Grace Gawler Comments on Guy Allenby’s: The Dragon’s Blessing to be launched 10 October 2008

Posted on October 10, 2008 
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It is unusual if not rare that a formerly married, high-profile couple, launch their biography’s not only in the same year—but also in the same month, 7 days apart.
The discerning reader who purchases Ian Gawler’s biography Dragon’s Blessing due to be launched publicly at Readings Bookstore in Hawthorn Victoria Friday night 10 October 2008, may find themselves in a dilemma, particularly if they have had association with both co-founders of the Gawler Foundation. The book’s tone, leads to some very serious questions about the aims and purpose behind its writing. Rather than a story, The Dragons Blessing appears as a report about Ian’s life with a strong bias—in fact, it seems to be more of an exercise in reputation management for the Gawler Foundation, rather than a story of Ian’s life. One would have to question why Ian Gawler would not write this book personally, given his previous prolific works.

The writer of this rendition, journalist Guy Allenby; without doubt, took on a difficult, if not impossible task. Our personal lives were complex and inextricably intertwined with the Yarra Valley Living Centre; so much so that I cannot imagine how anyone, other than the Gawlers could write about their circuitous, amazing and difficult lives. Without getting into he said – she said dialogue, it is my hope that my Memoirs: Grace, Grit and Gratitude, authored by me, and a story of my personal life experience reach the public arena for fair and open-minded discussion. I would welcome a television interview with Ian, for I stand solidly in my truth. Read more

Grace, Grit and Gratitude - Grace Gawler-First Edition Copies

Posted on October 4, 2008 
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Grace’s Memoirs have arrived and were launched at a celebration at the Gold Coast October 3. Copies of Grace’s remarkable story Grace, Grit and Gratitude are available now. Purchase online at www.gracegawler.com - Copies will be available in selected bookstores for Christmas (within Australia)  Purchase your personally signed copy today or buy a copy for friend. For all enquiries contact Grace.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Grace Gawler’s Book: Women of Silence

Posted on September 29, 2008 
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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

Grace Gawler’s book launch October 3 2008

Posted on September 25, 2008 
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It is unusual if not rare that a formerly married high-profile couple, launch their biographies not only in the same year; but in the same month. Grace Gawler has been writing her life story for eight years and it was due for publication Christmas 2006 – a blockbuster Christmas release by Black Swan Press, Department of Women’s Studies, Curtin University. However the group lost their university funding and along with many other author’s, Grace’s contract was rescinded and manuscripts returned.
 In late 2007 she was approached by journalist Guy Allenby to contribute to her ex- husband, Ian Gawler’s biography that Mr Allenby was writing. Grace willingly travelled to Sydney to see Mr Allenby where he interviewed her for more than six hours. At that stage, Grace’s Memoirs had already taken shape and were to be published late 2008. Titled Grace, Grit and Gratitude; it is a compelling and inspiring read and a remarkable Australian woman’s untold story. The book is bold yet discrete; however, it does raise some controversial points. Grace feels that both books will complement each other. Writing from the “hands-on” 24/7 carers point of view the first section is a chilling account of what it is like to go through the cancer experience with a partner who is so ill - then survives. Read more

Review - Grace Grit and Gratitude by Eve Hillary

Posted on September 15, 2008 
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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, Grit and Gratitude for a Life - Grace Gawler

Posted on September 12, 2008 
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My Memoirs, Grace,Grit and Gratitude; 8 years in the writing are completed. There have been many reasons for writing this book. In the beginning it was a therapeutic tool, in fact it was so essential for my recovery that without the process - I doubt I would have survived with sanity. As well, writing a memoir was important as a record of events for my children and grandchildren, a way of making sense of how past events, create a path to our present and our future. However, when the threads of the story-line were pulled together, I had another valuable realisation - that my own journey paralleled the stories of my clients, the ‘threads’ were universal themes and their weaving had created the tapestry that was my life.

An uninvited life-changing experience in December 1997, proved to be an initiation into another world. I stepped upon the medical treadmill- a nine year dark night of the soul. I had known this path well enough from my work with cancer patients and from my time with Ian Gawler in the seventies, when he was diagnosed with bone cancer and given only weeks to live. We married then, and together we embarked on an amazing journey to recovery; eventually teaching others and sharing our experience, we co-created the Gawler Foundation. The accurate and personal story of this time in my life needed to be written for the public record as well as to inspire patients and particularly carers, whose stories and voices are often silent, but whose lives and emotions are severely challenged by the act of caring and being a carer. Love and compassion given freely and unconditionally can bring out our finest human traits - being a carer is character building, challenging, and perhaps the best spiritual practise we can ever experience. However, carers must proactively care for themselves in the process. Read more

Grace Gawler’s New Book: Grace, Grit and Gratitude - a Memoir

Posted on September 10, 2008 
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The following is the foreword from Grace’s new book - her memoirs which took eight years to write.

I first met Grace in 1970, when I was her physical education teacher at Geelong High School. An outstanding student, she emanated a clear energy and radiant beauty. It was 37 years before we were to meet again—in the most amazing of circumstances.

During those 37 years, Grace has lived a remarkable life—a life that demanded more of her than is usually asked of most humans. I am honoured and privileged to write this foreword because I know we can all benefit greatly from the qualities enacted in her life story—qualities most of us associate with the great heroines of literature or mythology.

In reading Grace, Grit and Gratitude, you will journey with Grace across the width and breadth of Australia experiencing the bird eating spiders in the Channel Country of the Outback, the majesty of the Flinders Ranges and the desolation of the Great Australia Bite. You will travel the globe visiting the ashrams of India, the healers of the Philippines, the Findhorn Community in Northern Scotland, the great pyramids of Egypt, the hallowed vaults of Rosslyn Chapel and the War Graves of France.

Grace’s story provides a riveting read for people from all walks of life, however, those who are battling life-threatening illnesses, along with their families and carers will find her words rich with wisdom, inspiration, courage, and hope.

Like many before you, you may be unable to put the book down until the end—like them you might need to pinch yourself as a reminder, that unlike the fabulous Da Vinci Code—this is a true story.

Pip Cornall - Author the Sustainable Maculinity Series

Grace Gawler publishes her Memoirs: An Australian woman’s story of triumph over Adversity.

Posted on September 10, 2008 
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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

Posted on July 8, 2008 
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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

Children of a Toxic Harvest - Eve Hillary

Posted on June 19, 2008 
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A book that will change your life: I recently had the pleasure of meeting Eve Hillary and was introduced to her book Children of a Toxic Harvest. My interest in breast cancer and healthcare has also led me into areas of causative factors of chronic degenerative disease - especially hormonally induced cancers, for example breast and prostate cancer. Chemicals known as endocrine disrupters often used in agribusiness have been seen as responsible for an increase in cancer diagnosis in farmers and their families - even years later. As well, we can attribute rampant allergies to the chemical revolution - high production and yields have come at a tremendous cost as you will read in this account by Eve.

Children of a Toxic Harvest is a true and gripping story of Eve Hillary and her children whose lives are devastated by acute environmental illnesses. Read more

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