History
The Australian Inland Mission was established in 1912 by the Rev John Flynn (later founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service) of the Presbyterian Church. The initial focus of AIM was to provide medical services to those living in remote Outback areas. In the 1930's the AIM relinquished its control over the RFDS. With the formation of the Uniting Church of Australia in 1977, the work of AIM was continued through the Presbyterian Inland Mission and Frontier Services.
Rev. Leonard Daniels
1891 - 1981
The Rev. Leonard Daniels, known as 'the flying padre', is the pioneer of the use of the aeroplane for
religious work in Australia. He came to the Bush Church Aid Society as a missionary in December 1922, and was allocated to the West Darling mission area. Based in Wilcannia from 1922 to 1932, the young, English curate ministered to the thousands of people who were then scattered over 66,000 square kilometres in western NSW. It wasn't until 1928 that he took to the skies. His work was wonderfully successful and his use of a plane inspired Rev John Flynn to introduce the Flying Doctor Service of Australia in 1928. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16854380 , https://www.kurrajonghistory.org.au/millstones/wm_2008_03.pdf and
The Very Rev. Dr. John Flynn
1880 - 1951
John Flynn devoted his life to making Australia's vast inland safer and less isolated. Ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1912, he was posted to Beltana in the Flinders Ranges. In his 1912 report titled 'The Northern Territory and Central Australia - A Call to the Church' Flynn outlined the practical and spiritual needs of the inland - and the Australian Inland Mission was born. 'Flynn of the Inland' as he became known, threw himself into a range of projects, from establishing bush hospitals to coordinating a group of 'Patrol Padres'.
The Very Rev. Dr. J. Fred McKay
1907 - 2000
In 1934, Rev. Dr. Fred McKay, a newly ordained Presbyterian minister was hoping to pursue theological studies abroad ... but a visit from John Flynn changed the course of his life. Flynn's vivid descriptions of the Australian Inland Mission's work persuaded Fred to become an itinerant 'Patrol Padre'. His 'parish' from one end of the outback to the other, included Cloncurry, the nerve centre of the recently established Flying Doctor Service. In 1938, he married Margaret Robertson, whose hard work and dedication made her a much-loved outback figure in her own right.
Rev. Neil Gough
1965 - 1966
Reverend Neil Gough volunteered to learn to fly in 1963 in Cobar in a Cessna 150. He opened the Cobar base around 1965 and served the Methodist Church Mission as Flying Padre for one year. He made a short film 'Wings over the West'.
Rev. Dr Frank Glen
1967 - 1969
Reverend Dr Frank Glen was from New Zealand and was supposedly 'headhunted' by the Methodist Church to conduct a survey on the viability of a Flying Patrol in the Far West of NSW. He upgraded the plane from the Cessna 150 'IOU' to the Cessna 172 'EFG'.
Rev. Russell Thompson
1970 - 1978
In 1970, Reverend Russell Thompson began his service as a Flying Padre with the Far West Mission, based in Cobar.
Rev. Chris Sparks
1979 - 1983
Reverend Chris Sparks obtained his Private Pilot's Licence in the early-mid 1970s. In 1977 he became the first NSW Methodist minister for the Broken Hill Circuit, previously supplied by SA. In 1979 he took over responsibility for the Far West Mission. In 1981 the aircraft and patrol-base were relocated to Bourke, and the town ministries at Bourke and Brewarrina were added to the area.
Rev. David Robinson
1984 - ?
Reverend David Robinson and his wife Margaret ministered in the west on two occasions; in the 1970's doing a road patrol working out of Wilcannia in conjunction with the Flying Padre, and then in the 1980's with the Flying Patrol.
Rev. Rob Rutzou
? - 2001
If you have information regarding Reverend Rob Rutzou please contact us.
Rev. John Blair
2002 - 2010
Reverend John Blair was instrumental in securing and establishing the 'Flying Patrol Centre' at the Broken Hill Airport. The hangar is still used today to house the Cessna 182N 'IRM'.
Rev. Jorge Rebolledo
2011 - 2012
The Flying Patrol sponsorship was previously financed by the Methodist Church, and the Uniting Church Presbytery and Synod
Board of Mission. In 2011 this transitioned across to the UCA Assembly-sponsored, Frontier Services. Reverend Jorge Rebolledo was the first Far West / Broken Hill Flying Patrol Padre to be sponsored by the UCA Assembly’s Frontier Services.
Ps. David Shrimpton
2014 - current
Pastor David Shrimpton has held his Private Pilot’s Licence since 2002 and is now the ninth Flying Padre in the Far West. In 2015 oversight of the patrol was taken over by the Macquarie Darling Presbytery and NSW / ACT Uniting Church Synod.
Historical Details
Do you have information?
Every effort has been made to accurately represent the history of the Far West NSW Patrol Ministers.
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If you have additional information or archival photos, please contact us.