“Making a living is determined by what you get. Making a life is determined by what you give.” – Winston Churchill

Woodbridge is a privately owned, family business.

For our staff and ourselves, Woodbridge is more than a business. It is a joy and a passion, and that joy and passion shows in everything we do.

In 2009, Nils was catastrophically injured when he was T-boned by a drunken driver running a red light in Western Australia. Woodbridge was then closed for more than 2 years (latest update* on Nils’ progress below).

In August 2011, Laurelle & John returned to Tasmania and Woodbridge was reopened, on schedule, 1st  September 2011. Nils continued his rehabilitation in Western Australia and then after his jaw operation in November 2011 in Newcastle, he relocated to Tasmania with us and continues his long rehabilitation journey here.

We have much to celebrate.

Laurelle, John and Nils Grimley

Contact us

Phone 0417 996 305

6 Bridge St, New Norfolk, Tasmania, Australia 7140

* Latest Update on Nils’ progress

In June 2011, we discovered that the reason Nils could not open his mouth was because there was significant deterioration to the bone of the jaw joint, damaged in the crash. This means Nils had limited speaking and eating ability. In November, the maxio-facial specialist in Newcastle NSW cut the joint out, and replaced it with a new joint which had been custom made from titanium and teflon in the USA – tGhe miracles of modern medical science!

Ironically, Nils came through the whole ordeal of his accident without a scratch to his face and is as handsome as every (that’s him being shamelessly exploited by his parents on the Packages – Wilderness page!), but he now has large incisions on the side of his face and under his jaw from this operation – a very small price to pay for now being able to talk and eat more normally! The surgeon did a magnificent job, and the scars are already disappearing – Nils, of course, sees the humour as he complaims that the scars aren’t big enough as he wanted really big ‘chick-magnet’ scars!!

Most importantly, Nils now can open his mouth fully, and we continue to delight in watching him when he gnaws on a chop bone!

Nils continues to work out for hours each day trying to walk and regain the use of his right arm – progress continues, albeit painfully slowly, but his good spirits, his commitment and his determination are undiminished!

Over winter in 2012 we have taken Nils to Florida USA for specialist treatment to try to improve his swallowing, and for a 2 month rehabilitation at one of the world’s top brain injury institute, The Shepherd Centre in Atlanta, USA.

Our time at Shepherd has been very encouraging, so much so that we extended Nils’ time here to 3.5 months. Shepherd is an amazing facility, and we know that Nils will miss it as we return to Woodbridge for the opening of the 2012-13 season starting 1st September. Nils has been placed on programme of drugs to ‘loosen’ his muscles, which has improved not only his gross movement, but also has relaxed his breathing, and greatly improved his speech.

October 2012: Nils continues to build on the gains of his time at The Shepherd Centre, and we have put together a great team of therpaists, trainers and assistants here in Tassie. He is starting to use his right hand more, and this week walked 200m on a treadmill (with harness support).

December 2012: Nils’ speech continues to work with conviction, and now he is moving into the very exhausting stage of removing ‘physical supports’. He is practicing standing for long periods holding his wall rails so that his body gets used to his weigh. He recently managed to lift a weigh off the table with his right hand… ok, it was only about 4cm off, but we are over the moon! And Nils’ speech continues to improve.

February 2013: Nils is in a good place at the moment. Things are starting to happen and Nils is in high spirits. We have seen significant right arm and right leg movement. His lung capacity has improved to the stage where he can blow up a balloon, and he is singing again – limited range and nothing like the delicious voice that he had before, but music to our ears!