Constructed of stone gathered from local mining areas, chimneys of pioneer homes, and from the slopes of Mount Moliagul, this striking monument is decorated with marble and red sandstone from Central Australia and an aeroplane propeller supplied by Australian National Airways.
Moliagul - the birthplace of John Flynn
Moliagul may be world-famous for yielding the Welcome Stranger gold nugget, but it was also the birth-place of Reverend John Flynn - one of Australia's greatest visionaries.
Born in 1880 opposite the spot where this memorial stands, John Flynn went on to create the Flying Doctor Service and make medical assistance available to people living and working in Australia's remote outback.
History and information
An information sign stands beside the memorial which features a photograph of Flynn, who you may recognise from his portrait on the Australian $20.00 note.
This sign displays the following text:
The Moliagul School was built in 1871 with Thomas Flynn as principal. His son John Flynn went on to University High School and became a minister in the Presbyterian Church.
Sent to outback missions, Flynn opened a string of nursing hostels serving all in the isolated bush; aboriginal families alongside whites.
In 1928 he set up the Flying Doctor Service. The boy who left Moliagul as a three-year-old had used radio and planes to bring medicine to the most remote corners of the continent.
The remnants of gold-era Moliagul are scattered around the Flynn Memorial: McCoy's General Store, Mt Moliagul Hotel and St Michael's and All Angels Anglican Church, a simple English Gothic building opened in March 1865.
The stone memorial bears a marble plaque which displays the following text:
The Very Rev. John Flynn 1880-1951 OBE DD
Founder of Australian Inland Mission and the Flying Doctor Service was born at Moliagul opposite this spot.
He spread a mantle of safety over inland Australia by aviation, radio and medicine, and brought spiritual comfort, gladness, and rejoicing.
"Across the lonely places of the land, he planted kindness and gathered love"
You can find out more about John Flynn and this memorial over at:
BBQ
Moliagul
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