Walkley Chiropractic Group’s owner has looked back fondly on the past 25 years in operation.
Dr David Walkley has been fascinated with chiropractic work for decades, after receiving treatment for migraines as a child.
“As a child I was suffering migraines and we couldn’t find anything that had a beneficial effect until I came across a chiropractor, sort of as a hail mary approach from my mum and dad,” he said.
“We had tried everything else and saw this chiropractor and it helped with my migraines.
“That’s what got me interested and got me started and so the more I found out about it and the more I researched it the more I became interested in it.”
Dr Walkley studied at RMIT University in Melbourne for five years before returning to the South West and taking up work in Australind.
He went out on his own with his first Walkley Chiropractic Group office in South Bunbury in 1992.
“It was just more really getting out and just doing things your own way, I think anybody in any business has that view that they would like to try things a little bit differently and have ideas about how to provide a great service and try to get out there and put it into fruition and see how you go,” he said.
He said it was “a difficult but interesting journey” between starting out and the clinic’s ‘Silver Anniversary’.
“There’s been a lot of late nights and longs hours during the day but it’s been extremely rewarding, I’ve been extremely lucky in that everything I do in regards to this I enjoy and have a great connection with patients so, at the end of the day, it doesn’t seem like work,” he said.
Dr Walkley said, over the past two-and-half decades, chiropractic work has expanded from muscular and skeletal therapy to include patient rehabilitation and prevention of returning symptoms.
I’ve been extremely lucky in that everything I do in regards to this I enjoy and have a great connection with patients.
- Dr David Walkley
He said the patients’ knowledge of the field and expectations have greatly increased during his time in practice.
Walkley Chiropractic Group has gone from one clinic to five, with clinics also placed in Bunbury’s CBD, Collie, Wagin and Donnybrook.
The group celebrated the opening of its new Dalyellup clinic this week.
The chiropractor and business owner said the clinics have provided valuable assistance across the South West.
“I wasn’t our intention to start off and then grow but as we just got busier and there was more demand on my time, and more demand with patients, you just bring on another chiropractor and then as the need arises you then you move into another area,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we have great patients and coming to work is brilliant, it doesn’t feel like work, at the end of the day, it feels more like you are catching up with friends.
“From that side of things we’ve always had a good rapport with patients and they have always been very thankful, you get back reward for effort.”
Dr Walkley said he learnt a lot of valuable lessons while juggling the chiropractic and business elements.
He said those looking to start a small business should be prepared to work hard and deliver the best possible service.
