Changing of the guard By Dr Ian Gawler OAM
In 1981, I had this bright idea of setting up a lifestyle based, self help support group. By September, a 12 week program was developed and five days before it was scheduled to start it occurred to me - how to let people know it was on? A phone call to the Melbourne Age, and brief chat with the medical reporter resulted in an article appearing on the front page of the Saturday Age and as they say, the rest is history. So here we are in 2009 with me stepping down as the Therapeutic Director of an organisation that has around 50 staff and has helped many thousands of people. I think of all the great therapists I have worked with and the exceptional team I work with now. The many board members that have come and gone, hundreds of other staff and volunteers. The Gawler Foundation really has matured. For many years it may have appeared that I was essential to the Foundation. Now it is time for the Foundation to stand in its own right, happy in the history of my involvement but more independent of my actual presence. The knowledge that I have helped to compile the Q: Tell us a little about your background. A: My original profession is dietitian. I have a variety of experience in the UK, Canada and Australia in clinical dietetics, food services and community work in hospitals, long term care settings and in prisons. I also have about 5 years experience in and a passion for health promotion, with a holistic view of health and what contributes to good health and wellbeing. In the late eighties I developed an interest in wellness, setting up a company in Canada including Tai Chi, massage, meditation, counselling and humour, working with individuals and organisations. At that time it provided a positive balance to my daily work with people who had severe dementia. Q: Why were you attracted to this position? A: When I read the advert in the paper I think my heart jumped a little. I saw a role that combined my knowledge and experience in health care with my history and belief that meditation and spirituality have a strong connection to health and wellbeing. To bring that side of myself and those values into my daily work is an absolute gift. I feel humbled at
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healthyliving - The Gawler Foundation magazine
variety of programs and our style of facilitating groups all combine to be what The Gawler Foundation does and what we represent. This can be carried on by others and is essential to the ongoing life of the Foundation.
For the last couple of years I have been working with the board and staff to enable me to smoothly transition into retirement in a way that supports the ongoing future of The Gawler Foundation. After nearly 30 years in the job it is time to take a breather in order to give more time to more spiritual practice and to leave space in my life for what comes next. To this end we have appointed a new Therapeutic Director, Helen Nikolas. Helen comes with an ideal background for the position. She is currently completing a doctorate in public health and is a dietitian, therapist, Tai Chi teacher, and administrator of note. While there is no doubt she is stepping into a challenging shoe, I am confident she is the ideal person to help guide the Foundation through this next phase. The Foundation will benefit from fresh input and both the stability and change I expect Helen to bring.
Q&A
For the first few months Helen and I will work closely
With The Gawler Foundation’s new Therapeutic Director Helen Nikolas
the opportunity to learn from Ian and to work with people who really do make a difference in the lives of others. Q: What challenges do you expect to face? A: For me the first challenge will be a steep learning curve; absorbing all the good work that is currently done. I am really looking forward to that. For us all we will have the challenge of creating a team with a new dynamic and working together to see what