DY NA M IC DUOS
MELINDA PRATT + ROD HIDLEBAUGH NATURAL MEDICINE FAMILY PRACTICE / TOWNSVILLE SPORTS INJURY & PHYSIO CLINIC / AYR PHYSIO CLINIC
GOA LS A LIGN ED With sunshine and opportunity calling them, this couple headed north to start their own Physiotherapy and Natural Medicine Clinic.
TOWNSVILLE SPORTS INJURY & PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC / AYR PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC / NATURAL MEDICINE FAMILY PRACTICE TOWNSVILLE – LEVEL 1 CORNER GREGORY & EYRE STREETS; AYR – 54 MACMILLAN STREET WWW.NMFP.COM.AU
Canadian Physiotherapist Rod Hidlebaugh was living in Melbourne – where he met and married Melinda Pratt – when in 2012 the lure of warmer weather became too strong. “That’s right, even the Canadian got tired of the cold and windy Melbourne weather,” Rod laughs. “I asked Mel if she wanted to move to a warmer climate, and I saw an opportunity to set up a couple of practices here in the north.” Having over 16 years’ experience treating back injuries, elite athletes – including Olympic and professional athletes – workers, neck pain, hip, knee and ankle osteoarthritis and pain, and more recently people suffering from vertigo, dizziness and balance problems – Rod’s been referred to as ‘the Vertigo physio’ – Rod knew his skills could be utilised in the north.
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Now, Rod and Melinda have two practices in Townsville and Ayr, with a team of six – three Physios, Rod, Rachel and Ute; Naturopath Melinda; and an admin team of two, Sherri, and Brooke. “Mel is the doer and I’m an ideas man,” describes Rod of his and Melinda’s working relationship, “and we both have extensive clinical experience. I’m not sure how Mel treats all the patients she does and keeps the rest of business side of things going, but she does it well.” Melinda’s Naturopathy work focuses on many areas, including women’s health, food allergies, fertility and supporting people through cancer treatment.
“I have seen Mel assist people with numerous conditions and I think to her credit, she is one of the busiest Naturopath’s in the country,” shares Rod. “Working in smaller communities, word of mouth is everything. If you help someone get better, word of mouth gets around. And if you don’t you won’t be busy.” “We have created an individualised and personalised practice,” explains Melinda. And we have achieved a peaceful, calming environment where our patients are comfortable and receive quality care from the same therapist they saw the week before. We think that’s important. “We both have a passion for what we do,” continues Melinda, “and follow Confucius philosophy, ‘If you find something you love to do, you’ll never work another day in your life.’”