Balclutha veterinarian Dan Cragg is a family man who leads with his values. Originally from Auckland, Dan assumed that becoming a vet would mean mostly working with cats and dogs.
“If you had told 16-year-old me that I would be pregnancy-testing 1,000 cows a day in rural Balclutha, I would have said, ‘No way!’”
It was Dan’s passion for people that helped lead him towards large animal vetting.
“Large animal vets form much stronger relationships with farmers because you see them more compared to somebody who might bring their cat or dog in every three years for a vaccination. Over time, you build a relationship, become a key part of the farmers’ business, and become good friends along the way.”
Making Balclutha home
When Dan had the opportunity to establish the VetSouth Balclutha clinic, he moved to Balclutha with his wife Sarah, who is also a veterinarian. The district soon became home, where they are now raising their three young daughters.
“Family is number one for us, and a place like Balclutha really suits that. We can be so involved in our kids' lives, so involved in our community. Everyone knows everyone around here. It’s just a great place to live.”
Where family and community come first
Dan believes that one of the best ways to settle into a new community is to get involved and find ways to give back. He has volunteered as a firefighter for ten years, plays cricket with the Clutha Valley Stingers, and is currently Chair of the Board for Clutha Development.
“Small rural towns like Balclutha live off volunteers. There are so many community groups, and people being involved is what helps them grow and continue doing good work in our community.”
“Communities are where we live and they support everyone. The community supports my business, VetSouth. The community is where our kids grow up. I want to make our community a better place for everyone.”
As a family, the Craggs love to explore the outdoors and enjoy camping, trekking, and hunting together.
Despite running his own business and contributing so much through volunteering, Dan says his greatest achievement is simple: “It’s got to be my family. They are awesome! My three girls are amazing and I've got an incredible wife. I'm blown away all the time by how good Sarah is with our kids and the person she is.”
Supporting Clutha Foundation
Dan believes strongly that values only matter when they are backed by action. It’s this commitment to his community and his principles that led Dan to become a Clutha Foundation Founding 50 Donor.
“When you start looking at what Clutha Foundation does, giving back to the community and the Foundation’s long-term sustainability, everything about it fits really well with my values and what we're trying to achieve as a family. Sarah and I talked about where we would have the best impact with our giving, and Clutha Foundation ticked the boxes.”