VAST PARISH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22351, 24 February 1936, Page 6

VAST PARISH

AUSTRALIA'S OUTBACK INLANQ MISSION'S WORK CARE OP LONELY SETTLERS 'AIRCRAFT AND RADIO USED "The greatest Church venture in Australia and possibly in the world," is how competent observers describe the Australian Inland Mission, according to Mr. L. G. Blanchard, of Sydney, who is visiting Wellington as the guest of hisi brother, the Rev. J. R. Blanchard, of St. John's Presbyterian Church. A few years ago Mr. Blanchard disposed of the business in which he was engaged in Sydney in order to enter upon the prescribed course of training for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. Having successfully completed bis examination, it is his intention to offer himself this year for service with the Australian Inland Mission. "By pressing the aeroplane and the radio into its service, the Australian Inland Mission—familiarly known as the 'A.I.M.' —has shown that the Church is fully alive to the significance of the highest developments of modern science and is not content to lag in the onward movement of human progress,"' Mr. Blanchard stated in an interview. Flying Doctors "It was founded by the Presbyterian Church of , Australia over 25 years ago aiid that Church continues to bear the responsibility of the vast undertakings which the mission has in hand. Nevertheless, the mission serves everybody within its area. It does not ask people what their creed is; it seeks only to know what their need is and to fueet it. "Its - well-equipped chain of nursing homes in isolated areas, its thoroughly organised - scheme of flying doctors, and its generous network of wireless facilities —both transmitting and receiving—in homes, many of which are 100 or 200 and more miles from 'nowhere,' have done much to dispel the killing loneliness of the interior, to eliminate the dread of sickness and accident which is the undertone of life ill those -parts, and thus spread the mantle of safety over the men, women and children who dwell there. "Where people of both sexes and of all ages perished 25 years aco, their descendants of to-day are being kept safe and sound by the activities ot tne mission. In these ways, it has shown that the hiessage of Christianity is a gospel for the bodies and minds of men, women and children, as well as a salvation for their souls. A Wonderful Leader "Without question, the Rev. John Flynn, the superintendent, is the life and soul of the Australian Inland Mission. In saying that, I do not suggest any disparagement of the army of inen and women on the field in the Inland, and on committees in the various cities of Australia, who carry out the work that has to be done year in and year out; work that is often of a most prosaic character. Unanimously they salute John Flynn as their leader. "I am interested to learn from my brother,that he has opened up correspendenc'e with Mr. Flynn with a view to his paying a visit to New Zealand next year. If that is arranged, New Zealanders will have the opportunity of meeting this unique character, and I would urge them to make the most of I;heir opportunity. "To appreciate what the Australian Inland Mission is doing in Australia," concluded Mr. Blanchard, "one needs to have some idea of the size of its parish. . You can put the North Island of New Zealand over 44 times into its parish, the South Island over 34 times, and the whole Dominion over 19 times. This inland parish is sparsely populated. .In one district of 40,000 square miles, for example, there are only 10 women ;*nd girls and 34 men and boys."