Flying Doctor book, newspaper clipping
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| Title: | Flying Doctor book, newspaper clipping |
|---|---|
| Identifier: | archives.org.au/Flying_Doctor_book,_newspaper_clipping |
| Parent item: | Flying Doctor book with photos and clippings |
| Storage location: | H.M. Wilson Archives/Folder 2 |
| Date: | |
| Authors: | |
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| License: | © Copyright. The authors of this item reserve all rights. |
| Related people: | Clyde Fenton (create) |
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| Description: | 1966 newspaper clipping about Clyde Fenton retiring from the Commonwealth Department of Health. |
Transcription
28/3/1966
FIRST FLYING DOCTOR QUITS
CANBERRA, Sun.—The pioneer of the flying doctor service in Australia, Dr Clyde Fenton, will retire from the Commonwealth Department of Health on Tuesday.
He has been for several months Commonwealth Acting Director of Health for Victoria.
Health Minister Forbes today paid tribute to Dr Fenton's enterprise and guiding spirit.
He said Dr Fenton had made a valuable contribution to the development of the Department of Health since 1946.
He joined the Commonwealth Public Service in 1934 as a medical officer with the Northern Territory Administration, stationed at Katherine.
He worked in this area till the outbreak of the World War when he joined the R.A.A.F. serving at Batchelor, in the Northern Territory.
OWN PLANE
Before the war Dr Fenton achieved fame by flying his own aircraft on a mileage basis to attend patients in the outback, often under hazardous conditions.
On many occasions he had only car headlights of hurricane lamps to guide him to rugged airstrips for night landings.
He achieved renown both for accepting acute personal hazards and for cutting through official regulations in the interests of his patients.
When the serious crash of his third plane had made it likely that he could no longer afford to carry on, the people of the Northern Territory bought him a new aircraft.
Several months later the government bought a plane for his use.
Dr Fenton received the O.B.E. in 1940 for his work in development of Australia's first flying medical services.
