Australian Inland Mission at Innamincka: Inland Nurses in the Outback region of South Australia
In the vast expanse of the Strzelecki Desert the prospect of your next meal and a well-earned drink is not always readily apparent. Perhaps that's why some of the locals tend to have a slightly haunted and desperate look.
Out here you can't help but think that everyone and everything is thinking about their next meal - or more to the point, making sure they don't become one.
When you visit the Innamincka Cemetery on the edge of the gibber you realise just how tough and dangerous life can be out here. There are headstones, which recall those who drowned in the Cooper Creek and others who died as a result of riding accidents. And every so often you find other graves which face in a different direction - they are graves of Afghan Cameleers and they face Mecca.
For the people who've always lived out here a major obstacle has been the tyranny of distance, as Tony Agnew explains:
“In the outback even a minor accident can sometimes lead to a major tragedy. Distance was often the killer and that's why the Australian Inland Mission is at Innamincka. It’s where a team of well travelled and very dedicated nurses looked after injured stockman, pastoralists, Afghan Cameleers, the local aboriginal community and anyone who was simply passing through the district.”
Reverend John Flynn, a Presbyterian Minister established the AIM, back in 1912. He saw the need for medical help for sick outback people. The first nursing home or hospital was built at Oodnadatta and by 1926 seven more had been built including the one at Innamincka.
The nurses of the Inland Mission are some of the unsung heroes of the bush. Many ventured into a completely alien environment to provide health care in the most isolated of places.
“There are stories of the nurses having to go out on horseback to do jobs that doctors these days would never even consider doing. I guess they would have had to be something pretty special. They had to learn Morse Code before they came and they had to be able to handle themselves as well as a doctor. They had to be able to handle a horse too. When you think about it they must have been pretty special people.”
Inside the inland Mission, which now doubles as the rangers’ headquarters and local visitors' centre, the photographic display gives an idea of what the philanthropic visitors to the desert had to contend with.
The story of four year old Kevin McArthy underlines the importance of the work done by these Florence Nightingales of the Bush. He scalded his leg with some spilt tea. A common enough accident but one which lead to blood poisoning and a stay in hospital under the care of Sisters Currey and Burchill.
They had to master the pedal radio, which was often their only link to the outside world. Later, it became the link to the Royal Flying Doctor Service which ultimately spelt end for the Australian Inland Mission.
“The reason it was closed was that the RFDS was established. And it was found it was easier for the doctor to come out and fly the injured out than have the hospital or the mission here.”
The Australian Inland Mission at Innamincka is located opposite the local pub.
It's open daily and is free. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards.sa.com.au
