The Gawler Foundation-Yarra Valley Living Centre Co-founder Grace Gawler
Grace Gawler’s Memoirs, Grace Grit and Gratitude, for the first time, tells the story of how the Gawler Foundation and the Yarra Valley Living Centre came into existence.
The following is an exerpt from the book:
Chapter 20
“It was late evening when we arrived at a small village called Yarra Junction in the heart of the Yarra Valley. It had been a ten-hour drive and too late to arrive at Roger’s unannounced, so we spent the night at the local caravan park. What a surprise when we awoke the next morning! Surrounded by mountains, old gracious gum trees and a river, the ground itself hummed with nature’s rhythms; the bird choruses were amazing and the air was crispy clean. I had never experienced such things before. In the freshness and dewiness of the early morning, bright blue sky above me, baby on my back, I pirouetted on the spot, taking in the awesome 360º views and breathing in the delicious aromas created by warm sun on gum trees. It was my birthday, November 19, 1979 and I had found home.”
Chapter 21 - On the threshold of a Dream
”Inspired by the events of the early morning, we landed on the doorstep of the local real estate office at nine o’clock. Read more
Grace Gawler’s Grit and Gratitude
Since its release in early October, Grace Gawler’s Memoirs, Grace, Grit and Gratitude has gathered excellent feedback from readers in Australia and New Zealand. In these troubled times the world is ready for more stories of hope and inspiration. A few recent comments from readers are listed below.
John W. Travis, MD, MPH, co-author, Wellness Workbook writes:
“As a Johns Hopkins preventive medicine-trained physician, who developed the first wellness centre in the US, I am very aware of the need for balance around health issues. Grace Gawler’s memoirs, Grace, Grit, and Gratitude, apart from being an inspiring and gripping story, alerts the reader to a whole host of assumptions that are prevalent regarding cancer healing. It is a vital exploration into what really heals. The book is aptly named! Read more
Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Grace Gawler’s Book: Women of Silence
October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is almost upon us - the month when fundraising becomes vigilant for breast cancer research. Based on my 30 years of working in the field of supportive care medicine and pyscho-emotional support for those experiencing breast cancer; I would like to see more emphasis placed on these supportive care factors - in other words, we need to see dollars going towards pro-active and educative support groups as well as for medical research. We need to be aware of helping women NOW! How can we effectively support women through their trauma, help them build resilence, improve emotional health and lifestyle, improve life quality and longevity? Read more
Review - Grace Grit and Gratitude by Eve Hillary
Book Review of Grace, Grit and Gratitude – Grace Gawler
By Eve Hillary (September 14 2008)
Grace Gawler’s memoirs, Grace, Grit and Gratitude kept me reading well into the night. The book is written in an easy style that rewards the reader with insights into Grace as a woman, mother, wife, carer, healer and pioneer of the original supportive care movement for cancer patients in Australia.
A uniquely Australian story, Grace brings alive the 1950’s Australia of her childhood. Her love of animals drew her into vet nursing. She teams up with a young vet and they set up a seemingly idyllic Victorian country vet practise. Almost immediately after their romance develops he is diagnosed with a usually fatal type of cancer. Their relationship unfolds in the shadow of his illness. Meanwhile Grace has grown into a beauty and comes to the attention of a modelling agency. She forgoes lucrative modelling opportunities in order to remain her boyfriend’s full time carer and they marry doctors give him only a few weeks to live. Later their marriage becomes the fertile ground from which Grace discovers the depth of her ability to love and to heal. In time, he becomes well again and for a while, they flourish and are further blessed with four children. Their journey into his healing and their joint establishment of the Gawler Foundation is alone worth reading. But what was originally a lifeline for Ian comes at a price for Grace. Read more
Grace Gawler publishes her Memoirs: An Australian woman’s story of triumph over Adversity.
The following extract is from the back cover of Grace’s new book which was 8 years in the writing. (Pip Cornall)
In 1975, Grace Gawler had a promising future. A brilliant young vet nurse planning to study veterinary medicine, she received a lucrative modelling offer, which would have paid her university fees. Concurrently, her boyfriend lost his leg to bone cancer. Read more
Why Grace Gawler deserves the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) by Pip Cornall
I’m taking a liberty to write this post on Grace’s site that she would never do herself. I do it because I’m adamant her work is recognised. Please read on…..
Ian Gawler was awarded the OAM in 1987 for services to the community. His tenacity and courage in overcoming cancer are legendary; his part in co-founding the Gawler Foundation and his subsequent books are well known.
What is not so well known but of equal maginitude, is the life saving role played by his then girlfriend, later to become wife, Grace Gawler. Hers is a story of loyalty, unselfish service and unshakable faith in the face of overpowering adversity. Hers is the story of a great Australian woman. Read more
A life with Grace - a recipe for excellence - how to create a cancer recovery expert - by Pip Cornall
This is a recipe for cooking up a world healer, you’ll replicate an amazing healer - one who has helped and continues to help thousands of people find hope and thrive their way through the cancer journey. It is a rich and amazing recipe ……I hope you read on. Read more
Gawler Cancer Recovery: 5-day Retreats for Exceptional Healing with Australia’s Most Experienced Pioneer in Cancer Recovery.
I have launched a new website for retreats www.gawlerretreats.com.au
www.gracegawler.com will continue as an informational and sales website but to clarify types of retreats, locations and handle enquiries personally; I believe this new site will simplify and as well as personalise my services.
Check the retreat site regularly for updates on Health Practitioner, Spa, Wellness, and other retreats including Rafting for Recovery - a new wellness in the wilderness soft eco adventure experience for people who are recovering from cancer. Learn meditation and imagery to heal and help in your recovery; as well as learning an amazing array of helpful methods gained during my more than 30 year experience in the field of cancer….all of this in the picturesque surrounds of massive redwood forests, lakes and scenic rivers in Oregon USA. A true healing holiday. The inaugural group begins September 1 - 5 2008.
Email me grace@gawlerretreats.com.au for more information or visit my associate site www.redwoodriverjourneys.com
Eckhart Tolle discussions on Oprah’s new webinar - this is my experience of living with presence
Last night I watched the latest of Oprah Winfrey’s presentations “A New Earth Web Event”; a forum that demonstrates the awesome use of technology and how consciousness-changing information can be instantaneously broadcast around the globe. Oprah interviewed Eckhart Tolle; the discussion focussed around issues of presence and embodiment. I was delighted to see these two important qualities of human existence recognised as fundamental to our experience of life. They are imperative if not essential qualities for total health, healing and recovery from all ailments of the human condition from depression to cancer. Read more
Grace Presents Exclusive Retreats for Gaia Retreat and Spa
Many of you may know that I have been on an amazing healing journey since December 1997, following a routine surgery that left me with a paralysed and useless colon. The consquences were dramatic. From being a very healthy, fit, vegetarian person; overnight I became incapacitated as I underwent a scenario of surgeries over 9 years - 16 surgeries in total. As my husband Ian had recently separated from me and the family, I found I was in a very precarious situation to find medical help, adequate support and effectively recover. I moved between procedures to remove segments of my damaged colon, ileostomies, colostomies and many near death experiences. I learned a great deal to add to my previous experience. It really helped me to clarify what is important in surviving and thriving, what works and what doesn’t and it helped me re-define what wellness really is. 
I learned many things that are not usually taught by many health practitioners - including new meditation methods that really work. So I am delighted to have the opportunity to present this wisdom from both my past and recent experiences, at Gaia Retreat and Spa, near Byron Bay in 2008. Along with my new life partner and work colleague Pip Cornall, I will be conducting three types of retreats - 3-day retreats for women only, Along with Pip I will present 3-day all inclusive retreats for health, wellbeing and longevity and 5-day total wellbeing retreats for men & women. Both of these workshops will deliver a dynamic platform on which participants can plan and sustain effective strategies for living well with reduced impact from stress, individualised dietary and nutrition ideas, improved communication skills and discovering new ways to access their innate potential.
Although we will be conducting other workshops and seminars nationally and internationally - Gaia Retreat and Spa will be the only venue in Australia that exclusively hosts our residential retreats. Please contact Grace 02 8250 1783 (All hours number)
or email Grace sales@gracegawler.com
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Women Of Silence
