Sky Bridges

1977, 28 Minutes

In the Australian outback the aeroplane is a taxi, a delivery truck and even a piece of farm equipment. However, it has far more important uses, which can be seen in the story of three men who fly throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory to carry out their work.

Dr Ian Robertson works for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, based in Mount Isa. He holds clinics in isolated communities, and organises medical emergency evacuations. Tony Mathews is an Anglican Archdeacon with the Carpentaria Aerial Mission, based in Cooktown. He flies into remote areas and performs religious rites, such as marriages and baptisms. Mervyn Moriarty, an art teacher with the Australian Flying Art School, holds weekend workshops for isolated artists to meet up and learn their craft.

The aeroplane bridges the distance separating bush dwellers from those services that city people take for granted.

© 2011 National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.