CHP Magazines CHP Magazines Spring 2019 #16 | Page 26

For many of us the thought of fleeing the
hustle and bustle of the rat race and living
on a tropical island is pure fantasy, but for a
lucky few its reality.
26 Complete Health
For many of us the thought of fleeing the
hustle and bustle of the rat race and living
on a tropical island is pure fantasy, but for a
lucky few its reality.
Kirsty Holmes, Naturopath, Nutritionist
and Herbalist, has lived this life for more
than a decade and I jumped at the chance
to pay her a visit and view her little slice of
paradise.
A short and enjoyable ferry ride from
Redland Bay, just 40 mins from Brisbane central,
saw me disembarking onto Russell Island.
Russell and Macleay Islands are set in
the idyllic Southern Moreton Bay Islands
region where a relaxed and inclusive
lifestyle attracts many alternative and
artistic residents to their shores. Easily
accessed from the mainland the islands
promise beautiful natural conservation
areas, beaches and trails, attracting nature
lovers and explorers from far and wide.
In August 2013 Kirsty established the
first and only Health Food store on Russell
Island. She refers to it as her flagship
store and she is rightly very proud of her
achievement of providing residents and
visitors to the island with affordable health
food products as well as allied health,
mental health and complimentary medical
services.
My Health Aisle was born from a desire
to provide quality natural products not just
for her discerning customers but also her
ecologically sensitive environment. Kirsty’s
customers have supported her from the
very beginning and this has enabled her
to expand and diversify with her product
selections which now include island style
clothing, gifts and organic coffee and tea
served at a quaint expresso bar located at
the entrance of the store..
Originally starting with one clinic room
at her Russell store, she has expanded
to two clinic rooms to accommodate the
growing needs of her community. With the
support of both the mainland and island GPs
MHA has become the leading provider of
allied health and mental health services and
provides rooms for a Clinical Psychologist,
Physiotherapist, Women’s Counsellor,
Podiatrist, drug and alcohol abuse support,
exercise physiologist and even a lawyer and
realtor.
In 2018 there was a call for a similar
model on beautiful neighbouring Macleay
Island which is a few minutes away by