WHO WAS TOM BOWEN?

THOMAS AMBROSE BOWEN (Tom
Bowen) - 1916-1982, an Australian, created, refined and
practiced what we know today, as Bowen Therapy.
TOM BOWEN
LIVED in the city of Geelong, sixty miles south of
Melbourne, in Australia's south east. Melbourne is
known for its diverse, predominantly European, immigrant
population. Geelong for its industry and strong
working class roots. Melbourne is also home of
'Aussie Rules Football', the toughest of team sports.
TOM HAD an eighth grade education and no formal
medical training. In the early 1950's Tom's day job
was at the Geelong Cement Works as a general laborer but at
night and during weekends he treated sports and workers
injuries. It was not unusual for people to be lined
up, on his front lawn, in the middle of the night, waiting for
treatment.
FINALLY IN THE LATE 1950's, Tom Bowen moved into a
permanent, full-time practice. Apart from creating
the technique, Tom's greatest ability was an uncanny knack of
assessing just what "moves" a client needed and to apply them
quickly and accurately. For much of his practicing
years, Tom saw fourteen patients an hour, needing to spend only
a very short time with each, to determine and apply the
appropriate "moves".
TOM BOWEN
practiced and refined his technique over some thirty years,
working right up to his death, in 1982, from diabetes.
He didn't advertise, all of his thousands of clients, many
coming from throughout Australia, came through word of mouth
referral.
TOM BOWEN,
did not document his methods. Over the years many
came and observed his practice, few were able to sustain the
effort. In all, six students 'studied' under Tom,
each over a lengthy period of time. And it is from
these six students that Bowen Therapy and its many derivations
have come to us today.
TOM BOWEN
was a genuinely humble man, given to few words, but with an
endless energy and passion for helping and relieving others of
their ills, most especially those from less fortunate
circumstances. He treated his unique abilities as a
'gift from God' and gave of himself tirelessly to help others.
THAT TOM
BOWEN, was able, in the environment of those times - Geelong
in the 50's and 60's, to create and develop a practice that
treated tens of thousands of people, each with a few simple yet
special "moves", speaks volumes for his personal dedication and
tenacity and the success of his technique. For
without the stunning results he achieved, to support him, he
would not have been able to sustain his work over thirty
years.
HIS EXAMPLE is a shinning light to all those who follow in
his footsteps. All those of us who have benefited
from Bowen Therapy, owe Tom Bowen a debt of gratitude for
without his perseverance, tenacity, dedication, generosity and
goodwill, none of this would be possible.
"BOWEN THERAPY
the very best thing to ever come from Australia.....
the wonder from down under" |