The Yarra Valley Living Centre in Yarra Junction is hosting an Open Day for their new inhabitants, The Brahma Kumaris, on Sunday 22 May, from 10-5pm.
The centre was formerly home to the Gawler Foundation, a cancer foundation that sadly had to cease operations at the retreat in May 2021. It is located at 55 Rayner Court, Yarra Junction.
The coordinator of the centre Maureen Chen said they are honoured to carry on the legacy of The Gawler Foundation.
“Entering this 40-acre property, there is a deep connection with the land,” she said.
“Surrounded by nature, animals and birds, sitting by the river, or in one of the dedicated meditation rotunda, the energy is palpable.”
From 10am to 3pm, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in meditation sessions, listen to wellness talks, or explore a variety of stalls, games art ad other entertainment such as forest therapy. From 3pm-5pm, an outdoor Peace Concert will be performed to round out the day.
Some of the stalls that are confirmed to be attending are for:
Brahma Kumaris, Green Karma, Doctors for Nutrition, Plant-Based Health Australia, Blossoms Organic, The Bee Club, The Gawler Foundation, Outpace Parkinson
Kitchen: Find a Penny (a charity serving the homeless, we will be catering with all profits going to the charity), Eco-Activities for Children and Adults: Bee Hotels, Eco-art, Virtuescope, Laughing Therapy, Bookshop, and other vegan stalls are also interested to set up that are still confirming.
Ms Chen said going forward the centre hopes to honour and continue the work of the Gawler Foundation.
“We’re still holding their retreats as we had a cancer retreat recently, another one for people with Parkinson’s and we’ve got another one coming up with MS,” she said.
“We also do the plant-based immersion retreats so people can change to a plant-based diet, and that’s what the retreats are about and they attract people with terminal or chronic illness.”
Dr Ian Gawler, who founded the Gawler Foundation alongside friends who were also aligned with cancer groups in 1981 said during the last year, the centre has been leased to the Brahma Kumaris.
“Brahma Kumaris is a spiritual organisation I have known well for over 40 years and for whom I have the utmost respect. A fully volunteer organisation, the BKs have Centres all around the world,” he said.
“They were drawn to leasing our Centre as a place to present their own raft of healing and meditation retreats while honouring the past and remaining true to the objectives of the Foundation.”
Brahma Kumaris is a spiritual movement that began in Hyderabad, Pakistan in 1936, known for the important and strong role women play in the movement.
The theme for the day is ‘community, connection, co-creation.’ A lucky draw will also be held for those who register via the QR code on the Yarra Valley Living Centre Facebook page, where the winner will receive a free night’s accommodation and food for up to 4 people in the retreat centre.
There will also be a working bee held on Saturday 14 May, where attendees can help out setting up the polytunnel, in the garden or sourcing some furniture for the event.
