Menders of the Mind: A History of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 1946-1996

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists was founded in 1946, and this history commemorates its fiftieth anniversary. The authors present a general history of psychiatry's professional body in Australia and New Zealand, and its role in the medical profession and wider society. They trace the College's development and evolution, and examine the role of key leaders in the College's history. The book contains chapters that examine specific aspects of the College's history in more detail, including its specialist training and examination program, and the role of the College in the Chelmsford 'Deep Sleep' and Townsville 'Ward 10B' affairs, which received national media coverage.
In a format that is easy to follow, the book is divided into three parts, each spanning the entire history of the College. The first part of the book provides a synoptic history of the College, which shows how a small, collegial, voluntary association evolved to become a large medical specialist society. Part 2 contains detail on the evolution and nature of the internal structures and functions of the College, and Part 3 examines the external workings of the College and its relationship with the wider world. Based on archival and oral sources, this is a judicious, balanced, and lucid history, and a fitting tribute to the College.