Communication

Women have been central to the process of communication in the West, keeping the various lines of communication open.

They have been the operators of the pedal radio and the party telephone line in the home. They have been pub-keepers, teachers, governesses, health and teachers' aides, postmistresses and telephone exchange operators. In all of these roles (and more) they have been the key to outback communication.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service was established in 1928 to provide a medical service for the outback. Women contributed essential health care to patients and kept the service in the air through communication.

Using pedal radio, Mrs Gertrude Rothery makes the first transmission to the Flying Doctor (19 June 1929).