Dr. Toby Fraser

Melissa Kaine, Sherryl Brunner, Poppy, Toby (holding Willow)

Toby was first exposed to chiropractic at the age of 14 when his father, a butcher, injured his back severely. He decided to give chiropractic a go.  The results were quite remarkable.  From then, Toby had decided he wanted to become a chiropractor.

After reading many books and talking to quite a few different chiropractors, Toby met Dr Max Joseph, a chiropractor who trained under Dr Clarence Gonstead. Dr Max introduced Toby to the relationship between the spine, the nervous system and every single function of the body it controls and regulates. As a consequence, Toby became obsessed with studying this intricate relationship, which was so simple and made so much sense. He was also fascinated to learn about case studies where chiropractic had helped people in so many other ways besides back pain.

The first chiropractic patient, Harvey Lillard, had his hearing restored to normal after a chiropractic adjustment from Daniel Palmer, a Gonstead practitioner. Toby loved learning about the Gonstead Chiropractic Method, which he believes is more specific and achieves results more rapidly than the industry standard. Throughout university, Toby attended many extra curricular Gonstead seminars so he would be the best chiropractor he could be after graduating from the 5 year double degree, Bachelor of Applied Science(clinic) and a Bachelor of Chiropractic Science from RMIT in 2005.

Toby started working at Swanson St, Melbourne, while practicing one day per week in Benalla. Throughout he loved the drive to Benalla and loved the patients. Despite enjoying his work in the city, when the opportunity arose in 2007 to purchase the clinic in Benalla, Toby couldn’t say no and has never looked back.  Marrying a local girl and now with two girls, Poppy and Willow, Toby is in Benalla to stay.

Toby is the national Secretary for the Gonstead Chiropractic Society and has been a valued board member since 2015 and is currently studying to become an ambassador, helping train the next generation of chiropractors.

Toby is a keen and avid car and motorbike enthusiast, enjoying road trips and travelling Australia with his young family.

A well-respected and ethical member of the profession, Dr Toby has built a referral-based practice, centred on patient outcomes.

Toby is focussed on delivering the highest quality chiropractic care to his patients. He believes this is achieved by devoting his practice to the Gonstead method of chiropractic, which provides a thorough diagnostic process, a specific adjustment done by hand, resulting in a more effective and faster outcome for the patient.

Additionally, Toby has obtained his ‘advanced certification for Gonstead extremity adjusting’ and completed a postgraduate course in chiropractic management for the paediatric patient, requiring several hundred hours of study.

Dr. Melinda Blackney

Melinda was introduced to chiropractic by a neighbour when she was just 15.  She grew interested in the philosophy behind chiropractic, being able to help people by just using her hands.  Chiropractic aims to help people without drugs and surgery and is based on the principle that if a person has a healthy spine, they are more likely to be healthy generally.  Melinda was fortunate to be given an opportunity to complete work experience as a year 10 student with a chiropractor who gave Melinda an even greater insight to the often amazing results chiropractic can achieve, improving the lives of many people.

Studying chiropractic at RMIT University in Melbourne, Melinda was introduced to the Gonstead chiropractic technique.  This technique appealed to Melinda as it involves a very thorough biomechanical analysis of the spine and the adjustment is delivered to the patient in a very specific way.

Keen to develop her analysis and adjusting skills, Melinda spent every Wednesday evening  at the university’s Gonstead club and in her own time, attended every Gonstead seminar in Australia until she graduated in 2005 with Toby Fraser.  From graduation,  Melinda has attended almost every seminar since and has even attended the Gonstead seminar in the USA.  As a firm believer that ‘you never stop learning’, Melinda plans to attend every seminar until the day she retires!

After graduating, Melinda headed north with her husband, Dean.  She practiced in Cairns for 14 months before travelling to Cape York and across to Darwin working out of caravan parks and out of cattle stations.  For the following 8 years, Melinda settled in a small community in North East Arnhem land called Nhulunbuy  (Gove).  Melinda cared for a wide demographic in Nhulunbuy, enjoying the challenges of helping people in a remote healthcare setting.  Melinda and Dean had  two children in Gove,  Oliver and Matilda.  Moving west to ‘the big smoke’ of Darwin was another great tie for Melinda and her young family.  Melinda practiced in Darwin for 4 years, whilst having another little boy, Archie.  With a growing family, Darwin was increasingly becoming further and further away from family, hence Melinda deciding to move to Benalla.  Having visited Benalla may times, she couldn’t think of a better place to raise a family!

Melinda is currently serving as Secretary,  alongside Toby on the board for the Gonstead Chiropractic Society of Australia. Although busy, she feels great being able to put back into a society that has provided her with so much information, helping her achieve the best results she possible with the patients she cares for.