F. Bruce Barwell
25 July 1941 - 29 May 2008
President of the New Zealand Homœopathic Society Inc for the last thirteen years, Bruce’s life was claimed by a heart attack, at home, a few months before he had planned to retire from his practice and concentrate on writing a book about his homœopathic experiences.
Born in Taumarunui - his father was a farming advisor - the family later lived in Whakatane and New Plymouth. Uncertain of a career direction he settled on journalism while in Wellington, beginning with the Truth newspaper, then in Auckland worked for the New Zealand Herald and then Soil and Health magazine, later back to Wellington for the Listener, as chief sub-editor, finally returning to Auckland and the Auckland Star.
In the late 1960s while researching for an article on alternative medicines he encountered homœopathy, became interested, and in a very short while it completely absorbed him.
He embarked on serious study, spending time in India in hospitals and clinics there, learning from their masters.
He returned to Auckland in 1973 where he soon set up his clinic, and over the next 35 years devoted his life to helping and healing patients, always learning more, and spreading interest in, and knowledge of, homœopathy throughout the country.
He was the backbone of the Society, lecturing and producing pamphlets, becoming President in 1995 and Editor of Homœopathica, the Society’s magazine for the last eleven years.
He also devised and conducted study courses for both home and family users and those who wished to progress towards becoming practitioners.
As the number of people setting up in practice mushroomed in the 1980s he became deeply concerned with the need for basic medical knowledge, ability in homœopathic prescribing and professional integrity, and so he helped to institute and administer the Society’s register of practitioners in 1983.
Several teaching colleges started up, each having their own qualifications and registration procedures, and so in the late 1990s he was part of negotiations for the practitioners to produce their own register, the New Zealand Council of Homœopaths, which would amalgamate the previous factions.
He assisted in producing the emerging New Zealand Qualifications Authority as it affected homœopathic unit standards, and teaching institutions. He made several submissions to Parliament on the Medicines Act and the Health and Disabilities commission. He worked hard then, and several times in later years, whenever the position of homœopathic medicines was raised in proposed legislation. He opposed recent trends to mixtures of remedies as quick and easy solutions, and herbal mixtures, containing one or two remedies, being described as homœopathic.
There is a tendency world wide for alternatives, including homœopathy, to attract imaginative and quirky adherents. These were anathema to Bruce, whose conviction that homœopathy is based on sound scientific principles, which will eventually be proven beyond doubt by scientific research, led him to using his editorship of Homœopathica to spread this message.
Continually seeking out and appraising new medicines, and any research which could help to confound sceptics, was second nature to him. His knowledge and experience contributed to his zeal for eschewing sloppiness, in both thinking and practice, in order to protect and proclaim the truths of homœopathy.
To his patients, and those who knew him, he was a kind, generous, thoughtful man, always anxious to help, who spoke only when he had something to say, with a sense of humour (at times mischievous). He loved his family, adored his grandchildren, and enjoyed and cared for the health of pets, particularly cats and tropical fish, developing remedies for them.
His other interests included music (classical, medieval and modern), botany - including cultivating herbs and developing remedies from them - and bead work, making interesting and individual jewellery for loved ones. He had an interest in art, from all regions of the world, spoke 15 languages, all self taught - including Chinese - and enjoyed cooking, with an interest in ingredients of different ethnic regional dishes.
He is survived by his wife Ruth, her daughters Jay and Susan, and grandchildren, and his two sons, Ezra and Max and their children.
To others who knew of him, read his work, or attended his lectures, he appeared a more aloof character, at times almost gruff, who did not suffer fools gladly, and whose intellect and authority could over-awe - although unintentionally. His literary skills ensured a well constructed and rounded presentation of his subject, usually interspersed with asides which emphasized the humanity of the man. He met challenges with dignity, and his integrity was unquestioned.
He had, within his amazing mind, such depth of knowledge, and wisdom, that those who now mourn his passing will continue to miss the ability to tap into it, and share his thoughts.
The quote below, from the November 2005 issue of Homœopathica, gives us a glimpse of the man, his spirit, conviction and zeal.
The greater world of homœopathy has no good reason to tolerate this weird stuff (way out new age type notions), the New Zealand Homœopathic Society has no policy of letting it flourish unchallenged, and I as president of the Society and editor of this journal, pledge to do all that I can to stop it. Homœopathy is a branch of medicine. It has as much right to be regarded as a science as any other branch of medicine, nothing should taint this position.
Eileen Boghurst