Orange physiotherapist Harry Fardell on 'passion' for supporting community, athletes

Harry Fardell happily admits that might sound a little cliché from a physiotherapist who focuses on sports injuries, but you need only a few minutes with him to see just how genuine a sentiment it is.

Mr Fardell has taken that attitude with him to work every day since graduating from Newcastle University in 2006, although describing his profession as such still brings a smile to his 37-year-old face.

"It was either orthopedics or physio but I didn't originally get into medicine. I started a physiotherapy degree and loved it, it is a passion rather than a job," he said.

Born and bred in Orange, Mr Fardell began his career at Newcastle before, after a year travelling the world, coming home and opening his practice - Orange Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic - in 2012.

He did so with just him, now-wife Sophie teaching pilates and Pip Gardiner looking after the accounts. The business has since grown, with three on-site physiotherapists and another starting soon to complement the exercise-based and administration staff.

Orange Physiotherapy regularly takes on interns and students for practical placements too, particularly those studying at Charles Sturt University. It's a way to give back to the community, Mr Fardell said, as is continually supporting sporting clubs and organisations around the region too.

"We have high school students coming in soon too. It's a way to help and support students, to show the responsibilities that come with the job because it's not all looking after Buddy Franklin or Jack Grant - there's an Orange kid doing great things, Jack," he said.

"Being able to help clubs is definitely a priority too, it's an easy decision to do that. When you support the likes of Orange Triathlon Club or the Orange Running Festival you know it's going to the right place because of the hard work their amazing committees do."

Mr Fardell has taken up countless opportunities to work with state and national teams, but he said watching athletes from his hometown succeed gives him just as much pride as any personal achievements, if not more.

"Whether I've worked with people a lot, a little or not at all, it's great to see athletes from Orange go to the next level, I love that," he said.

One example came through Orange City Rugby Union juniors Yool Yool, Hunter Ward and Dan Donato, who all featured in the Australian 7s' Olympic trials recently.

"We were at Bankwest Stadium not long ago and Yool was playing in the Australian side. He made a break, I was about 10 metres away and the crowd just went up," he explained.

"I just remember thinking 'how good is this, how good are Orange athletes'."

Progress is something Mr Fardell preaches to his staff too, he's still studying further too.

"Professional development is something we push, all of us here are still looking to develop in other areas we're interested in and we always encourage interns or placement students to do the same, particularly in terms of seeing different areas of the profession in regional areas," he said.

In terms of the future, while he admitted working with the Wallabies would be 'a dream', Mr Fardell said his family will always come first, particularly with two young daughters - Poppy and Quinn - at home.

"My family is the most important thing, always will be, and even though that would be a dream it would be very tough to balance too," he said.

"Besides, I absolutely love what I've got right now. In fact, everything is pretty much perfect at the moment."

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