“FLYNN OF THE INLAND”

Evening Star, Issue 21822, 11 September 1934, Page 6

“FLYNN OF THE INLAND”

VISIT TO MELBOURNE This visit of Mr Flynn to Melbourne is something of a birthday celebration, for the Australian Inland Mission was born at a memorable gathering in Melbourne almost twenty-two years ago. What a wondeiful record of achievement has been established in that time (says the Melbourne ‘ Argus ’). It is not too much to say, perhaps, that the A.l .M.—which means, simply, the Presbyterian Church with its coat off—has become the world’s finest example of practical, romantic,* and courageous missionary enterprise. impelled by the highest motives, the A.I.M. has stood loyally behind the pioneers, helping them physically and refreshing them spiritually. In doing so it has made Christianity verv real in the wide spaces. Its nursing' homes and its flying doctor arc among the greatest boons ever brought to aji v community. How astonishing, after ‘all this, that Mr Flynn should find it necessary to defend the A.I.M. The trouble is that some people have been saying that no church should bo expected to carry such a burden. Mr Flynn's reply is that the work is not a burden hut a privilege. It ranv be hoped that Mr Flynn, like a father defending a favourite child, has overestimated the force of the criticism. There can be lew people who do not appreciate properly the work of the A.I.M. If there are any such people a study of the movement should be beneficial to them. A reading of ‘ll. B. Plowman’s hook, ‘ The Man from Oodnadatta,’ would be a good starting point. Mr Plowman was the first “ travelling parson ’’ of the A.1.M., and his hook is breezy and stimulating. It and its companion, ‘ Camel Pads.’ arc, in Mr Flynn’s opinion, among the best of the numerous hooks on the Inland that have appeared during the last year or two. Another book that he rates highly .is 1 Pack Horse and Waterhole,’ by Gordon Buchanan.

The writer was mildly surprised to learn from Mr Flynn that he does not like the words “ outback ” and “ far-thest-out.” He prefers “ frontier.” “ Outback,” in his opinion, has been marred as a word by writers who. dealing with people in “ pockets ” of the. sub-interior, have found only sordid and grim subjects for discussion. Perhaps there is something in this point. The word “ outback ” fits the sub-in-terior. and “ frontier,” albeit a trifle Americanised, suits the “ back of beyond” the Never-Never the fringe of the unoccupied areas. Whatever the great free spaces of Central Australia may be called, Mr Flynn wants people to believe that region to be a man’s country. In the cities, he says, there is too much of the tyranny' of negation—too many thou shalt nots ” —to enable men to become normal. The cities, in his opinion, need more of the bush spirit of courage' and initiative.