10 April, 1937 - 26 November, 2023.
The Psychotherapeutic and Dreamwork Community mourns the loss of Margaret Marion Bowater, a distinguished New Zealand contributor in the fields of Transactional Analysis and Dreamwork. Margaret, nee Weatherly, left an indelible mark on our community with her passion for learning, teaching, and exploration for meaning in life, and in part, death.
Margaret's journey began with a rural childhood, leading her to graduate with M.A. Hons in English Literature from Auckland University in 1958. She started her career as a secondary school teacher in 1959 and, after a brief hiatus to raise a family, resumed teaching in the 1970s. Her dedication extended to promoting good parenting and early childhood education through involvement in the New Zealand Parents’ Centre and Playcentre organisations in Thames.
In 1984, Margaret transitioned to counseling, receiving training from the Human Development Team of Presbyterian Support in Auckland. Despite challenges, she co-founded the Human Development and Training Institute of New Zealand (HDTI) in 1991, offering exceptional experiential training for counsellors. Her counselling and supervision practice thrived.
Margaret's commitment to professional development led her to achieve full membership and registration with NZAP, earning her a Distinguished Service Award in 2019. She also gained international accreditation as a certified Clinical Transactional Analyst and became an examiner in Transactional Analysis. During the late 1980s and 1990s, she discovered the transformative power of Dreamwork, incorporating it into HDTI's training program and co-founding DNANZ in 2014. A scholarship in her name supports aspiring dreamwork learners in her memory.
As a prolific author, Margaret wrote two influential books in the field: "Dreams and Visions, Language of the Spirit" (Tandem Press, 1997) and "Healing the Nightmare, Freeing the Soul" (Calico Press, 2016), which was also translated into Chinese. Her articles enriched the NZAC and NZAP Journals, the Dream Bulletin of IASD, and the Jung Platform website. Margaret's expertise made her a sought-after figure on dreams for radio and TV outlets, while her workshops and seminars across the country were infused with a profound spiritual dimension.
Margaret is leaving a legacy that the family are hoping will continue her work in dream study. A memorial scholarship has been set up for students in Counselling and Psychotherapy to attend future conferences. For those wishing to make donations the bank account is; 03-0166-00200-01
We remember Margaret's enduring legacy as a trailblazer, educator, and compassionate soul. May her spirit continue to inspire and guide us in the fields she so passionately embraced.
Thank you to Eric Bowater, Margarets beloved husband of nearly 63 years, Jennifer McGarry and Margaret Toland for their contributions to this notice.
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