27/05/2026
May 2026 marks 20 years since I graduated from college in Brisbane as a naturopath. This month, I will be releasing something very exciting for new graduates so keep an eye out.
A 20-year journey. Wow. So much to be grateful for. So much hard work. So many stories. So many people with improved health. It’s been an incredible privilege.
Twenty years ago, Matt and I relocated from Brisbane back to Tamworth, where I began my working career as a qualified naturopath. I secured a position at Amcal Pharmacy in Shoppingworld, managing the vitamin section and beginning to do consultations. It was a fantastic team, and I loved the ladies I worked with there.
In February 2009, our daughter Elloise was born and I began maternity leave. In September 2009, I started my private practice after a very kind offer from chiropractor Tanya Lewington to practise within her clinic one day a week. Over the years, I slowly built my practice within Tanya’s chiropractic clinic, following her through a few locations, with another maternity break when our son James was born in 2011.
By 2018, I was consulting three days a week and had outgrown the space at TLC Chiropractic. In June 2018, I took a huge leap of faith and opened my standalone practice on Bridge Street, hiring my first admin assistant, Tash. Casey also joined me there as a nutritionist contractor after completing her student placement hours with me.
I remember feeling really scared — what if I failed? Signing a lease felt overwhelming. But we made it work. Michelle joined as admin assistant in January 2019, taking over from Tash.
In March 2021, I relocated to our current location at 230 Marius Street after again outgrowing the Bridge Street clinic. By then, my team had grown to include naturopath Julie alongside admin assistant Kim.
In 2025, I welcomed naturopath Bec and Olivia to the team, and more recently Tina joined us as an admin assistant.
Being a business owner, honestly, has been a tough journey at times. Building a practice — especially in those early years — was a huge challenge. I’ve had to learn bookkeeping software, navigate payroll and BAS, and work out social media and marketing. There were many times I wanted to give up, but I wouldn’t have gotten through without the encouragement of Matt, my mum, my mother-in-law Marg, and Tanya.
In more recent years, Casey, Michelle and Kim have also been an incredible encouragement to me in business, and I’m so grateful to them.
A very special mention to my mum and my mother-in-law Marg — who sadly passed away very recently — who cared for our children on the days I worked in clinic when they were little. I truly could not have done it without you both.
Watching the student naturopaths and nutritionists who completed placement hours in my clinic go on to thrive — whether in their own practices or within mine — has been such a joy. Well done Casey, Lisa, Rachel and Olivia.
Matt continues to be my rock. He’s the one who provides logical advice when I’m unsure what the next step in business should be. He also puts up with me complaining that the phone, computer or printer isn’t working — and somehow fixes every IT issue.
But ultimately, hearing your stories, seeing improvements in health, and witnessing lives changed through natural medicine is what it has always been about.
Thank you for entrusting me with your care over the past 20 years.
