Tue 10th June – Day 31 – Explore Alice

An early start so we could get out to see the Alice School of the air – run very similarly to distance education but with the added bonus of life lessons over the internet using microphones and cameras. The kids were able to watch a lesson-taking place with the teacher sitting in the studio and the children up to 600km away on their various properties. Being in the top 10% of the state makes this school one to take notice of and if I lived up here that would be my choice.
Next stop the Royal Flying Doctor Service where we learnt all about the Rev. John Flynn, superintendent of the Australian Inland Mission of the Presbyterian Church, who in 1912 decided to do something about improving the medical services of outback Australians. His plan came to fruition in May 1928, when an Adelaide electrical engineer, A.H. Traeger, developed a low-powered, portable, pedal-driven, Morse radio transmitter-receiver with a range of 300 miles. This transceiver, with the use of airplanes, made possible a system of regular long-distance medical consultations and the flying of doctors to patients in emergencies. The flying doctor service is free to all Medicare cardholders but it receives little govt funding and relies mainly on donations – if you ever wonder who to donate your fortune to then think of these guys…..
Ok off the soapbox…. After lunch in the park we headed to the Reptile Centre, just in time for their 1pm hands on demonstration. We all got to hold ‘thorny devils’, ‘ bluetongue lizards; shingleback lizards & black headed pythons and see many central Australian reptiles close up behind glass (it is amazing out here how much you don’t see as most animals come out at night or are so well camouflaged it is near impossible to spot them).
On the way home we stopped at the ‘Broken Spoke’ bike shop in an attempt to replace our shattered bike rack. Leaving empty-handed we discovered the keys in the ignition and all of us outside the locked car. A few blue words, some stomping around, bending of coat hangers and we managed to remove the rear fridge and squeeze in behind the rear seat to flip a lock – another 1hr adventure to be had!!
MacDonnell Range Holiday Park (Big4 - Power $41.35)