Fly in for a history lesson
THE Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin Tourist Facility provides an insight into the history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Bombing of Darwin Harbour, and is the perfect place to head these school holidays.
Tourist facility manager Sam Bennett said holiday makers could see, experience and learn through the wonder of technology as this facility brings history to life.
“Enjoy the heroic tales of the birth and growth of the RFDS and learn about the history and the activities of the RFDS’s pilots, engineers, doctors and nurses, and the experiences of the patients that are carried and cared for each day,” she said.
The facility contains a lifesize hologram of John Flynn, the Founder of the Flying Doctor Service, and he tells his story of the birth and growth of the RFDS.
“There are two interactive story telling mini ghosts and you can meet Alf Traeger and nurse Kathy who answer selected questions from a touch panel,” Ms Bennett said.
Touchscreen portals allow visitors to learn about the dayto-day life of the RFDS and a decommissioned RFDS Pilatus PC 12 aircraft allows visitors to see inside the aircraft and experience a fully aero medically-equipped fitout.
“There’s a pedal radio invented by Alf Traeger and used by people of the outback and story boards provide very informative reading.”
The tourist facility also lets you relive the drama of the Bombing of Darwin Harbour that rocked Australia in 1942.
“The bombing of the harbour brought destruction to the city of Darwin, and many of the experiences and stories of what happened that day are learnt through the most modern and exciting technology,” Ms Bennett said.
Another life size hologram is of Rear Admiral Etheridge Grant, who was the Commanding Officer of the USS.
William B Preston narrates his own version of the Bombing of Darwin Harbour and there are interactive story telling mini ghosts.
“Meet Prime Minister John Curtin and Japanese Pilot Hajime Toyoshima who answer questions from a touch panel and you can see a virtual reality of the bombing of Darwin Harbour.”
You can also find a full size replica of a Japanese Zero aircraft and a replica of Camilla the Flying Boat that escaped from Darwin Harbour.
The tourist facility is located along Stokes Hill Road.