Our Story
Tim's True Brew
Rowing Against the Tide
True Brew isn’t your typical cancer support program. It’s crafted with the determination of Tim Brew, a country Victoria legend who, fourteen years ago, overcame stage 4 brain cancer against all odds. Driven by a relentless spirit and a quest for natural remedies, Tim defied expectations. Today, True Brew embodies his vision, empowering you to take charge of your well-being.
Tim's tenacity shines through not only in his experience with cancer but also in his rowing career. As Australian Rowing Champion, Tim was selected to row in Bled, Yugoslavia in 1989, and continues to coach some of Victoria’s best rowers. Since his diagnosis, Tim has used his mentoring skills to support others diagnosed with cancer, offering guidance as both a friend and a fellow traveller on this challenging voyage.
Tim in San Pellegrino, Italy, in 1989, following the Bled Yugoslavia race.
“A 1% success rate is all I need.”
2011 - Shaky hand after a coffee, next thing I know, grapefruit-sized grade 4 tumour chilling in my head. Standard. Doc sliced it out, then came the chemo and radiation circus. But I wasn't ready to become a statistic. This wasn't a one-way street. I decided to fight back aggressively, not just with traditional treatments, but with everything I could find to give my body a fighting chance. I threw acupuncture, clean eating, and cranked-up exercise at the thing. A year later, an MRI showed no signs of tumour growth. This whole ordeal wasn't a walkabout, but it proves a bit of Aussie grit and doing things a little different can go a long way. Now, it's back to living life to the fullest – one bike ride and rowing race at a time!
Look. I'm no expert, but I reckon a 98% failure rate needs a review... Maybe Big Pharma just wants us to believe this is a bad bet.
Tim’s Brewprint
From Diagnosis to Triumph
Learn
The diagnosis hit like a freight train—grade 4 brain tumour. But staring down those odds, I knew I had to fight back. My weapon? Learning.
I dug into the research, grilled the doctors with Aussie persistence, and explored everything from traditional medicine to alternative approaches. It wasn’t just about facts; it was about understanding that cancer is just a collection of misfolded proteins which can be cleaned and cleared, then resurrected back to life.
Heal
I cleaned up my diet and tried everything I found in my research, including adaptogens, trace minerals, and polyphenols to nourish and cleanse myself with teas, nutrition, and powerful supplements. I cranked up the exercise and relied on an incredible naturopath and acupuncturist for their skilled advice and treatment.
Learning and healing ignited a fierce determination within me. A year later, the tumour had vanished, but I stayed vigilant, continuously enriching my body with nutrients and keeping my blood oxygenated and alkaline. Now, I’m passionate about motivating others facing the same challenge to help themselves.
Triumph
Wiping out that grapefruit-sized GBM was a relief, for sure. But the real win was getting my health back on track. That's why we created True Brew. Forget the confusing medical jargon, we break it down into something you can actually understand.
True Brew is my blueprint – Learn, Heal, Triumph. It's not just about zapping cancer cells. It's about taking control of your health. Let's clean up your body, supercharge your recovery, and get you back to living life to the fullest!
Overcoming Adversity
Tim's Journey from Injury to Inspiration
This photo is from 1993, just 12 months after I, as a pedestrian, was crashed into by a car. My rowing career came to an abrupt halt. I had a full craniotomy, hematomas, Traumatic Brain Injury, broken bones, and snapped ligaments. I was even stuck in a mental hospital for a while! Eventually, they let me go, and I thought I could make a comeback. I got my fitness back after 18 months and entered Albury’s Fittest Man contest, as shown in the photo, after rebuilding myself. It came down to a tie, by the way! Then, I tried to get back in the boat, but my ligaments couldn't handle it. Then, a girl who was “un-coachable” to others asked me to coach her. I said, “Why me?” and she said, “I think you would be a good coach.” I was still getting my brain going, but we got on great, and she went on to be a world champion and dual Olympian.
Another rowing prodigy, (to be) was overlooked by the SASI squad selectors. Her “rank” put six candidates ahead of her. Tim, however, saw the potential when her mum asked me to take a look. I had a word with her and to her surprise I told her “it's the best thing to happen to you.” We were soon smashing the SASI kids, and she won the World Championships as a dual Olympian and set the World Record fastest time. Another kid set himself for a Rhodes Scholarship and went on to win the boat race several times for Cambridge.
“What do all these people have in common? They were all throwbacks with their backs to the wall. With commitment, enthusiasm, purpose, and learning, we smashed all expectations. I don't have a coaching licence, but I reckon my track record is pretty good.”
— Tim Brew
Testimonial
"Tim is an everyday miracle that we all need in our lives. I met Tim through rowing, which is a tough sport, particularly for someone like me, who was not really tall or strong enough and definitely lacked the confidence to make it to the “next level”. While I was very fortunate to have some excellent coaches, I remained plagued by doubt. This changed however during my time with Tim. As a rowing coach, Tim was definitely eccentric, and by that, I am referring to the more traditional meaning, “deviating from the recognised or customary character and practice.” Tim’s training sessions were not the long hard slogs I had been used to, rather they were focused, fun and motivating being peppered with positive “Brewisms” or completely off the wall anecdotes, which I couldn’t always relate to rowing, but loved nonetheless. Tim was about possibilities and strengths, embodying a growth mindset long before Carol Dweck published her seminal book on the topic. All carrot, no stick- that was Tim.
This approach definitely worked for me – I achieved some of my best results with Tim, and while we worked hard, it was so enjoyable! Rather than approach regattas with a fear of failure, it just felt exciting to take the next step on the journey. No matter what the result, we would go through all the “computations and permutations” (Tim’s phrase) post-race and walk away from the experience with a sense of optimism and achievement.
As I reflect on this time now, I realise just how much enjoyment Tim infused into that experience through methods and approaches that were totally novel and unique. It didn’t just make me a better rower but a much happier person. Today, positive psychology and strengths-based approaches are commonplace, but in the early 1990s, not so much- Tim was about a decade ahead of the field. As Tim continues to carve his own unique path, I have no doubt he continues to bring joy and inspiration along the way, particularly for those of us for whom success is far from guaranteed."
Cait Fraser
Australian champion in Rowing & Cycling
Tim in the hospital after being hit by a car as a pedestrian in 1992, while at the peak of his rowing career.
Tim's family gathered around Tim in the hospital - 1992.
Training for Albury’s Fittest Man Contest. What’s funny about this time was I was sleeping 17 hours a day recovering from the craniotomy! I would go to the gym and punch out a couple of hours training in between.
The family talked Tim into entering the contest!
Just Another Hurdle in Tim’s Journey
Tim's Cancer Olympics
The Cancer diagnosis, like other challenges in Tim’s life, is just another obstacle to overcome. From suffering third-degree burns covering more than a third of his body as a two-year-old to enduring a life-altering car accident in 1993, Tim has faced and overcome numerous formidable challenges. Even when a promising rowing comeback was cut short, he channelled his energy into coaching, guiding athletes to world championships and record-breaking performances. Each setback has been confronted with resilience, self-belief, and a determination to defy others' expectations.
Here’s The Thing…
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink!
I battled cancer head-on, learned everything I could, and came out stronger. But knowledge is only half the battle. You gotta get your head in the game, understand what you're dealing with, and build a plan that works for you. That's where True Brew comes in. We don't push fancy treatments or sugarcoat things. We give you the straight goods, the tools, and the resources to navigate your own health journey. No pressure, just the chance to learn, heal, and triumph – your way.
So, are you ready to prick your ears up and at least think about it? There's no risk in checking it out!