I’ve
been living at Bergen Op Zoom, a beautiful slice of farmland just outside of
Walcha, a small town in NSW, roughly one hour drive from both Armidale and
Tamworth. Armidale claims to be the highest altitude city in Australia, and
Walcha is a ‘town built in a hole’ nearby, where the land dips down into a
shallow valley, upon the New England plateau. The drive down-mountain to Port
Macquarie, extremely popular with motorcyclists seeking the thrill and fresh
air of a windy forest road, takes you down more than a thousand metres of
altitude in a few hours, landing you at sea level nearby some of the most
beautiful beaches I have ever visited. The first time I drove back up the
mountain, was when I truly realized the remarkable difference in climate. And
the climate is not the only thing that changes. “Mountain people are much
different from coastal people,” says Hamish Brown, my Chinese Medicine friend,
and Kungfu master, for whom I was stepping in for at ‘The Way of Water’ Chinese
Medicine clinic, in both Walcha and Armidale. Hamish is a true mountain man.
Whilst although I had a thoroughly enjoyable experience of the New England
folk, and the landscape, I think I’ll always be a coastal girl. I’m a saltwater
girl from way back. But there is ‘a great mob of people in Walcha’, as Phillip
Brown says, and I agree, 100%.
Walcha
is a cold, dry place. In six weeks there, the skies opened up only twice.
Initially I found it more difficult to breathe, especially when I’d break into
a jog down the red gravelly farm road. The air is colder, drier, and carries
less oxygen, so I am quite sure I’ve come home with a few extra red blood cells
in my system. In town, the air is smoky, from the abundance of wood-fires. My
skin has become drier, my lips drier, and I’ve barely had to wash my hair. At
the clinic, common presentations included asthma, eczema, menopausal hot
flushes, arthritis, and aches and pains of all sorts. All of these conditions,
in Chinese Medicine, can be a result of exposure to too much cold, and not
enough moisture.
Since
back practicing in Melbourne town, I’ve been observant to see if any patterns
start to shine through more strongly, through my eyes that now envision a
slightly different perspective. What are the strongest environmental forces in
the Melbourne climate? The cold weather, wind, and pollens dominate through
winter and spring, but the effects are not as widespread, or ingrained, across
the population. This must be because we can escape it more in the city, with
more time spent indoors, amongst our higher density of housing, masses of
concrete, and generally highly modified landscape. The people I meet in
Melbourne come from all over the globe, whereas in Walcha, most families seemed
to have been there for generations. Or if they were ‘new’ to town, I’d hear
things like “Nah, I’m no local yet. Only been ‘ere fifty years!”.
We
are much less connected to the land in the cities, and it seems this disconnection
comes with both benefits and downfalls. Whilst imbalances with our surrounding
environment can be the cause of disease, a disconnection with this other part
of our whole, has its own consequences. The forces of nature have powerful
healing ability as well. Bob, the farmer at Bergen Op Zoom, a passionate
advocator of the buteyko breathing technique, and a man who says he is so
connected to the land, that he will never leave it, is truly living as one with
his surroundings. During my six weeks in Walcha, I felt connected to the land
in a way that I have only ever felt more strongly during a multi-day hike
through the wilderness, my time spent ‘WWOOFing’, or by spending a lot of time in
the ocean. Perhaps farming’s the way to go, if this connection is what you want
for long-term. Bob and I killed a sheep the other day. And the next morning I
ate it’s liver for breakfast.
I
have brought home from this experience a pocketful of new acupuncture
techniques, experience with different acupuncture needles, exposure to a broad
range of diseases and conditions, and a deeper understanding of many herbal
formulas. I also feel stronger, in both body and mind, after training under
Hamish Brown and Matt Starr alongside a wonderful, dedicated group of Taichi
and Kungfu students. The dedication and discipline I have witnessed, although
not yet developed within myself, has been inspirational.
For
this experience, I would like to thank Hamish, his caring family, and all of
the people I have worked with in the Chinese medicine clinics. I’d also like to
thank all of my fellow practitioners at Quiescence, for allowing me to
disappear for a while, and for taking such good care of my patients in my
absence. To Hamish, I thank you for welcoming me, and entrusting me into your
home and clinic, and for all that I have learnt from you. To the patients, I have
appreciated your open-mindedness, and commitment to improving your health. I
also feel incredibly grateful for all the friendship and support I have
received, especially from Camilla Fontanella, Bob Waugh, the Kungfu crew,
Phillip and Katie, and any of my patients who have helped me out, whilst I have
helped them. Exchange and sharing is always a wonderful thing. I also hope that
my presence has had positive impact on the lives of those I have met.
And
finally, I would like to thank the New England landscape, for welcoming me into
your grasp, and becoming a part of me.
Steph
x
