: The pedal radio man. Booralong Press: Brisbane McKenzie, M. (1979). No Town Like Alice. Rigby: Sydney. McKenzie, M. (1998). Devil's Marble: John Flynns Grave in Central Australia. Booralong Press: Brisbane. |
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