We honour the life and legacy of Professor Jim Denham OAM, Senior Staff Specialist in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Calvary Mater Newcastle, for more than three decades.

Jim died on 29 March 2026 at the age of 75, leaving a remarkable legacy at Calvary Mater Newcastle through his exceptional care for patients, his mentorship of colleagues, and his pioneering work in prostate cancer research.

Jim once said, “At the end of the working day, I get to go home and be with my family, and that is the same wish I have for my patients”. Throughout his career, Jim always put his patients first, providing excellent care that was compassionate, patient-centred, and grounded in humility.

After qualifying as a radiation oncologist in the United Kingdom in 1983, Jim migrated to Australia and began his career at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

In 1987, he joined the Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital (now Calvary Mater Newcastle), where he later served as Director of the Department of Radiation Oncology until 1992. He continued thereafter as a full-time Senior Staff Specialist, dedicating his life’s work to the public health system.

Jim’s contributions to Calvary Mater Newcastle and the broader field of radiation oncology are profound.

Today, the hospital’s Department of Radiation Oncology is recognised as a national and international leader in radiation oncology research, an achievement built on the dedication of its staff and the strength of its leadership over many years.

Jim was also a passionate advocate for postgraduate training and played an important role in shaping radiotherapy education across New South Wales. Calvary Mater Newcastle is now the largest trainer of Radiation Therapists in the state, which the hospital is very proud.

In the late 1990s Jim began specialising in prostate cancer. Spurred on by the impact this disease was having on members of the community, in 2006 Jim participated in the “Little Prick” community awareness campaign that saw him join forces with local community figures, groups and charities to be a public advocate.

Jim was a ‘pioneer of prostate cancer research’ and spearheaded many clinical trials and research studies.

Jim accomplished a lot through research, particularly with regards to the significant advancements he made in the field of radiation oncology including improving the outcomes for men with prostate cancer.

During his directorship, Jim was instrumental in establishing one of Australia’s largest clinical trials groups, the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG), and in guiding its growth; the organisation remains based on the Mater campus.

He was also responsible for directing the 15-year 96.01 trial, for men with locally advanced prostate cancer that enrolled 818 participants between 1996 and 2000.

Many new findings also emerged from the RADAR trial that Jim led over many years. This was the largest trial of its type across the world, enrolling 1,071 men with newly-diagnosed aggressive but localised prostate cancer between 2003 and 2007.

This trial, which investigated hormone treatment after radiation therapy, provided practice-changing evidence of a treatment combination that resulted in a large reduction in the spread of high-grade prostate cancer with limited side effects, ultimately saving the lives of people whose cancer could have otherwise spread.

Jim’s resume was impressive, yet throughout his career he remained humble about his achievements.

Such was his influence and dedication to the field Jim was recognised with many accolades, including a Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2016 Australia Day’s Honours List.

Jim remained dedicated to collaborating in the development of new radiation treatment approaches that achieved meaningful benefits for patients in Australia and worldwide up until he retired in 2019.

Roz Everingham, General Manager, Calvary Mater Newcastle said, “The impact Jim had on the Mater and our community is incredible. We are thankful for his loyalty and dedication throughout the years and the countless lives he saved.”