Dr Ian Gawler, author of the well-known book ‘You Can Conquer Cancer’ was a pioneer in mind and body medicine as the man who assisted many thousands of Australian and New Zealanders after he healed himself from terminal bone cancer decades ago.
He co-founded the Melbourne Cancer Support centre, then the world re-known non-profit Gawler Cancer Foundation in the Yarra Valley, Australia, in 1983, with the underlying philosophy that ‘regaining balance in one’s life leads to healing’. His foundation’s lectures and workshops have helped thousands of sufferers of cancer.
His extraordinary work has seen him awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) as he liaised with top-flight medical and holistic specialists around the world. The Gawler Foundation is one of the oldest organisations in Australia to focus on the health and wellbeing of cancer patients and set up the first cancer self-help groups in 1981. Thousands of people have attended the healthy lifestyle, disease prevention and meditation programmes conducted by the foundation. In 2006, when the Australian Senate held an inquiry into ‘Services and Treatment Options for People with Cancer’, the work of The Gawler Foundation was lauded as something worth considering – and following.