Alfred Traeger Alfred Traeger Alfred Hermann Traeger, OBE (2 August 1895 – 31 July 1980) was an Australian inventor, chiefly known for the development of the pedal radio. Traeger was born at Glenlee, near Dimboola, Victoria, and raised near Adelaide, South Australia. He was instrumental in the establishment and early success of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. Traeger had an interest in radio for much of his life. During the 1920s, he was contacted by Rev John Flynn to assist in experiments which were to enable remote families access to medical treatment by using radio equipment. He also suggested the
Rev. John Thomas outstanding and selfless lifelong service to the community, the Pietermaritzburg City Council named the street upon which his church and school were situated, Thomas Street. Rev. John Thomas was born in Mackay's Gardens, Madras, India, in 1871. Rev. Thomas and his wife, Grace emigrated to Natal, South Africa in 1890. Conditions in India during this time were vastly deteriorated due to a combination of life-threatening factors which included growing tensions between various religions; the worsening caste system; slow recovery from the Great Famine of 1876–78; and the natural disaster phenomena known as monsoon droughts which was threatening a whole new