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John Flynn – Dreams of a Mantle of Safety

This is the story of John Flynn (1885-1951), and Alfred Traegar (1895-1980). Together they were instrumental in the invention of the pedal powered radio and the birth of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Please scroll down to read the story.

Vast distances separate the residents of the homesteads and towns of inland Australia. Up until the early 1900’s, an accident, illness or misfortune could mean a long, lonely wait for help – if help came at all.

The invention of the pedal-powered radio meant that real-time communication between the inhabitants was possible for the very first time.

In the 1920’s, Reverend John Flynn of the Australian Inland Mission (AIM) dreamed of establishing a ‘Mantle of Safety’ that would provide access to emergency medical treatment for those living in the outback.
In 1928, he founded an aerial medical service, later to become known as the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

One major obstacle prevented John Flynn’s dream from becoming a reality. How would people contact the medical service when they were hundreds of miles from anywhere with no phone and no radio?
Enter, Alfred Traegar, inventor.  Radio was his passion.  Alfred Traegar and John Flynn worked closely together.
In 1927, Alfred Traegar invented the pedal powered radio. The radio, or wireless, was both a generator and a receiver / transmitter. The pedal power meant that the hands were free to operate the morse code transmitter.
Later, Alfred Traegar added a keyboard to the pedal powered wireless. The message was still sent in morse code but the operator no longer needed to be familiar with morse code.

During the next decade, 150 pedal sets were in use. The majority were distributed free of charge by the AIM.

Voice transmission problems were eventually overcome and people could speak to one another over vast distances.
The first radio communication by Morse Code took place between Alice Springs and the Hermannsburg Mission.

The first pedal-powered wireless was installed at Cloncurry Queensland. This was the base for the mission’s aerial medical service.

In June 1929, Mrs Gertrude Rothery transmitted the very first message from Augustus Downs Station to Cloncurry Base, a distance of 300 kilometres. The message said – “Greeting by wireless service from Augustus Downs first station installed. Manager, family and station deeply appreciate service rendered, Rothery, Manager” ¹.

The range of the pedal powered radios was about 300 miles or 480 kilometres. For remote homesteads or in adverse conditions, it was necessary for messages to be relayed from one party to another.

This new and vastly enhanced form of communication reduced the loneliness and isolation of people living on remote cattle stations and in outback communities. The pedal-powered wireless made the ‘mantle of safety’ a reality. It was now possible to access emergency services in the event of serious accident or illness.

In the early 1950s, School of the Air lessons commenced broadcasting from the Royal Flying Doctor Service base.

Today, the Royal Flying Doctor Service has a fleet of 63 aircraft operating from 21 bases and provides medical assistance to over 290,000 people every year^1.
  John Flynn Videos

The Mantle of Safety

An interview with an RFDS nurse today

80 Years of the Royal Flying Doctor Service

Morse Code Introduction

John Flynn, Alfred Traeger, pedal radio, RFDS Printable Material

Coming Soon

^1.www.powerhousemuseum.com/australia_innovates