In 2009, the College celebrated its 60th anniversary. The following is a collection of material from the archives that traces the College history through its milestones.
The Foundation of the College
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At the Radiological Section meeting of the BMA in Sydney on 14 October 1932, Dr Tom Nisbet proposed the establishment of an Australian Institute of Radiology. New Zealand radiologists were asked if they would consider affiliation and they accepted. In January 1934 at the BMA Congress in Hobart, a draft Memorandum and Articles of Association were submitted for discussion.
Dr J Stanley Verco from Adelaide was adamant that the word ‘Institute’ should not be used.
(The British Institute of Radiologists was experiencing problems at the time and the view was the new society should be independent of the British Institute.) It was therefore decided that the name should be the Australian and New Zealand Association of Radiology.
ANZAR
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The Australian and New Zealand Association of Radiology (ANZAR) was incorporated on 6 February 1935. Dr Tom Nisbet was elected President and the first annual meeting was held in Canberra on 17 May 1935.
The Australian and New Zealand Association of Radiologists
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The name of the Association was changed on 26 May 1942 to the Australian and New Zealand Association of Radiologists as the previous name was ungrammatical!
Dr Nisbet explained “…we could not have an Association of Radiology whereas we could have an Institute of Radiology.”
Formation of the College
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Telegram sent by Dr Nisbet to Dr John O’Sullivan on the occasion of the inauguration of the College, 5 October 1949. Dr O’Sullivan was the last president of the ANZAR. Drs Nisbet and O’Sullivan were instrumental in the establishment of the College.
Change of name 1949
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The change in name of the Association to the College of Radiologists (Australia and New Zealand) was confirmed at the eighth AGM in Sydney on 26 June 1949, and became official on 18 October 1949.
The College Coat of Arms
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The Coat of Arms was officially granted by the Queen on 2 September 1964. The motto Lumen Afferimus Morbis – We Cast Light on Disease – was suggested by Victoria’s Dr Colin Macdonald.
Further name changes
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The College has undergone three further name changes since its formation in 1949. It received the Royal prefix in 1972. It became The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists in 1998.
The anniversary display at CSM 2009
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The 60th anniversary display at the Combined Scientific Meeting held in Brisbane, 22-25 October 2009.
