CANCER SOCIETY STRUCTURE

The Cancer Society of New Zealand consists of a National Office (in Wellington) and six regional Divisions, as below. 
 
Each division raises its own funds to collectively fund the National Office, and the range of support services varies in different parts of the country.

The Cancer Society Otago Southland Division is the southern most division of the New Zealand Cancer Society and has offices in Dunedin and Invercargill.

Click here to view the Cancer Society Structure document

HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY

In 1929, the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign was formed. In 1963, it became The Cancer Society of New Zealand Inc. During its early years the Cancer Society started clinics to give advice to people who thought they had cancer.

Early research laboratories set up by the Cancer Society were focused on the use of radium and other substances to treat cancer. The Society also has a history of raising funds to help purchase radiotherapy equipment for hospitals.

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND DIVISION INC.                                                                                                                           Professor John Heslop introduces a brief history of the first Sixty years of the Otago and Southland Division Inc of the Cancer Society of New Zealand, from the Book “Clipping the Claws” by Dunedin historian and journalist  Gordon Parry.

Sixty years have elapsed since that triumvirate from Great King Street, Professor Sir Louis Barnett, Professor Sir Gordon Bell and Professor Eric D'Ath, decided that cancer patients in Otago and Southland needed some sort of support organisation. It is interesting to reflect that the genesis of this admirable idea came from the profession and not directly from the public. These eminent medical men were no doubt prompted by similar happenings in Britain just a few years previously in the 20's . But the local initiative was wholly appropriate and forward thinking in this country. The financial climate was not propitious, with the great crash of 1929 throwing the country into economic disarray. They were not however deterred, and with a small group of helpers from the community, managed to start the organisation and to ensure its survival.

Today when there are support organisations for most diseases that have an impact in the community, it is hard to realise that this effort in the cancer field was a major pioneering exercise.

Perhaps wisely they concentrated in the first instance on welfare and research, and it was only in later years that they became heavily involved in cancer education and prevention. Their foresight in establishing the first cancer research unit in New Zealand was not only a progressive step forward in medicine in this country, but showed quite clearly that they understood that no system of medicine attending to the needs of the community can reach full fruition and expertise without a background of basic and applied research.

As befitted the Scottish origins of their city they were often cautious in their approach and careful in their financial husbandry. Nevertheless, when the occasion demanded they were bold and far seeing.

During the first 40 odd years of this society these three men and their later collaborators (like Ted Reid, Arthur Ibbotson and Norman Speight) achieved many outstanding advances in the investigation and treatment of cancer patients. One has only to think of the inspired appointment of Franz and Marianne Bielschowsky to run the research unit. And then there was the magnificent local appeal that resulted in the purchase of the Betatron, and the establishment of the Radiotherapy Department at Wakari Hospital, together with the building of Padget House at Wakari Hospital for patients receiving outpatient therapy.

Their understanding in the later period of the importance of education in the cancer field, and the appointment of Miss Joan Vale as the first education officer, was a suitable rounding off of their development of the three arms of the Cancer Society's work, namely research, welfare and education.

They have departed the scene, but it is pleasing that the continuing efforts of the Society in the last two decades have enlarged and embellished the work started over two generations ago. It is therefore with pleasure that we record our appreciation of the efforts of those who have decided to place on record the first 60 years of work in the Otago and Southland Division, and to mark this anniversary with the building of a new accommodation complex in Great King Street.

John Heslop CH.M F.R.C.S.(Eng.)F.R.A.C.S.

Chairman Otago and Southland Division Inc. 1973-1985

N.Z. President, 1985-86