Welcome to the third installment on the diverse and interesting people who make Central their home.

Adventure, the ice and the mountains called American doctors Ally and Danny Ross and their family, and now they love living in Alexandra.

The couple moved here in February to work as general practitioners (GPs) at Health Central.

Their four children have settled into St Gerards School and early childhood education and life is busy but fun according to Ally, as everyone is jumping into their winter sports.

Ally was late to medicine, completing Anthropology study first, which took her to do field work in Africa and to a leprosy colony.

“I’ve always loved adventures and exploring,” she said.

The oldest of five girls, her dad was a doctor and she didn’t see him a lot when she was growing up.

An idea to find a career that could lead to adventure while helping people meant medicine was a logical choice for her.

She trained in rural medicine and during her residency came to Kaitaia, Northland, New Zealand for five weeks, 12 years ago.

She said that’s where it all started as she loved exploring Northland, hiking, visiting beaches and touring around.

Danny and Ally exploring the South Island. PHOTO: Supplied 

She signed up to a social media group for GP opportunities around the world and landed a swap situation in Cambridge in 2024, where her family moved into another GPs home, and had the use of their car for a year.  

“We enjoyed it, there was a great community there, but we missed the mountains.”

Ally is from Idaho and her husband Danny is from Montana; both states are known for their mountainous terrain, natural beauty and wildlife.

“We wanted to be somewhere we could stay and [Cambridge] wasn’t that for us.

“I googled all the towns with ice rinks in the South Island and then emailed and cold called all the GP clinics.

“We took a road trip through the South Island and interviewed at clinics all over, including Gore.”

“As soon as we arrived in the [Alexandra] valley my son loved it.. It has similar topography with schist, rocks, high desert...and defined seasons.”

Pictured are (back row) Ally, Danny, Archer and front row Coleman, Lyla and Josie. PHOTO: Supplied

Danny is a keen ice hockey player and together with Ally, and oldest kids Coleman and Lyla they’ll be on the ice with the Flames ice hockey club this winter. 

She said the welcome they’ve felt has been warm, including a “delivery of venison” but it was humbling having to get to grips with a hugely different health system.

“I’ve done better than I thought I would away from my family.”

The things about New Zealand she said she rates are the unique culture and mindset, Kiwis' sense of humour and the sustainable ethos.

“People have an inclination to protect the world and the environment, people shop second hand… you are ahead of the USA in terms of plastic.”

Residents in Roxburgh who have had a stream of locum doctors in recent years can look forward to some certainty, Ally is in the town one day per week and said so far their new home was delivering all the adventures they were after. 

Read more: Central Home: Meet the Dhakal family, from Nepal to Alexandra.

Read more: Central Home: Sisters make Ida Valley home.

Have a story to share? Do you know an interesting candidate for Central Home?

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