Rev. Leonard Daniels

1891 - 1981

The Rev. Leonard Daniels, known as 'the flying padre', is the pioneer of the use of the aeroplane for religious work in Australia. 

He came to the Bush Church Aid Society as a missionary in December 1922, and was allocated to the West Darling mission area.  Based in Wilcannia from 1922 to 1932, the young, English curate ministered to the thousands of people who were then scattered over 66,000 square kilometres in western NSW. It wasn't until 1928 that he took to the skies. His work was wonderfully successful and his use of a plane inspired Rev John Flynn to introduce the Flying Doctor Service of Australia in 1928. 

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16854380 , https://www.kurrajonghistory.org.au/millstones/wm_2008_03.pdf and 
http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2008/11/12/2417791.htm