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Heritage

Flynn’s stolen heritage to be restored and re-dedicated

The Australian national memorial desecrated by the ACT Education Department is to be fully restored and re-dedicated following the return of the John Flynn memorial plaque to its rightful place in Flynn.

“The Flynn community is delighted to have this important piece of our heritage back after almost two months of flick-passing within the ACT Government,” said Flynn Primary P&C President, Roger Nicoll.

“We’re holding a special celebration for residents, guests and the wider community to welcome back and re-dedicate the memorial at the Bingle Street site at 12.30pm on Saturday 11 August.

The memorial owners, the National Capital Authority has recently re-affixed the plaque and begun the restoration of the memorial wall after the plaque was held for almost two months by ACT Government agencies.

“There is no question that if the ACT Government was able to remove and damage both the memorial plaque and wall, they should foot the entire repair bill,” according to long-term Flynn resident, Shirley Pipitone. “That is at least what a member of the community would be expected to do if they committed the same vandalism.”

“While we’ve heard lots of different stories about why the ACT Government removed and damaged the plaque and concreted over the memorial wall, we are prepared to accept this could have been an honest mistake,” Mr Nicoll said. “We are inviting Andrew Barr and other representatives at local and Commonwealth level to attend the re-dedication ceremony.”

“The Flynn community appreciates the support of all those who helped secure the return of this important part of Flynn’s heritage,“ Mr Nicoll said. “We hope that this is the first important step towards restoring the school and community centre at Flynn.”


The memorial commemorates the birth of one of Australia’s great heroes, the Very Reverend John Flynn—founder of the Flying Doctor Service and the Australian Inland Mission. It was unveiled in 1980 with a large celebration that included many dignitaries such as relatives of John Flynn’s Royal Flying Doctor’s colleagues and representatives of the Australian Inland Mission, Presbyterian Church and the Goldfields Historical and Art Society (Victoria).

Images from Flynn

Angles on the textured concrete walls

Architecture


Flynn grounds

Landscape setting & grounds


Enrico Taglietti visting the school he designed

History and design


Memorial to John Flynn

Memorial to John Flynn