Dr. Ian Gawler (AUS)

BVSc MCounsHS OAM

Founder and Therapeutic Director of the Gawler Foundation

www.gawler.org

Ian Gawler is one of Australia 's best known cancer survivors and advocates of a healthy lifestyle. His story offers hope and inspiration to people across the country. The self help techniques that he developed have helped many to convert hope into sustained health and peace of mind. A pioneer in Mind-Body Medicine, Dr Gawler is known for his clarity and good humour. With a gift for translating ancient wisdom into a modern context, and having appeared widely in the media, Ian has played a major part in popularising meditation and other Mind-Body Medicine techniques in the western world.
As a young veterinary surgeon and athlete, Ian developed bone cancer (osteogenic sarcoma). His leg was amputated in 1975. Later that year the cancer returned and at one point, Ian was expected to live for only a few weeks. Ian then developed an effective self help program with key principles: good food, positive attitudes, meditation and loving support. Ian had a remarkable recovery that was reported in the Medical Journal of Australia in 1978 by Dr Ainslie Meares.
Not content with just surviving, Dr Gawler began to share these principles with others. The cancer support group he began in 1981 was the first group in Australia to actively address the needs of patients and their families in coping with, and attempting to overcome, the many challenges cancer presents.
The Gawler Foundation was formed in 1983 as a non-profit, non-denominational body to further this work.

The emphasis of Ian Gawler's work is on improving both quality of life and survival times as well as preventing illness and developing maximum levels of health and wellbeing.
The benefits observed are often dramatic and achieved by:
  Adding the benefits of self-help techniques to, and co-operating with, medical treatments so that the best possible results are achieved.
  Teaching self-help techniques that generate good food habits, the power of positive thinking- now being called Mind Training, and the benefits of relaxation, stress management and meditation; all in a caring and loving supportive atmosphere.
  Transforming fears and grief into positive action.
  Generating good communication levels.
  Helping people to find purpose and meaning in their lives.
  Assisting the dying to do so with dignity and in peace.