Kay Knight has been defending the region from aches, pains and mobility challenges for four decades.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
She has wielded acupuncture needles, therapeutic exercise methods and good old traditional hands-on treatment for the people of Echuca-Moama and the surrounding region.
Kay didn’t just found Rich River Physiotherapy, she has been its driving force for 40 years, safeguarding the physical wellbeing of her community.
Her dedication to protecting regional health goes far beyond standard clinical care ― earning the prestigious Allied Health Professional Award for her outstanding contributions to rural medicine.
Now, Kay is putting down her needles, resting her hands and stepping away from the treatment table for good.
She recently sold the business she built — from a renovated residential house into a large allied health practice.
But walking away from a career that has been such a large part of her life is bittersweet.
“I know I'll miss it,” she said.
And Kay will be leaving behind connections which have been built over decades ― with her treating several generations of the same families.
“Patients become a big part of your life,” she said.
“You get to know three or four generations of the same family. You know their kids, and they know yours.”
It is this loyalty and trust that Kay is most proud of when she looks back on her career.
“I’m very privileged people trusted me to do the right thing,” she said.
“And hopefully I’ve steered them in the right direction and had good results with them.”
Kay’s path into physiotherapy was not carefully planned ― rather her success in business and life have stemmed from going out on a limb.
“I pretty much knew nothing about physiotherapy,” she said.
“And luckily, I liked it.”
After graduating from the Lincoln Institute in Melbourne, Kay began her career in Swan Hill ― but soon it would take an unexpected turn.
In 1988, she made the bold decision to travel to Beijing to study acupuncture — a pioneering move at a time when the practice was virtually unheard of in Australia.
The idea came after she encountered acupuncture being used to help children with cerebral palsy during an overseas placement in Singapore ― describing it as a “great blend with physio”.
She then came back, and moved to Echuca, taking up a position at the hospital where she would spend nine years.
Kay eventually bought the building that would become Rich River Physio in 1995.
Her husband, James, played a major role in the early years, helping renovate the building and even working as receptionist while the couple raised their children.
Over the years, the practice grew into a broader allied health hub ― but Kay’s work has never been confined to a treatment room.
A strong commitment to rural health has taken her and her staff throughout the region.
She mentioned that people living in small country towns could often miss out on health services and face long journeys to access care.
“I've always been very keen to bring what I can to regional areas,” she said.
And this country focus has also shaped the way she practised ― in a rural community, physios could not afford to specialise in one area: “you had to be able to do all of it”.
The stories that come with four decades in a country practice are another thing Kay will miss.
Such as the “demure” elderly lady who came in with neck problems, only for Kay to notice a massive bruise on her shoulder.
“She said, ‘I’ve been shooting rabbits,’” Kay laughed.
The woman had been blazing away from her back verandah when the shotgun kicked, leaving her shoulder badly bruised — hence the neck issues.
For Kay, it was another example of the unpredictable and often humorous stories that came with working in a country practice.
“I just love all that stuff,” she said.
“It’s just so classic country.
“It’s the sort of thing you’d never see in Melbourne.”
Now, free from the rhythm of half-hourly patients and early alarms, Kay is looking forward to a new life where the only appointments are the one she makes for herself.
Such as trips to New Zealand and Europe, and visits to children in Sydney.
But as she steps away, she is determined to thank “the community for being part of my life and trusting me”.
“It has been an absolute privilege to serve Echuca-Moama and I feel extraordinarily fortunate to have enjoyed such a long and rewarding career,” she said.
“For those who can make it, there will be a cuppa and chat at the Apex Hall on Friday, October 16, from 11am to 1.30pm. I’d love to have a catch-up.
“Thank you all.”