Simon Bray, left, with fire-refugee pony Sunny, Jenny Bray with Dot the Poodle and Dr Arden Woodford with moggie Milo.
KINGLAKE District Veterinary Clinic was destroyed on 7 February, but the service the team has delivered for the past three years is continuing.
The team – Dr Simon Bray, Dr Arden Woodford and vet nurse and practice manager Jenny Bray – are working from the Bray property in Gordon’s Bridge Road, Kinglake, with tremendous support from vet practices in the Yarra Valley.
Jenny Bray tells the story:
OUR day on 7 February started much the same as any other hot summer day. Late in the afternoon we made our usual after-hours visit to our clinic in Kinglake to check up on a few things and fill our jerry cans with fuel – just in case.
By evening, along with everyone else in the area we found ourselves fighting to protect our lives, animals and home against the raging inferno of Australia’s worst bushfire disaster.
Compared with other people we came off lightly, we managed to save our home and the shed that contained the animals, but everything beyond that perimeter was gone.
Our clinic was completely destroyed but, thankfully, with no animals inside.
Like for many people the next few weeks were just a blur – trying to find out how friends and family were; trying to do all we could to help injured animals and tending and evacuating ours and other people’s animals where we could.
As the fog lifted we had to re-evaluate our business. We ran two businesses from our clinic site – an in-house, small animal practice and a mobile equine practice.
We needed to deal with our insurance claims, both at home and with the
clinic, and we needed to source necessary equipment, medications and basic needs quickly.
As many would appreciate, re-establishing a business and lives after the fires is not something that happens quickly.
Unfortunately during this time a permit was granted for a new veterinary clinic to open in Kinglake.
Our clinic has not received any donations or support to help rebuild but a grant from rural finance for the equine practice helped pay half the cost of new X-ray equipment and was greatly appreciated.
Having to compete against a new business was something we never expected but we are determined to continue to support our loyal clientele offering home visits to small animals, which clients may find more convenient.
We are also working on our equine practice with plans to computerise it and offer facilities for procedures and longer-term care when required.
If we can help, we’re here. Don’t hesitate to call Simon, Arden or myself on 5786 1809 or 0418 350 492.
