September 3, 1937
Longreach was established by the Thomson River in the late 1800s. The town got its name from the river’s ‘long reach’. The famous flying Father Flynn – “Flynn of the Inland” and face on the Australian 20 dollar note – flew the world’s first aerial ambulances through here. Then, on September 3, 1937, that other Flynn, Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn, “showed”, in the Mark Twain classic Prince and the Pauper at the (open air) Palace Theater.
This (2020) is the Centenary Year of Qantas – Australia’s most famous corporation, being celebrated at the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach. Adding another illustrious name to the mix, Qantas flew all de Havilland aircraft in its earliest days – aircraft created by aviation design pioneer, Geoffrey de Havilland, Olivia’s cousin.
Celebrate the Qantas Centenary in Longreach
Top Ten Things to Do in Longreach
— Tim
The Real Person!
September 4, 2020 at 2:24 am
Father John Flynn had quite a life and founded Australia’s Royal Flying Doctor Service, an amazing organization. www.flyingdoctor.org…
Gentleman Tim
September 5, 2020 at 1:37 am
Thank you, barb! What a determined and heroic man!!
Per this video, it sounds like he was also a pioneer of the now widespread practice of telemedicine!