Special thanks to the founding Director of the NSW Central Cancer Registry - Dr Joyce Ford
The idea of a written, catalogued registry of man's afflictions in order to understand them better dates to at least the late 16th century. Fast forward four centuries and in 1972, cancer registration began in New South Wales.
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Dr Joyce Ford in 1972
photo courtesy: Mitchell Library State Library of NSW
Dr Joyce Clinch (nee Ford) was appointed in 1971 to establish the NSW Central Cancer Registry – the first in Australia. She built up an internationally recognised facility before retiring in 1989. She brought a balanced expertise to the job, always requiring high standard in data acquisition, coding and analysis. Dr Ford encouraged collaborative and epidemiological studies and provided information for education, planning and research.
Dr Ford understood the importance of cancer registries; the fact that they collect accurate and complete cancer data that can be used for cancer control and epidemiological research, public health program planning, and patient care improvement. Ultimately, all of these activities reduce the burden of cancer.
It was her dedication to cancer control and her position that made her an obvious selection to receive the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2005 for service to medicine, particularly through the development of cancer registries in Australia.
Sadly, Dr Ford died on May 6th this year but will be remembered for her development of and dedication to cancer registries in Australia. We would like to express our deep gratitude and appreciation for Joyce’s significant contribution towards cancer control in NSW.