The McDonnell Ranges rise unexpectedly from a very flat landscape dotted with salt lakes, random tree lined riverbanks with little water, and the odd cratered hills. I’d remembered the beauty of the ranges, but the view and the colours still took my breath away as I flew into the airport.  Each day I have walked into town using the bridge over the river.  There is no need to, as there is not a drop of water to be seen, but everyone seems to use the bridge - except for the locals sitting in a circle in the shade on the river bed, just as their forbears did for centuries before the bridge was built.

I have already learnt a little of the situation regarding education in the Northern Territory and beyond, especially in the Aboriginal communities, and am eager to learn more.  The next 16 months should be more than a little interesting.

 

Sunday 26 August 2012

I went to John Flynn Memorial Church this morning.  1n 1977, on a Teachers’ College trip to the Centre, a busload of us descended on the church.  It was communion, and we had doubled the congregation, so they had to hurriedly fetch some more wine.  This morning there was no busload or wine, but there were a number of visitors.  The Minister was in Sydney, so a couple from the congregation led the service.  The sermon was delivered by a pilot of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), which was fitting, as John Flynn was at the heart of many of the services provided to the folk of this area.  He was known as ‘Flynn of the Inland’, a Minister who initiated health care services, the RFDS and the School of the Air, an education service for children in areas so remote that they may otherwise have been deprived this basic human right. He lived his faith rather than preaching it, and today people are still reaping the rewards of his dedication.

The pilots of the RFDS have to undergo intensive re-accreditation to ensure they are able to deal with any situation which may arise in the arduous circumstances which are their norm – these areas are prone to high winds, sandstorms, flooding, and very often the flights are made in response to accidents or illness on roads or properties in areas where landing strips are a wish rather than a reality.  The re-assessment is rigorous and fortunately he passed.  May he and the other pilots and RFDS team members continue to be safe in the air and on land.

 

 

http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/about-us/our-history/the-john-flynn-story/

Today (Sunday 1 September) I went to the RFDS Museum with a Sydney friend who was visiting with Sing Australia.  It's hard to believe how much has been achieved from one man's vision and the hard work of so many.  It's possible to get a casualty from the alice Springs area to Adelaide or Darwin in 3 hours flying time - with expert medical care all the way.

Elsewhere, I also heard the story of someone who some 40 years ago drove a car in Lae in Papua New Guinea.  There were numerous rivers, but only half of them had bridges.  One was too deep and they managed to push the fan into the radiator - making a hole the size of her thumb.  What did they use to stop the hole? Bread!  It only needed replacing once, and got them to their destination. 

Resourcefulness.  That's one of the points in the workshop I'm preparing for my teachers. I think I'll use this story as an example.