Since 1982, we have been promoting and delivering Anthroposophic Therapies. It all began in the minds of a few visionary community members…

Founding Members

The first inspiration for our Centre came from Anne Hapke and Maxene Hewitt in the early 1980s. They were searching for a therapy centre to support their cancer treatment and healing. They expressed a desire for an Anthroposophical centre with “places to walk, to sit beneath the trees” where they could “breathe in the life of the earth.” 

In April 1982, they rose to the challenge and, with Joan Salter’s help, formed the Association of the MTC, then called The Melbourne Therapy Centre for Cancer and Other Patients.

Some of the people invloved in the early year of creating the Centre included:

• Joan Salter

• Graham De Haan

• Judy Halcombe

• Margaret Curl

• Bruce Curl

• Kae Deane

• Mary Barling

• Elizabeth De Haan

• Ingrid Kinloch

• Susan MacGregor

• Denis Parker

• Jay Sayers

• Helma Bak

• John Cathbert

• John Grace

Memories of the MTC

Many of our patients, staff and practitioners have been a part of the Centre for decades, below we share their connections to the MTC.

Richard Howard:

“As a young man with a family and an interest in Anthroposophy and complementary medicine, I was very happy indeed when the Melbourne Therapy Centre opened 40 years ago. It was particularly important to me personally as prior to this, I attended various alternative practitioners around my area and saw a GP as well. Now I could access all of these in one Centre and it was close to the Steiner School where I worked and sent my children. I had seen similar Centres overseas, specifically in Sweden and Germany, where integrated Anthroposophical communities and healing centres were well established and highly regarded.

The Centre here grew over the years, as did my family’s and the wider community’s need for it. The Centre, with its well trained, wise and friendly staff, its Anthroposophically designed interior, and delightful and serene garden and natural setting, became a regular and gratefully accepted destination. Not least amongst the rewards of visiting the Centre are the friendly faces and efficiency of the office staff, who rarely if ever seem to change, and of course, Paulo’s great sense of humour and infectious laugh.

Now no longer a young man I appreciate the Centre more than ever. It is often an opportunity to meet old friends and members of the community of all ages. My relationship with the Centre has come full circle now that some of my own grandchildren as well as my children attend it, and receive the same loving as my wife and I and many of our friends did, from the very beginning.”

Elizabeth De Haan:

“I still remember the early meetings – first with Maxene Hewitt – she was so ill and yet so inspired by her idea; one she had talked over with a friend and fellow patient Ann Hapke, and they were so excited by its possibilities.

They had realized during the course of their own illnesses that people with serious illness need more that medicine that focused only on their physical symptoms – they needed somewhere they could experience care and treatment for their whole being – not  only the disease.

So Maxene asked a group of twelve people, under the guidance of Joan Salter to begin the work of founding such a place. The first official meeting of these people took place in late 1981. A working group was formed and many meetings followed. Joan Salter, Denis Parker and Graham De Haan had many meetings late into the night working out an appropriate constitution. John Grace and Bruce Curl kindly gave legal advice to all of the groups whilst also meeting with government agencies on all the legal requirements and helping with understanding of Local and State Government regulations. So much organization was needed and so much help was generously given.

Lots of fund raising began; the community support was enormous. A wonderful Garden Fair held at Wyreena Community Centre was organized by Mary Barling and Kae Deane. Beautiful hand made goods were donated – children’s toys and plants, fresh vegetables were available for sale. It was a warm sunny day and such a very happy occasion. A monthly stall held at Camberwell Market followed where generously donated household goods, bric-a-brac and clothing were sold. The Market stall has to be set up at 4.30 am  - but there were brave people prepared to do this! Fund raising was also supported by Jacqueline Eve Dress shops and associated stores. They donated all their returns in fashion clothes and those left over at the change of seasons. These events grew too big to hold in private homes so were held in local community houses – they were very popular!

As a result of all these meetings – all this activity and all this good will, the Melbourne Therapy Centre opened in 1986 in a small building at 221 Wonga Road Warranwood. Dr Shirely May was the first Medical practitioner  - and Judy Dixon was practice manager. Jan Rayson was the first nurse. Robyn Pollock and Margaret Piper offered Art Therapy and Therapeutic Massage.  The waiting room window overlooked a paddock where cattle grazed as early morning mists lifted.

Over the years The Melbourne Therapy Centre has grown and developed. More doctors and therapists arrived and more therapies became available. Dr Paulo Moraes arrived in 1993 and now carries the Medical work supported by others. The Melbourne Therapy Centre is now a large general medical practice with a number of Medical Doctors and Allied Health practitioners. Such a lot of change and development has taken place since the very beginning But the warmth and kindness that meets each person who enters the waiting room is still the same. I do believe that both Maxene and Ann would be very pleased with the fulfillment of their idea.”

In memory