Celebrating the ‘Father of the College’

Tom Nisbet

At the beginning of the year the College was lucky enough to be visited by a descendent of Tom Nisbet who brought more material for the College Archives. The College and JP Trainor Trust thanks the Nisbet Family for their continuing contributions.

In the next edition of Inside News, I hope to deep dive into our recent acquisitions. For now, I would like to illuminate the background history and just how extraordinarily determined Dr Nisbet was to form a formal organisation recognising the field of radiology based in Australia and New Zealand.

Tom Nisbet was born in Townsville in 1892, to Walter Blake Nisbet and his wife, Mildred Janet. Tom’s father Walter himself was a notable radiologist who used X-rays in the Boer War. Following in his father’s footsteps, Dr Alwyn Tom Hayes Nisbet graduated from the University of Sydney in 1915 with a Bachelor of Medicine and then with a Master of Surgery in 1916, he then turned to the field of radiology when serving time as captain in the 9th Field Ambulance of the Australian Medical Corps in England.

Returning to Australia in 1919, Nisbet held appointments as the acting Medical Officer of Health at Townsville then honorary senior radiologist at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, the Hospital for Sick Children, and the Department of Repatriation and Ipswich Hospital, he undertook postgraduate work overseas, and in 1928 was director of the Queensland Cancer Clinic.

In 1929, Nisbet moved to Sydney and set up his private practice as well as being a diagnostic radiologist at Prince of Wales and a deep-ray therapist at the Royal Prince Alfred. During this time, there were no full-time radiotherapists in Australian hospitals. In 1936 there were no beds specifically for cases under the care of radiotherapists.

Nisbet used a 250kV semi-protected deep-ray therapy unit and a superficial X-ray machine. He later used a 400kV Maximar deep X-ray machine.

Beyond his contributions in the field, Dr Nisbet became a powerful voice and leader in the drive towards the formation of an organisation for radiology. In October of 1932, he spoke to the radiological section of the British Medical Association expressing the need for an Australian institute of radiology. A sub-committee made up of Drs Nisbet, Edwards and Sear was tasked to reach out to the states for their opinion and input. Australian radiologists, led by Nisbet, felt that due to the close geographic proximity New Zealand radiologists should consider affiliation and create a combined Australian and New Zealand Institute of Radiology. Extensive discussions between Dr Nisbet and Dr Anderson lead to an acceptance of this alliance.

The Australian and New Zealand Association of Radiology (ANZAR) was formed on 6 February 1935. There were 14 Foundation members including one woman, Dr Leila Keatinge, who was in private practice with Dr Nisbet, and 84 members. At the first Annual Meeting in Canberra on 17 May 1935, Dr Nisbet was elected to be the inaugural President of the Association.

As Dr Holman states in Shadows and Substance ‘Those early days could have been dangerous for the young Association…but the combination of Nisbet and Cutler earned the ... admiration of all of us and it is on their work that the Association has been built.’ radiologists being called to assist and unable to contribute to the Association.

Dr Nisbet resigned as President in 1947 due to ill health. At his last AGM in 1947 Nisbet said ‘I can only say the last 13 years have meant much hard work, but it has been all recompensed to a degree beyond one’s imagination. The welding together of radiologists throughout Australia and New Zealand has been watched with great pride and joy.’

By retiring from his position as President, Nisbet was able to drive the next major change for the Association, becoming a college. After numerous revisions and legal complications, the Articles of Association were passed on 6 October 1949; Nisbet’s dream had become a reality. The College of Radiologists (Australia and New Zealand) was formed (subsequently, The Australasian College of Radiologists).

At the first AGM of the College in 1950 the Roentgen Oration was given in honour of Dr Nisbet and all of his efforts. Due to ill health, Dr Nisbet was unable to take up the role of first president of the College.

Telegram from Tom Nisbet to Dr Sullivan detailing the formation of the College

On 5 November 1953, Dr Tom Nisbet passed away from coronary heart disease. The Nisbet Symposium (and later Nisbet Oration) was introduced to honour his memory and life’s work, a tradition that continues to take place annually at the ASM.

Copy of black and white photograph depicting Walter Nisbet’s early X-ray equipment

I will end with Dr Nisbet’s words in the final paragraph of the Memorandum, which I feel encompass his passion and drive for the formation of the College.

‘… the formation of an educational body, the foundation of a scientific institution constituted in Australia and New Zealand surely means so much for the future and for those who come after us. Let us assist in placing the science, the ethics, the personality of Radiology on the face of the world, at least south of the equator…’

Bibliography:

Tate, Audrey. ‘Nisbet, Alwyn Tom Hays (1892–1953)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/nisbet-alwyntom-hays-13131/text23763, 2005

The Association began with humble beginnings with Dr Nisbet’s own secretary working part-time for the Association and executive meetings being held at his own personal office on Macquarie Street, Sydney. The outbreak of World War Two so close to the formation of the Association made for difficulties, increasing demand for radiologists both at home and abroad caused strain, with numerous senior

Tate, Audrey. Shadows and substance : the history of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, 1949-1999 / Audrey Tate Allen & Unwin St Leonards, N.S.W 1999

Ryan, James. and Sutton, Keith Ashley. and Baigent, Malcolm. Australasian radiology : a history / James Ryan, Keith Sutton, Malcolm Baigent McGraw-Hill Sydney 1996