Gabriel Centre

Wednesdays begin with a delicious sense of anticipation at our house. Once our morning household tasks are completed, we pack some fruit and our woollen hats & coats and head down the mountain to “play at Etienne’s.” At 9.30 Bettye welcomes us to a warm, cosy and loving home. We place our fruit into the basket and the children wander outside to play and see the chooks, play inside or just remain close to their mothers for a while.

This is the Gabriel Conversation Group for mothers of young children. We greet old friends and new ones. Mothers may cut fruit for the children’s morning tea or chat whilst making sure that their children have enough warm layers for outside play. At 10 o’clock Maryanne and Bettye gently gather us inside in a “circle, round like the sun” to say a verse and sing some beautiful songs for all the children. The children follow Maryanne to the kitchen where morning tea awaits (fruit and a little snack). Maryanne and Sharmian have taken on looking after our children whilst we are there. A candle is lit; the children sing a blessing and morning tea is had. Many children burst outside, and some still choose to stay inside close to their mothers.

Meanwhile, we mothers do some glorious stretches for our often neglected tired bodies and also a little breath work. We make cups of tea for each other and share freshly baked cake. It used to be that there were between three and eight mothers and we could sit around a table, but we are growing and now sit in the living room in a ring. Bettye shares a little of her wonderful vast wisdom with us, and we listen intently, try to find somewhere inside myself to retain it, so that I may revisit her words later when I am alone. People ask questions, offer examples and share experiences. Around the ring the conversation goes, each mother in turn. Do I have a question about parenting that I need answered, do I wish to air my parenting frustrations or would I like to share a joyous moment from the past week or do I just want to listen?

Towards 11.30, the children become noisier, and start drifting inside. They are telling us that our work and play here is nearly done until next time. We embrace all the children in our ring and sing a lullaby. I gently gather up my children knowing that our whole beings have been nourished.

We meet for six consecutive weeks a term. Bettye occasionally organises for other professionals to come and talk to us. We have had an Anthroposophical naturopath talk about managing a child with a fever, this included a practical demonstration of a fever reducing compress. An experienced mother and grandmother inspired us with the value of storytelling for young children. She shared a story that had us all captivated then encouraged us to tell our own.

Bettye Palmer the Director of the Gabriel Centre is a Midwife and Maternal Child Health Nurse with many years experience working with families. She approaches her work from a lifetime study of Anthroposophy. Bettye consults as a MCHN privately at the Melbourne Therapy Centre and we feel so privileged and lucky to have found her and her wonderful, sensible, uncomplicated wisdom.

Sue Rundle Maslin