Building a home and a dream

Dan, who currently is the clinic’s primary chiropractor, spent his childhood growing up on a dairy farm near Cobram.

Dan's parents used chiropractic care for the whole family to support them during the busy sporting seasons and to maintain their overall health.

He later completed work experience with local chiropractic specialist Simon Cassidy.

After graduating from school in town, he travelled to Melbourne to complete his Bachelor of Health Science.

Dan and Apryl met one day in 2015. The couple soon married and settled for about 10 years in Berri, South Australia, near the wine-producing Barossa Valley. But before too long, a yearning to be closer to family and friends saw Dan convince Apryl that Cobram was where his heart was.

Having returned to Dan’s hometown, the well-heeled couple took over ownership of Cobram Chiropractic in January last year.

With the community embracing their holistic approach to healthcare, Dan and Apryl soon realised their clinic needed space and sunlight to flourish.

And so, about 12 months ago, the clinic moved from its previous home at Station St to its current location at 3 Schubert St.

With a clean, well-lit interior, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a children's corner, there is nothing that the thoughtful Dan and Apryl have not considered in their clinic’s new home.

Daisy, their well-behaved practice dog and Labrador, adds a touch of home to the clinic.

Apryl said the community had embraced the clinic’s new home with open arms.

“People who were existing clients were, I think, a bit blown away by the standard that we went to to set up our clinic — which we did with pride and passion.

“They’ve really welcomed the changes and embraced the new space. We get several comments about how lovely the space is to come into.”

Although some may believe chiropractic care is only for those in pain, nothing could be further from the truth, Dan and Apryl said.

They agreed that a highlight of their work was seeing their services benefit their patients’ overall wellbeing — especially so in an active community like Cobram-Barooga.

“If we are unable to participate in things we enjoy because the body's not coping, it really does have a big impact on people's lives,” Dan said.

Apryl, in turn, has observed their patients being able to do things after treatment which they previously hadn’t been able to do because of pain or restricted movement.

As professionals with many years’ experience in their field, Dan and Apryl emphasised that chiropractic care is for all.

“Chiropractic care is for everybody — not just a certain age group or those in a state of pain,” Apryl said.

For otherwise-healthy people, it’s part of a holistic approach to overall health and wellbeing.

It’s a service which Dan and Apryl are proud to provide their community — one which, after time spent away, they now feel lucky to call home.