Bio: Flynn, Alice (90th Birthday - 1979)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Flynn

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 12/13/1979

Fynn, Mrs. Alice (90th Birthday - 1979)

If a person missed his mother’s birthday 27 times in a row, he may be willing to go to great lengths to avoid missing it again, but few people are willing to go as far as John Flynn did. Flynn and his wife Gwen came all the way from Queensland, Australia, to Neillsville to help his mother Alice celebrate her 90th birthday this Thursday and it was the first time in 27 years that he’s been back to his native Neillsville.

Flynn was stationed for a time during WWII in Australia, where he met and married Gwen, the two came to Neillsville in 1945 and lived here for six years, part of which time Flynn served as Neillsville City Clerk. The couple returned to Australia, where Flynn worked as a “commercial traveler” – the Australian term for a traveling salesman- until his recent retirement. Until the 28th of last month, he has not set foot in the United States.

Needless to say, Neillsville has undergone a few changes since Flynn has last seen it. “The main street hardly looks like it did then,” he observed.

Gwen on the other hand, made a trip to Wisconsin five years ago, and Alice, who lives at 224 Ayers St., Neillsville, went to Australia with her late husband Art back in 1962. “I loved it there,” she said.

According to the Flynn’s, life in Australia is much like it is in the United States, especially in the Florida area. Except in the mountains, Australian temperatures rarely drop lower than 55 or 60 degrees and quiet often climb above 100.

Gas prices are about $1.30 per gallon there and cotton clothing is more expensive, but prices otherwise are comparable, Gwen said. She added, however that Australian property taxes ae much lower than they are here, and that Australians have state supported schools and hospitals.

Gwen explained that Australians pay for some of these items by a very high tax on luxury items, such as cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. Queensland’s largest income, however, comes from the extensive state-owned gambling programs. According to Gwen, Queensland holds three $30,000 lotteries per week and one $80,000 lottery per week, every 2-3 months, a lottery with a prize of $? million is held. These lotteries are enough by themselves to support all of the free hospitals in Queensland, Gwen said. In addition, the state holds numerous horse and dog races throughout the year. The Flynn’s are not gamblers, John said, but they have occasionally participated in the lotteries, they’ve won a few times, but their biggest win ever was only $100. In spite of the popularity of gambling in Australia, there are only two Las Vegas-style casinos on the entire continent.

Other means of entertainment in Australia are such games as tennis, soccer, cricket, rugby union, rugby league and lawn bowls. Basketball is also increasingly popular in Australia.

Australians are also fond of sailing and fishing, though the latter pastime is not exactly the same as it is in Wisconsin. One of John and Gwen’s sons, for example, recently went on an over-night fishing trip off the Australian coast and came back with over 500 pounds of fish.

John and Gwen have spent most of their time here visiting Alice and also visiting their 33-year-od daughter Gail, who lives with her husband in Eau Claire. A birthday celebration and family dinner, which 19 persons attended, was held for Alice last Sunday at Bali Hai. Alice’s 90th birthday will be December 13.

The Flynns will remain in Wisconsin until March, after which they plan to return to Australia. “We’ll be back when Mother reaches 100,” John said.

 

 


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