The Grove

Wholistic Centre
for Spirituality
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About Our Facilitators
 
Facilitators are listed alphabetically by last name.
 
 
Therese Bottomley is the founder and director of the Beaumaris Buddhist Centre of Great Joy.  She has studied Buddhism since 1982, inspired by a personal interview with His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, on his first visit to Australia.   
Anne Boyd is a Brigidine Sister and the coordinator of EarthSong. This project offers programs in ecology, spirituality and the new story of the Universe as a way of addressing the urgent need in our times to rethink the role of the human in the light of the planet's fragility and to understand and honour the presence of the Divine in all of creation.  
Gail Breckon is a massage therapist and has been a teacher of massage at various institutions in Melbourne for over 10 years. Gail has extensive experience in the facilitation and participation of personal development groups.   She has a genuine interest in women's spiritual issues, great wisdom, a wicked sense of humour and a gift for story telling.    
Raelene Bruinsma is a singer songwriter, registered music therapist, voice specialist, and lover of song. Her greatest joy is to see people discovering they CAN sing. She has facilitated dozens of diverse voice workshops focusing on technical, emotional,  therapeutic, and spiritual (in that she sees unlocking creativity as an inherently spiritual process) facets. Recently Raelene received her certificate of proficiency in Estill voicework and has had experience in classical, folk, blues and jazz styles.  
Judy Camilleri has a background in education and is currently studying art therapy.  She is interested in personal growth through connecting with the creative process.  
Carole Carmody is an experienced spiritual director with a special love for creating sacred spaces and a reflective atmosphere. Carole believes in the capacity within each person to deepen their experience, and to discover the unique treasure within.
Chris Carr has a medical background.  She has an avid interest in card making and willingly offers to pass on her exprtise in this area to others.  She gives of her time and talents to assist in The Grove's fundraising efforts.  
Mary-Faeth Chenery holds a Master of Management degree and a Ph.D. in Psychology. Following a university teaching career of around three decades, where she taught in the fields of outdoor education and qualitative research methods, she moved to the area of spiritual education, where she now does editing, teaching and community development for the cause of global peace. She is the Australian coordinator for the work of the Global Peace Initiative of Women.      
Clare Coburn is an educator and storyteller. She currently teaches in conflict resolution at La Trobe University and is completing a PhD on listening in mediation. With experience in higher education, Steiner education, writing and storytelling; story wisdom has been part of her life for many years. She now uses stories in her role as an educator and storyteller for adults.  
Mary DeBono
 
 
Joan Dickson is passionate about, and committed to, education.   Whether it be at university where she taught for many years, or in the community where she has also worked, she is inspired by the robustness of the human spirit, in particular by the way in which individuals can turn adversity into pots of gold.  She sees life as offering a myriad of opportunities to become more fully awake to who we truly are, enabling us to connect more fully to the world around us.   
Nettie Doolan is a mother and married woman, and a trained spiritual director. She works primarily with women and gives seminars on the deeper desires of the heart. She uses a variety of mediums to help women get in touch with their inner selves, teaching them relaxation techniques, and inviting them to touch their creative powers through drawing mandalas, sculpting with clay and using colour.   
Karyn Down has a Graduate Diploma from the Melbourne Institute of Experiential and Creative Art Therapy and is in the final year of a Masters at the same Institute.
Madeline Duckett is a Mercy Sister, teacher and spiritual director. Her background is in education, theology and spirituality. She has a belief in the power of the imagination to facilitate spiritual transformation by bringing us into our own depths and the depths of the Divine.  
Trish Dutton (PhD) has taught Literature and Writing at tertiary level for many years. More recently she has facilitated writing workshops for various community centres. Trish also participates in community theatre; she has been a performing member of a women's circus and Actors for Refugees.   
Kaye Evans is an experienced and creative retreat leader and spiritual director. Kaye has a deep love of the natural environment, and the profound relationship which it has to the inner journey of each person.   
Lisa Fam has a Diploma in Transpersonal Art Therapy from Phoenix Institute and a background in primary education.  She is passionate about the power of the imagination and creativity to heal individuals and communites.
 
Sue Gesell spiritual director, marriage counsellor, and world traveller!  Sue has facilitated on-going spiritual companioning groups at The Grove since '98 and is available for one to one spiritual companioning.   She believes that ordinary life can be impregnated with the sacred and it is in our everyday life that we must find purpose and direction.   
Veronica Gribble
 
Jen Hall is a mother and married woman.   She is a trained spiritual director with a background in education and theology.  Jen has a particular interest in retreat work, and in listening to people on a one to one basis as they become aware of their inner selves and come to touch the sacred within. 
Margot Horne is a former teacher of literature, astrology and anthroposophy.
Maggie Hubbard is a registered transpersonal art therapist, teacher, artist & bard. Inspired by nature, she has many years of experience assisting people to explore their creative process as a means of personal development & healing. She enjoys using combinations of drawing, painting, sculpture, writing, movement, sound & meditation in order to understand the language of the soul.   
Evelynne Joffe is a Director of the Institute of Esoteric Studies.   She is a Tarot counsellor, a teacher of Kabbalah and a dream therapist. She is a past president of the Tarot Guild of Australia, has taught Tarot for many years and has lectured and written widely on the subject.   
Jenny Kaye has a varied background including education, science, management and counselling.   An innovative leadership program took her on a journey leading to a Masters degree in creative arts therapy.   She is passionate about textiles, exploring individual creativity, and challenging people to live their lives more fully.                
Bronwyn Klease is a Good Samaritan sister who has a background in education, pastoral care and counselling.   She also holds a Post Grad. Diploma of the Arts (Christian Spirituality) and is a qualified spiritual director.   Currently she is chaplain at Yarra Theological Union and works in spiritual companioning.   She enjoys walking with other women as they come to a greater love and understanding of themselves and their relationships.
Coralie Ling was ordained a minister 34 years ago and is a retired minister of the Uniting Church.   Coralie obtained her D. Min. in Creative Ritual. She is well known through her work in feminist liturgy and outreach in ministry.        
Pat Long is an educator by profession.   She trained in Earth Literacy at Genesis Farm in the U.S. and worked there as an intern in 1997-98 and as a staff member in 2007-08.   Pat has been a member of the EarthSong Project Core Team and is currently a member of EarthSong's coordinating team.   Pat's work focuses on exploring a worldview which honours the interconnectedness of all, and the implications of that context for the way we live into the future.  
Rosemary Mangiamele is an occupational therapist, transpersonal art therapist and artist. She has worked in hospitals, rehabilitation and community settings, with a particular interest in cross cultural experiences. She is very interested in the creative process, and the promotion of self exploration and personal growth through art. She believes that through the use of a range of art materials, contact can be made with the inner self with its unique images, metaphors and symbols   
Gudrun Markowsky has been involved in creating and conducting the seasonal rituals at The Grove since 1997.   She has taught meditation, has been a Grove Custodian, and this year is part of The Grove Coordinating Team.   In her "other life" in Daylesford she teaches Tai Chi and sings in the a cappella group "Lieder Cycles".   
Maria McCormack is passionate about the women of The Grove!  She was a Custodian of The Grove from 2000 - 2008 and a co-coordinator of The Grove in recent years.   Maria's other passions are her family - husband and 4 young adults - her large extended family, and friends. She thoroughly enjoys her work - as a Spiritual Companion, Retreat Leader and Formation Team member of Spiritual Direction students at Wellspring in Ashburton.   
Monika Merkes has a passion for learning and a longstanding commitment to women's health.   She has qualifications in social work, life coaching, clinical hypnosis and a PhD in public health.    
You can find out more about Monika and her interests on her website at http://member.melbpc.org.au/~monika/     
Elaine Mitchell
 
Michelle Morris is a counsellor and psychotherapist with a Masters degree in Transpersonal Psychology from the Institute in Transpersonal Psychology in U.S.A.   Michelle approaches psychotherapy from a transpersonal and Jungian perspective.   She integrates sand play, creative expression, meditation, dream work, Holotropic Breathwork and verbal therapy.   She works in private practice with adults and children.   
Jenifer Nugent is the Creative Director of Zhen Kinesiology and Wellbeing Centre in Hawthorn. She is a professional Kinesiologist, innovative Feng Shui consultant and certified Soul Healer.   Her skills in energy medicine have been polished and honed after many years of consulting with clients, formal academic study and ongoing research with a world renowned Qi Gong Master.   
Eleni Rivers is a professional artist who has been teaching painting and drawing for over 25 years.  She recently completed her MFA degree at JFK University in Berkeley, California in addition to holding several art degrees from colleges in Australia.  Her paintings, drawings and illustrations have been exhibited and published in many countries and are held in collections both here and in the US.  Now based in Melbourne, Eleni continues her journey in paint and poetry on themes of nature, family and belonging within the Australian landscape.
 
Anne Ryan is a Sister of Mercy, spiritual companion and transpersonal art therapist. She has many years of involvement in women's spirituality and welcomes every opportunity of pilgrimage to places of sacredness!!  A recent opportunity was a two week pilgrimage to Crete. Anne continues her work in developing opportunities for women to come to know the depth of their spiritual journey.   
Trudy Sebaly practices Zen Buddhist meditation daily and has attended facilitated meditation circles on a regular basis.  She believes meditation is a wonderful way of reconnecting the body and mind with spirit.  Trudy is a practitioner of Reiki, Theta Healing and Liquid Crystals and is involved in, and facilitates, community labyrinth projects.  
Catherine Smith is a married woman with four adult children and three grandchildren.   She has a BA in psychology and criminology and currently works part time as a chaplain in the women's prison at Deer Park.   She is a qualified Spiritual Director.   Witnessing the freedom women feel when they are able to integrate past life experiences and move on in a positive way excites and energises her.   
Tathra Street
 
Noella Sullivan is a Sister of Mercy and an experienced educator, psychologist, facilitator and qualified spiritual director. She is registered with the   Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria, is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and is a provider of Medicare rebated psychological services.. Noella has worked with adults and families and has a keen interest in the wholistic growth and development of women.
Marie Watt is an educator for whom the highways and byways of life have led to an appreciation of people and their spirituality, a valuing of the land, of story, myth and dreams.   The spontaneity found in every individual is an on-going delight, as is the power of the imagination for healing and growth.   A Jungian approach to dream work and Moreno's psychodramatic method are some of her tools of trade   
Rosemary Wealthy
 
Melinda Weekes
 
Moya Weissenfeld is a Good Samaritan Sister with a background in education, hospital chaplaincy and spiritual direction. She enjoys walking with women as they move to an awareness of the mystery which calls them to fullness of life.   

Yvonne Whelan is a wife, mother, grandmother and a volunteer at The Grove.  She has participated in a number of creative workshops. She has undertaken a silk scarf painting workshop each year for the past five years and is keen to share this learned creative skill with others.      

 Patricia Williams is a Sister of St Joseph who has had wide experience in primary education and parish work.  She is now a trainer and co-ordinator for the Good Grief programs in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.  Good Grief aims to "relieve suffering and bring hope" to those suffering loss and change which Patricia finds to be both a challenge and a source of inspiration and encouragement.
 

 

 

The Grove Wholistic Centre for Spitituality Inc (c) 2008