Many of our members who studied and began their practice in the late 1990’s, have started to retire and we have taken the opportunity to interview them as an acknowledgement of the work done and presence felt of homeopathy in WA and to maintain an historical record for future references. The homeopaths interviewed are: Phillip Hendry, Michael Blanche, Sally Moore, Clare Middle and Jan Owen. Kate Diamantopolou, and Maranatha Emmanuelle are recognised here in Memoriam also.
Phillip Hendry
an interview with Sally Moore
In the mid-1990s I was musing on a change of career when a string of 4 seemingly separate encounters took place, all pointing me in the direction of Homeopathy. Among these was the successful healing of my horses’ eye fungal infection by a local vet, Dr Clare Middle and conversations with 3 retired nurses who were supporting their partners health with Homeopathy.
I studied at the Oceanic Institute of Classical Homoeopathy and qualified in 2000. I have been on the AHA WA committee in the role of Treasurer, for 20years. From 2001 to 2022.
I was heavily involved in the organization of the Bi-Annual National Homoeopathic Conference in Fremantle in 2006. The small committee worked closely together and I worked with Jan Owen to instigate new initiatives for this conference. These initiatives were ground-breaking at these were.
- The use of a conference booking company to aid in the organisation of the conference.
- A Friday night welcome dinner that was open to all the patrons of the conference and the public that were interested in homoeopathy.
- Finishing the conference with an expert panel of the conference speakers being available
for Q & A
The committee persevered and the conference was a huge success financially. These initiatives have been incorporated into the conferences since. The AHA WA website is still up and running for people to access to explore initiatives in WA and its history. This website was initiated during the conference in 2006.
Over the period of time that I have been treasurer there has been a diminishing of resources coming from the national office as the homoeopathic organisation became centralised. This enticed the WA branch to become more self-reliant and self-sufficient with brain storming fundraising initiatives.
I have enjoyed the connections with people that I have met through being a homoeopath and with other homoeopaths. I have enjoyed the face-to-face seminars that the branch organised on a regular basis for continuing education and community networking. My financial stewardship proved its worth when the NHMRC report was challenged, and the branch was able to make a healthy financial contribution to the fighting fund.
I consider that the adversity from the NHMRC report that homoeopathy has suffered in Australia has made it stronger. That the underground swell of individual people voting with their feet is how homoeopathy has grown and will continue to grow in Australia.”
Sally Moore
an interview with Emma Stanton
ES; Where and when did you study Homeopathy?
SM: At the Oceanic Institute of Homeopathy and qualified in 2000
ES: What brought you to study Homeopathy?
SM: My children’s health issues. My son had pneumonia twice in one year and my daughter had food sensitivities and eczema. This made me explore other avenues which led me to a homeopath where I learned about the theory of homeopathy while my children’s health improved.
The first time I used a remedy, Arnica 30c was on a cow with carving paralysis. This is caused by a pinched nerve in the cow’s back during labour. Within seconds I watched as the muscles along her spine rippled one after the other reaching her swollen post birth vagina which started to contract and reduce, back to pre-birthing size. It was awe-inspiring. So, when I moved up to Perth, I studied Homeopathy.
ES: What Initiatives have you been involved in during your time as a homeopath?
SM: I joined the WA committee in 2005 and have held many portfolios since then: Secretary, Vice President, Social co-ordinator, Editor of the WA Newsletter and currently I am the Treasurer.
As the secretary in 2006 I was part of the committee involved in the Bi-Annual Australian Homeopathic Conference.
From 2016 to 2021 inclusive I organised the Fairbridge Festival Homeopathy tent which was becoming very well attended until the Covid outbreak shut us all down.
As Editor of the WA newsletter, I produced a copy every three months with all the branch news. It was distributed to all our members whether professional, general or student.
Lastly and currently, I have instigated some Australian Flora C4 proving’s and their write-up’s in Similia.
ES: What have been your experiences or how do you see your input into the local homeopathic community and society in general?
SM: I enjoy the camaraderie of the committee and sharing ideas and time with like-minded people. It is valuable to me to be able to speak your own language with your colleagues.
I am now known in my local community and in spite of the flak Homeopathy has been given by the news media I believe homeopathy is growing slowly.
ES: Where would you like to see homeopathy go in society and how do you envisage this occurring?
SM: I would like to see Homeopathy in every household as a mainstream methodology so that it is used as a first support before allopathic medicine.
I believe Homeopathy can be used as a tool to raise awareness so that we carry are own responsibilities. Homeopathy can raise self-awareness and strengthen a person on all levels during societal and personal difficult times. Homoeopathy aids in raising immunity. This is a fundamental difference between allopathy and homeopathy. Homeopathy will treat the person so that it strengthens genetic weaknesses by strengthening the immune system.
Clare Middle
an interview with Sally Moore
With qualifications and practice spanning 40 years, Clare initially graduated from Murdoch University as a veterinarian, and continues to practice as a vet, treating mostly dogs and cats.
Since the 1980s Clare has branched out to become an integrative vet. With education in the fields of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, classical homoeopathy, Western herbs, kinesiology, flower essence and reiki.
Her Brauer Certificate of Homoeopathy for doctors and dentists (there wasn’t one for vets then!) was received in 1996. Soon after that, Clare was the founding president of the Australian Holistic Veterinarians (now known as Integrative Veterinarians Australia), an organisation which encourages vets to use a holistic approach.
The AHV introduced the first veterinary specific professional course in classical homoeopathy, given by homeopathic vets from UK. Clare took the first of these and was awarded the certificate of the International Association of Veterinary Homeopathy in 2004.
Clare has spoken at a number of conferences over the years on the application of homeopathy within the veterinary world. It has since been frowned upon by the Australian Veterinary Association to use the full word ‘homoeopathy’ at conferences, so the AHV has resorted to getting the New Zealand integrative vets to organise their conference in Australia so the Australian homeopathic vets could speak freely (and catch up with their NZ colleagues).
At a recent IVA conference in Sydney, Clare spoke on the experiences of homeopathic vets and farmers in the foot & mouth outbreak in the UK in 2001 where thousands of farmers used homoeopathic to protect their clients’ animals from the disease, while their neighbours’ animals were afflicted. Hopefully if foot and mouth disease comes to Australia, we can follow this example.
Clare is interested in setting up a lifetime of health for young animals predominately using diet. She has written a number of books to guide dog and cat owners along this path. “Real Cat Food”. “Real food for Dogs and Cats” and “Natural Prescription for Dogs and Cats” and has several podcasts and articles on her website www.claremiddle.com
Clare has been an active lobbyist by being on the Australian Veterinary Association policy council for the Integrative Vets Aust to help formulate the dog and cat vaccination guidelines to come in line with international veterinary vaccination policy. International vaccination policy backed by scientific research shows that vaccinations a dog or cat receive by 10 to 12 weeks of age can last a lifetime. A blood antibody titre test will show the status of the animal’s immunity, and thus revaccinating is rarely warranted.
Clare considers that many people are now reconsidering the outlook of the pharmaceutical industry in hindsight of the last few years. They are questioning the profession’s investment into the individual’s personal health. Her experience living in a country area of south west W.A. for the last few years is that more people are looking at growing their own healthy food for themselves, they are also looking at this for their animals and thus wanting to integrate this with a natural health practitioner.
Michael Blanche
an interview with Sally Moore
What brought you to study Homoeopathy?
I’ve always been interested in natural health, yoga, fitness and spiritual pursuits. While I was studying natural therapies an osteopath presented homoeopathy to me as “the way to go,” implying that it was deeper and more holistic, and that it was more effective than other health modalities.
Where and when did you study Homoeopathy?
I began studying at the NSW College of Natural Therapies in 1981. I wanted to become an Osteopath, and I began with massage. I later switched to Naturopathy and Herbalism, gaining diplomas in both. Then under the influence of my Osteopathic friend, I studied Homeopathy at Nature Care College, qualifying in 1984. I began practising at the end of that year. I went on to more advanced studies in medical sciences, and further homoeopathy with Garth Walker and Kenneth King.
The student cohort that I studied with in the early to mid-80s included many well-known elder homeopaths and teachers in Sydney still practising and teaching today. At this time there were some inspiring teachers emerging, the most notable being George Vithoulkas.
What initiatives have you been involved in in your time as a Homoeopath?
I began as a member of the Australian Institute of Homoeopaths in NSW.
This then became the Australian Federation of Homeopath. After I moved to Perth in 1990, I joined the WA branch. I was the state AFH rep to the peak body to develop competency standards within the homoeopathic profession. I also held the office bearing positions of treasurer, Vice President and President.
As the associations changed over time I became the President of the Australian Homoeopathic Association, on and off over several years. I have taught both in Sydney, NSW for 2 years and at the Perth Academy of Natural Therapies in Perth WA for 15years. This later position included being the supervisor of the homoeopathic student clinic.
How do you see your input into the local homoeopathic community and society in general?
I see teaching and supervising students in total for 17 years as a substantial contribution. I also presented my own “Lectures in Advanced Homeopathy” once a month during the years 2001-2003.
As mentioned, I was involved in the development of the competency standards for homoeopathic teaching and accreditation in the late 90s. While understandable at the time, I have misgivings about the focus. It was an attempt to have homoeopathic practice and education standards hopefully accepted by the medical profession and government bodies. I don’t consider homoeopathy will ever be part of or accepted by the medical profession as it is today. This was never going to happen and is much less likely now. Materialism and Vitalism will never be comfortable bedfellows.
Where would you like to see homoeopathy go in society and how do you envisage this occurring?
It would be good to see practitioners able to practice within safe legal guidelines alongside orthodox medicine, with its differences respected. From its beginnings, homeopathy was at least tolerated within orthodox medicine, especially in America. Homoeopathy is complementary and will never replace what medicine does best, emergencies and surgery.
I consider that a less divisive viewpoint needs to be adopted on both sides. In the last few years, we have seen the result of a viewpoint of health and disease that is fear based. Pharmaceutical companies, and the power structure they control, ignore the fact that we are the result of the evolution of life on this planet. Life has always delt with outbreaks of “epidemics”.
A homoeopathic view accepts the concept that exposure to infective organisms aids health. We are not at the mercy of every new virus. A combination of clean air, fresh food, balance of work/rest/play, connection with loved ones, exercise and so on is primary. When these are not enough, homeopathy comes into play. Hopefully, as the pendulum swings away from the fear-based message of recent years, the wisdom and effectiveness of homeopathy will be acknowledged once more.
Kate Diamantopolou – In Memoriam
a report by Emma Stanton
Kate lived in the Perth hills in Kalamunda for 12 years and joined the WA branch of the AHA as a committee member in 2002 and remained until 2013.
While in Perth, Kate was instrumental in setting up a Drop-In Homoeopathic clinic in the heart of Perth at the Lutheran church in 2011. This was manned by volunteers and Kate for a number of years until the building was closed for renovations. During this time, she instigated talks with a local Aboriginal community in the suburbs and started to teach basic first aid homoeopathy to the local indigenous population. She was also the Vice President of the WA branch of the Australian Homoeopathic Association from 2005-20011 and then President from 2011-2013 and was determined that it would be a very proactive committee which it still is to this day. From 2006-2008 she was the WA representative on the National Council and also joined the Australian Register of Ho moeopaths as a volunteer assessor. Over the years many students were tutored by Kate and one of her biggest things was the importance of understanding the Organon written by the founding father of Homoeopathy Dr. Samuel Hahnemann.
“If we understand the rules of the Organon we cannot go wrong with our prescribing and will always work by the rule of first do no harm.”
One of her long – lasting ventures was to produce an Accident and Emergency CD and kit, plus a range of homoeopathic creams in Australia which are still widely available and used today. In 2014 Kate returned to England and in 2021 she passed away at her home in Sandown on the Isle of Wight.
Her initiatives have not continued unfortunately for a variety of reasons but the committee continues to work at bringing awareness and information to the general public.
Vale Kate.
Maranatha Emmanuelle – In Memoriam
a report by Sally Moore
Maranatha Emmanuel, A life member of the AHA since 2012 – passed away on Friday 3rd August 2018. Maranatha was born Lorraine May Reyland on 1/9/1940 in Helensville New Zealand. She died just shy of 78 years old. This age she credited to her use of homoeopathy over many years.
As I child she suffered un diagnosed Rheumatic Fever, which affected her heart and her health from an early age. Maranatha joined the Australian Federation of Homoeopaths in 1991, having graduated the same year.
She was associated with the Oceanic Homoeopathic Research Foundation and principal lecturer at the Oceanic Institute of Homoeopathy. This is the time of her life when I (Sally) met Maranatha. I was a student of hers at the Institute. Maranatha was the Homoeopathic practitioner who over saw my children’s return to good health. I am most grateful for the encounters I have had with her.
As a Virgo she was a “stickler” for even the smallest of details. This aspect of her nature stood her in good stead with her own health and as a practicing homoeopath and teacher. She had a way of making her clients feel special, heard and understood. Many a wry smile momentarily creased the face of an older male patient when she greeted him with a “and what can I do for you today young man.”
Maranatha was involved in many events of history related to the Australian Homoeopathic Association. From 1995 until 2001 she served on both the WA Branch Committee and on National Council. She was National Treasurer from 1996 until 2001. While treasurer she was instrumental in preparing the first national council budget
Due to her teaching experience and her time on National Council she was involved in preparing exam papers, guidelines, tools and reporting on case taking for accreditation of practitioners until AROH was established in 1999. Maranatha’s vitality, positive can-do attitude, caring nature and her great contribution to homoeopathy in Australia will long be remembered.
Maranatha Emmanuel’s purpose-built timber & glass remedy cupboard. It was full of remedies from a posthumous homoeopathic estate. It was sold to Sarah Penrose a homeopath who lived and worked in Karratha, Western Australia’s far north – Sarah has since moved to New Zealand and this cabinet has gone on to reside with her there.
Vale Maranatha.