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Remarkable Vets first opened its doors for business
in April 2004, as Arrowtown's first veterinary practice. The
staff initially consisted of sole veterinarian and owner Geoff
Woodhouse and lone veterinary nurse, receptionist and generally
"she-who-does-all-the-vet-doesn't", Alicia Hawthorne.
In those early days, the clinic building was a partially renovated
house, sporting a new paint job and new flooring, but still
a long way from finished. Over the subsequent months, this
fledgling practice grew as word spread throughout the Wakatipu.
Remarkable Vets grew into a true mixed country practice, with
patients ranging from cats and dogs and other companion animals,
to horses and the entire range of farm animals. Gradually
the renovations were completed and the clinic took on a bright,
friendly, colourful persona. Within months, Australian vet,
Nicky Viggers, was added to the team and additional support
staff, in the form of Vicki Bonham and Fiona Watherson also
came on board. In July 2005, veterinarian Tim Penlington joined
the staff, when Nicky went off to have her second child.
Not long after opening the practice, Geoff was
approached by a client who saw the potential for a reality
television series, documenting the beginnings of a country
veterinary practice in the breathtaking surroundings of the
region. From this, the "Remarkable Vets" television
series was born. For three months, the daily events of a country
practice and the family life of a country vet were captured
on film, and then screened to the nation every Sunday night
for 10 weeks. This exciting time in the life of Remarkable
Vets culminated in the official opening of the clinic on July
2nd 2005 by the Prime Minister Helen Clark. With the recent
announcement of a second series of "Remarkable Vets"
due in February 2006, we can only look forward to more exciting
times to come.
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