Beginnings
The Living Valley Springs program was created by Master Herbalist Al Wolfsen in the USA in the 1940's. Al operated successful cleansing clinics in Hawaii, California and Texas. In 1986, Al conducted training courses in Australia for selected therapists who had demonstrated an interest in establishing genuine health retreats in this country. As a result two families joined forces to create Australia's leading genuine health retreat.
Les Shaw and his wife, Kay, completed the Wolfsen training in late 1986, then established a small health retreat in Mullumbimby, NSW.
Gary Martin, Financier, and his wife Debbie lived in Sydney until late 1986. Gary and Debbie had adopted a number of health reforms and had been studying lifestyle and its relationship to disease for several years. In 1984 they purchased a property in Northern NSW to establish a lifestyle education and treatment centre.
In 1987 the Shaws and the Martins met at a health camp near Kempsey. In 1988 they jointly established the Border Ranges Centre for Health and Lifestyle, while all members of the families continued to study natural medicine.
For two years they tried and tested the Wolfsen 10 day cleanse, achieving nothing less than remarkable results. As patients continued to report their amazing recoveries, the reputation of the centre spread far and wide. They were invited to conduct lifestyle seminars in many parts of Australia, as they encouraged others to join in the new health revolution.
The move to Kin Kin
Through miraculous answers to prayer, the two families discovered the Kin Kin property in mid 1990. It was an overrun, grounsel infested jungle, having one dilapidated house and five small cabins. They purchased the title and moved into the cabins on the 8th October 1990.
Within a few weeks, patients were requesting admission. Some rooms were cleaned and the first program was conducted in November of the same year.
After an enormous contribution of energy and resources, the Shaw family retired in late 1993.
Today
Since that time the centre has employed an average of 45-55 workers, most of whom have been qualified in various modalities of natural therapy.
In addition to his duties as General Manager, Lecturer and Naturopath, Gary Martin ND has conducted public health programs throughout Australia, New Zealand, the USA, India and Europe.
Gary's protege, John Tobin BHSc, ND, is the Retreat's Health Program Manager. He has worked with Gary for almost 20 years and is a renowned public speaker and an authority on most health matters.
For over 22 years, the Living Valley Springs program has constantly improved. The staff have been educated in an “out-in-the-field” situation and have gained invaluable experience in treating disease and restoring health. From simple problems such as headaches, blood pressure, stress, back pain, poor digestion, obesity, tiredness, etc to more serious conditions such as asthma, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, tumours and even cancer, the Living Valley Springs program is effective.