Dorothy Hall
17 December 1931 - 24 March 2012
Traditional Herbalist, Traditional Naturopath, Iridologist, Educator, Author and Founder of ATMS.
Dorothy Hall was an incredibly influential figure in the natural medicine community. As a Traditional Herbalist, Naturopath, and Iridologist, she not only helped countless individuals through her personal practice but also through her teaching and writing. Her books, courses, and role as the founder of ATMS.
Vale Dorothy Hall
I first met Dorothy in 1986, during the campaign to reverse the government’s prohibition of comfrey. Dorothy’s keen focus, determination and unswerving perseverance were outstanding. She stood out as someone who was exceptionally special. Her charisma was palpable.
Since then, she became my colleague and friend. In the political arena, she was my mentor. At a personal level, it was always a joy to communicate with her. I saw first-hand how she touched the lives of thousands of students, teaching herbal medicine at both the clinical and philosophical levels. The teachings were unique, ahead of their time and emphasised the essence of healing.
The matriarch of Australian herbal medicine, the founder of ATMS, an author of seven books and media personality, her humility was remarkable. Her unexpected passing has broken hearts. Her ashes are scattered in her magnificent garden, but for her students and friends, she continues to live in our hearts. Long live the memory and legacy of this profound teacher and great woman.
Once upon a time, not so very long ago, before Coles sold vitamins, before there was a Diploma of Advanced Western Herbal Medicine, before there was a Complementary and Alternative Medicine Industry, there was the Traditional Herbalist. The practitioner of the garden and the hedgerows and the waste lands and the bush was the keeper of the old ways, the old knowledge, the ancient wisdoms, the elder, the sage. That is where we find Dorothy Hall, walking the well worn paths of ancestral knowledge and bringing that knowledge to modern times.
Dorothy Hall was not a scientist. She practiced the Art of Herbal Medicine. Dorothy had the gift of knowing that there were no two people exactly alike. She had the ability of seeing the whole person behind the symptoms presented. She could source physical discomforts and diseases to the inner turmoil that created them. She would apply the right blend of herbs and flowers for each individual who consulted her, at sensitive doses that encouraged the individual body/mind/heart/spirit to balance and heal itself.
Dorothy Hall was my teacher, perhaps the most influential teacher of my life. She was enlightening. She was enthusiastic. She was anecdotally rich and so entertaining that I can only compare her early teaching to Kent’s lectures on Homoeopathy. She was a human bridge of knowledge from the ancients to her little band of students, and in 1975 we were a very little band. The classes were dynamic.
Dorothy brought so many threads together for us to see the patterns of emotions and disease, and paths to wellness. She taught us always to look beneath the presenting problem, and to look on all levels. Why did that problem arise? Why now? What are the underlying causes both physically and emotionally? She taught us to direct out treatments to the underlying causes, and in the process of teaching us how to apply Herbal Medicine, she taught us to think.
Dorothy would treat on three levels: something for the symptom presented; something for the current underlying causes both physical and emotional; and something for the constitutional weakness and constitutional emotional patterns. It was a kind of formula so beautiful in its breadth that it never called for the same remedy twice but changed as the person grew, changed themselves, healed, and faced new challenges. Dorothy’s was a dynamic, powerful and empowering treatment. For me she was a dynamic, powerful and empowering teacher.
The Healing Industry outgrew Dorothy Hall, with her cottage garden, sage old ways. I’m certain that she knew it would right from the beginning when she became a driving force behind the formation of The Australian Traditional Medicine Society. She was a founding member of this now thriving organization. An organization confident enough to change itself in order to meet the current and future needs of its practitioners and educators. An organization that is able to secure a place for the Traditional Herbalist in 21st Century Australia.
Let us not forget the impact Dorothy Hall made through her books. She could write in a conversational tone that would reach the general public around the world and inspire her readers to reach for a simple remedy.
Throughout her career, through her writing and through her teaching, Dorothy Hall has positively influenced so many people that she has never even met. Each of her students who went on to practise Herbal Medicine took a small bit of Dorothy with us as we went into the wider world and into the future.
Nancy Evelyn, Herbalist
Dorothy Hall.
A pebble in a pond.
The ripples will go on long after her death and reach shores she
never
dreamt of.
She has done enough for the world.
Let her spirit be free.
For myself, I am honoured and grateful to have known her.
Jayne Elder, ATMS 1515
Studying Herbal Medicine with Dorothy in 1988 I found a robust, strong willed teacher who refused to suffer fools. As I absorbed her words, her knowledge and the effortless and humorous way she delivered it, I realised I was in the presence of someone very special.
Thank you Dorothy for the road you paved and the differences you made. May your memory live on forever and your essence continue to touch us all.
Sandra Grace, Director, ATMS
I first met Dorothy Hall when I became a Director of ATMS 25 years ago, although I had known her by reputation for a long time before then. She was already a leading figure in Australian natural therapies and had become a household name. I remember thinking what a privilege it was to be sitting at a table with her. Over the years we met many times at ATMS meetings and I always enjoyed her depth of knowledge and good humour. I was inspired by her vision for natural medicine in Australia. She has left a great legacy for which we are all indebted to her.
Marie Fawcett, Past Secretary of ATMS
I first met Dorothy Hall in February 1984 when I was a student of Dorothy’s. In August of that year Dorothy was looking for a Private Secretary and I applied for and got the job. At that time Dorothy got together with her personal solicitor, David Patten (who went on to become a District Court Judge) and put together the Memorandum & Articles of Association to form ATMS. I was then appointed Company Secretary of ATMS. Dorothy paid my wages for the first few years as there was no money and it was a tremendous struggle to stay afloat. However, against all odds and under extreme opposition from other associations, with Dorothy’s guidance and wisdom it flourished.
Dorothy was a true visionary. Her understand of the needs of the profession was prophetic. She fought the good fight with vigour and great courage. The profession owes Dorothy a great debt of gratitude.
It was a great honour to work for Dorothy and she set the guiding principles for the operation of ATMS with her characteristic wisdom and ‘horse sense’. All I had to do was my best to follow her principles (for some 25 years). Needless to say I was a DH devotee and my respect and admiration of her knows no bounds. There will be only one Dorothy Hall, she changed lives. On behalf of the many tens of thousands of her students and the patients she helped and inspired I say a very fond farewell to Dorothy and wish her the peace she so richly deserves. With much love and sadness, Marie Fawcett.
Maggie Sands N.D, Principal School of Integrated Body Therapy, ATMS Life member/ Past Executive Director
It is with great sadness for me to write this tribute for Dorothy. The day I met Dorothy will remain etched in my mind forever, some 24 years ago at my first meeting as an ATMS Director. In those earlier years we met as Directors seated around a rustic wooden table in the Naturcare cafe at Artarmon. After some years of working under Dorothy’s guidance we then worked together on numerous issues that were facing the natural therapies industry. Those were the days when client health fund rebates were unknown–we faced many battles together which bought us the recognition we enjoy today. As practitioners we are best to remember Dorothy’s forsight and dedication to alternative medicine. I visited Dorothy numerous times at her home in the Central Highlands of NSW and she asked me on one occasion to find her some ‘wizard ‘statues for her astrological herb garden. The garden was a masterpiece with an amazing ambience. I was privileged to have Dorothy open my wellness centre at Charmhaven in 2001 were we proudly display a beautiful wall plaque she gifted to the centre. Her insight, dedication, mentorship and friendship have been sincerely appreciated during my own personal journey. Dorothy’s efforts to heal and teach so many has left its mark, she has been our true pioneer. Go now in spirit, rest deeply. I feel enormously blessed to have known you.
Anne Hughes, Herbalist
I feel extremely privileged to have studied under Dorothy Hall/Hand. Her wealth of knowledge and wisdom were endless. She lives with me daily as I hear her voice in my head not only while I am working with my clients but also in my personal life. She will be cherished and never forgotten.
Fiona Stephens, DH Grad 1991
You’re a household name, a truth seeker, master of seeing the person not the condition, and of keeping it simple. Thank you for changing my life spectacularly. I can see you sitting ‘up there’ in the infinite spirit, asking all those ‘Sagittarian’ questions you had on your list. Things like ‘why didn’t you put a drain hole in the mastoid bone?’ Hah! Good on you Dorothy … a worthy life if ever there was one!
