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Under Flynn’s Wings – celebrating eighty years of the Royal Flying Doctor ServiceWest Australian artist and quilter Jocelyne Leath wins prestigious Royal Flying Doctor Service National Quilting Competition. The Under Flynn’s Wings competition was coordinated by the Victorian Quilters Inc to honour the eightieth anniversary of the service and commemorate the story through a stitch in time. Quilters were asked to design a piece that depicted the work and/or environment of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. From fifty superb entrants, the winning quilt was announced recently by National Chairman of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Mr Tim Fischer, as Jocelyne Leath’s “Beyond the Dream – The Impossible Dream.” Jocelyne’s extraordinary quilt, pictured below, took two years to create – it is hand pieced, machine embroidered and quilted. The centre of the quilt depicts the Reverend John Flynn in a map of Australia and rays of light and hope – also a symbol of the RFDS reaching out. The centre panel includes scenes from national parks from every Australian state and territory. Royal Flying Doctor Service Board member and competition organiser Denise Reynolds said, “The exhibition exceeded all my expectations in representing what the Royal Flying Doctor Service means to Australia. The Quiltmakers have depicted the history, environment, operations and hope that the Royal Flying Doctor Service gives to all who work, live and travel in rural and remote Australia. They are all works of art.” The Royal Flying Doctor Service was established in 1928 by the late Reverend John Flynn to bring health care and medical emergency services to those living, working and travelling in remote areas of Australia. Through a combination of medicine, aviation and radio – the dream of one man came to fruition. Today, the service covers 7.15 million sq km, an area roughly the size of Western Europe and incorporates 82 doctors, 120 nurses, 135 pilots and 20 bases throughout Australia. To view entries in this competition click here.
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