Meet the Team

at West Gippsland Vet Care

Book an appointment with one of the most experienced veterinarians in Gippsland today!

Meet the Team at West Gippsland Vet Care

The team at West Gippsland Vet Care represents a wealth of collective experience and expertise in their respective fields. Our veterinary staff consists of a dedicated group of skilled professionals with extensive backgrounds in large and small animal practice, making them an invaluable asset to the Gippsland community.

Our veterinarians collectively represent more than 200 years of experience, dedication, and passion within the industry. Our vets epitomise excellence and are dedicated to providing the very best in animal care in a variety of spheres – ranging from ruminant animals to small family pets. With a strong focus on continuing education and study, our vets strive to bring the latest in veterinary science to our practices.

Our large team of support staff, vet nurses and administrators, are the beating heart of West Gippsland Vet Care. Our team is made up of people truly passionate about the welfare and health of animals, represented by our strong focus on making appointments stress-free for people and animals alike. Our goal is to have the majority of our staff “Fear Free” accredited across both practices.

At West Gippsland, our team of hardworking and passionate people truly believe in providing the best in veterinary care – from general appointments and checks, to surgery, to post-op care. You can be assured that our dedicated staff of animal lovers will care for your pets and animals with kindness, sincerity, and excellence.

Warragul

Drouin

Our Veterinarians

Dr. Grant Nielsen

Partner, Veterinarian BVSc(Hons) MACVSc(Nutrition)
Grant grew up on a beef and sheep property near Guyra in northern New South Wales. After graduating with honours in Veterinary Science from Sydney University in 1994 he commenced working at West Gippsland Vet Care. Since then Grant has gained extensive experience in all aspects of mixed practice.
Read more...
Grant has developed a strong interest in ruminant nutrition and in 2001 became a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Surgeons in Ruminant Nutrition. Other areas of interest include bovine surgery, reproduction and mastitis. Grant has gained extensive experience in ultrasound and manual pregnancy testing in cattle. He is export accredited for cattle and is a trained countdown adviser for mastitis investigations.

Grant lives in Warragul with his wife Sophie and their two boys Jeremy and Sam. He enjoys keeping fit and does the occasional triathlon.

Dr. Benton Smith

Partner, Veterinarian BVSc MACVSc(Surgery)
Ben graduated from the University of Queensland Veterinary School in 1996. After 2 years of practice in Queensland, he ventured south of the border to Victoria for a 2-month locum. After stints at Leongatha and Moe, along with three working holidays to the United Kingdom, he joined West Gippsland Vet Care in 2004.
Read more...

In 2002 Ben undertook a 12-month Small Animal Surgery Internship in Melbourne, during which he attained his Membership to the Small Animal Surgery Chapter from the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists.

He is AQIS accredited for the export of dogs and cats and in 2006 achieved his accreditation for the PennHIP program for the prevention of canine hip dysplasia. His areas of interest include canine reproduction, orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery. In 2020, Ben completed his Master of Business Management (MBA) with Deakin University.

Ben lives locally with his wife Stephanie and his two children Noah and Ella, dogs Gus,Ruby and Lexie and cat Sunny. In his spare time he enjoys riding his mountain bike, gardening, golf and brewing beer!

Dr. Simon Ronalds

Partner, Veterinarian BVSc
Simon has grown up in the local area, with his family heavily involved within the beef industry. He has always loved cattle and had a fascination with science and medicine. Simon is also a “people person” so becoming a veterinarian has allowed him to indulge those interests and skills on a daily basis.
Read more...
Simon loves the diversity of being a mixed practice vet and that after many years practicing there are always interesting cases and opportunities to learn.

Simon’s main interests lies in cattle medicine, surgery and herd health. He is AACV pregnancy test accredited, Countdown Downunder accredited advisor (mastitis investigations) and has completed his certificate in gross pathology (field postmortems). Simon also enjoys his occasional times in the clinic caring for the smaller members of your family.

Simon lives in Drouin with his wife, Carla – a local paramedic, and their three children Lachlan, Charlotte and Hamish who all adore their old Kelpie x Collie, Hunter.

Dr. Christopher Thorne

Partner, Veterinarian BVSc(Hons) MANZCVSc(Surgery)
Chris has always loved science and knew he wanted a career with a biological science base in a rural area. After spending time on a South Gippsland dairy farm as a teenager he realised he also liked the idea of working with animals so veterinary science was a perfect fit.
Read more...
Chris graduated from Melbourne University in 2000, he worked in various vet practices in Victoria and the UK including emergency clinics before joining West Gippsland Vet Care in 2014. Chris has completed his Membership in Small Animal Surgery and is also a certified PennHIP member. He became a partner in WGVC in 2019.

Chris enjoys the challenge of problem-solving interesting cases and enjoys communicating with and educating our clients.

Chris and his wife Natalie have three children, Olivia, Archer and Jim. They have a Fox Terrier called Pi and 6 chickens.

Dr. Christine Vanschyndel

Partner, Veterinarian BVSc(Hons)
Chris grew up in Mirboo North and graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1996. She initially worked in small animal and equine practice for 4 years. She then spent 8 years doing shift work in 24 hour animal emergency clinics in Melbourne. During this time she developed a passion for small animal emergency and critical care medicine. She completed a distance education course in small animal anaesthesia and emergency medicine in 2000.
Read more...
Chris joined West Gippsland Vet Care in 2008, initially working Saturday mornings only. She has recently increased her work load to half-time. Her main area of interest remains small animal emergency and critical care.

The remainder of Chris’ time is spent looking after her three children Harry, Téa and Nina with her husband Ward at their property in Ellinbank. She enjoys travelling, hiking and camping.

Dr. Mitchell Dodds

Partner, Veterinarian BSc, DVM (Distinction)
Mitchell grew up in Boolarra on a cattle property which is where his love of animals began.

He graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2019 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. He returned to Gippsland to commence work at WGVC after graduation.
Read more...
 Mitch has a strong interest in Small Animal Medicine and the complex cases that being a veterinarian provides. He still loves being surrounded by cattle and enjoys herd-health medicine and disease investigation while being outside in beautiful Gippsland.
Mitch also really enjoys spending time with people and coming up with a plan for their animals- both large and small.
In his spare time he enjoys running, competing in half marathons and going camping in the high country.
He and his partner live with their rescue cat, Zola.

Dr. Michelle Hunt

Veterinarian BSc BVSc
Michelle grew up in South Gippsland and regularly spent time on her Uncle’s farm where she gained a love of animals. She particularly liked Science and problem solving at school and so a career as a veterinarian was a natural fit.
Read more...
Michelle graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1996 and worked in several clinics in south east Melbourne before joining our team in 2018. She enjoys being part of a team, collaborating with pet owners and the other staff to get the best health outcomes for our pets.

 

Michelle has an elderly equine as well as an adorable and energetic Blue Heeler who gets her out and about every day. In her spare time she looks forward to bushwalking, especially locally and in the Otways and catching up with friends over a good meal. Her favourite place in summer is Phillip Island.

Dr. Stephanie Wade

Veterinarian BVSc
Stephanie grew up in Melbourne and developed a love for animals through ownership of many family pets.
Stephanie loves adventure so she decided to move to North Queensland to study Veterinary science and graduated from James Cook University, Townsville, in 2011.
Read more...
She immediately went into Mixed animal practice for about 4 years where she enjoyed the fresh air and challenges that large animal work provided as well as the interesting case load and intensive nature of Small animal practice.
It wasn’t long until Stephanie found her niche in Small animal medicine and decided to pursue that and work in a Small animal Veterinary clinic in Traralgon.

Looking for new challenges, Stephanie then moved onto Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care and has since been working at an Emergency clinic in Melbourne. Stephanie has recently joined us after recommencing clinical work after having her first son, Henry.

Stephanie completed the Graduate Certificate in Small Animal Abdominal Ultrasound through the University of Melbourne in 2018. She has a special interest in Small Animal Ultrasonagrophy, Medicine and Emergency & Critical Care.

Steph and her husband, full time farmer George, live on their family Sheep and Beef farm in Trafalgar. Stephanie spends most of her spare time gardening, helping out on the farm and raising her son Henry and daughter Elenor.

Dr. Carla Fletcher

Veterinarian BVMS BSc (High Distinction)
Carla grew up in South Gippsland so is almost a local. She graduated in 2016 from Murdoch University in Perth. Carla then moved to New Zealand to spend the next three years working in a predominately dairy/mixed practice in South Canterbury.
Read more...
Despite loving the Kiwi mountains for hiking and skiing, she has returned to Victoria after almost a decade away in the hope of slightly warmer weather, significantly better beaches and to be closer to friends and family.  Carla’s favourite part of veterinary work is developing a relationship with her clients to improve the quality of life for both farm and companion animals. In her free time, Carla likes volleyball, hiking, baking and going to the beach.

Dr. Leanne Horstman

Veterinarian BVSc

Leanne and her family moved to Warragul from Maffra more than 10 years ago. Leanne owned and ran her own vet business before she became a District Vet Officer at Ellinbank . She now wants to pursue her passion for companion animal medicine and enjoys meeting pets and their families at our practice.

Dr. Tegan Brown

Veterinarian BSc DVM
From a young age in Melbourne, Dr. Tegan’s love for animals was clear, growing up with a diverse array of pets. This early connection led her to work as a vet nurse in Cheltenham, confirming her desire to become a veterinarian.
Read more...
After earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Melbourne in 2016, Dr. Tegan honed her skills in mixed practice in Traralgon. In July 2022, she joined WGVC, focusing on small animal medicine and fostering strong client relationships.

Dr. Tegan finds joy in nursing pets back to health and witnessing their happy reunions with families. Her downtime is spent reading, gardening, and enjoying time with her wife and Bernese Mountain Dog, Maggie. Committed to community service, she serves as Secretary at the Yarragon Fire Brigade.

Dr. Tegan’s journey reflects a deep love for animals, unwavering dedication, and a genuine desire to improve the lives of pets and their owners.

Dr. Fiona Armstrong

Veterinarian BVSc (hons)
Fiona’s upbringing was nestled in a dairy farm located in the serene Western District. Despite the passage of time, her ties to the Warrnambool area remain strong, as her family still calls it home. Graduating with honors from The University of Melbourne in 1998, Fiona embarked on her professional journey, starting her illustrious career at the renowned Robertson and Brady Vet Clinic.
Read more...
In 2001, Fiona took up a position in Traralgon, where she dedicated herself to veterinary practice for an impressive span of 22 years. However, in 2023, she felt drawn back to her roots and rejoined West Gippsland Vet Care. Throughout her career, she has found joy in small animal veterinary medicine, cherishing the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with both pet owners and their beloved companions. Fiona’s thirst for knowledge has always driven her, leading her to pursue continuous education and stay abreast of the latest advancements in her field.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Fiona enjoys exploring the wonders that Gippsland has to offer. Additionally, she values quality time with her family and friends back in Warrnambool, as well as traveling to experience new places and create lasting memories.

Dr. Anna Willis

Veterinarian BSc, BVSc (Distinction)
Anna is a 2022 graduate of James Cook University, Townsville. Originally from Victoria, she decided to move back to her hometown to be closer to her family and friends. Along with the personal connections, Anna also sought job opportunities that aligned with her career aspirations, which led her to join the team at WGVC.
Read more...
Working at a mixed practice has proven to be a fulfilling experience for Anna. She thrives on the dynamic nature of her job, finding genuine joy in meeting diverse clients and tackling a wide variety of cases. Whether it’s a routine check-up or a challenging medical situation, Anna approaches each task with diligence and a genuine desire to provide the best care possible for her patients. Outside of her professional life, Anna enjoys immersing herself in a good book, gardening, and embracing the great outdoors and spending time with her dog, Lenni.

Dr. Lisa McRobert

Veterinarian BSc DVM

Lisa is a dedicated veterinarian who graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2016. Her career began in the picturesque South Gippsland/Bass Coast region, where she immersed herself in mixed practice. Lisa’s passion for animals led her to work closely with a wide range of creatures, from calving cows to stitching up dogs, and even the delightful fairy penguins and wildlife on Phillip Island.

Read more...

Her love for the diverse challenges of mixed practice has kept her engaged and fulfilled. Lisa thrives in the unpredictability of her work, where no two days are the same, whether it’s tending to a farm animal, performing surgery on a beloved pet, or sharing a moment with a friendly chicken.

Beyond her veterinary profession, Lisa is an avid nature enthusiast. Camping and hiking are her go-to activities, and she recently embarked on a 12-month adventure living out of a caravan while locuming and exploring the stunning landscapes of South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia.

Now, Lisa is eager to transition into a less nomadic lifestyle. She looks forward to spending quality time with her partner and their cherished feline companion, Stevie. Lisa’s dedication to animal care and her love for the great outdoors make her an invaluable member of our team.

Dr. Beth Bayliss

Veterinarian BVB/BVSc
Read more...

Her love for the diverse challenges of mixed practice has kept her engaged and fulfilled. Lisa thrives in the unpredictability of her work, where no two days are the same, whether it’s tending to a farm animal, performing surgery on a beloved pet, or sharing a moment with a friendly chicken.

Beyond her veterinary profession, Lisa is an avid nature enthusiast. Camping and hiking are her go-to activities, and she recently embarked on a 12-month adventure living out of a caravan while locuming and exploring the stunning landscapes of South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia.

Now, Lisa is eager to transition into a less nomadic lifestyle. She looks forward to spending quality time with her partner and their cherished feline companion, Stevie. Lisa’s dedication to animal care and her love for the great outdoors make her an invaluable member of our team.

Dr. Mia McIntosh

Veterinarian BVBio/BVSc
Read more...

Her love for the diverse challenges of mixed practice has kept her engaged and fulfilled. Lisa thrives in the unpredictability of her work, where no two days are the same, whether it’s tending to a farm animal, performing surgery on a beloved pet, or sharing a moment with a friendly chicken.

Beyond her veterinary profession, Lisa is an avid nature enthusiast. Camping and hiking are her go-to activities, and she recently embarked on a 12-month adventure living out of a caravan while locuming and exploring the stunning landscapes of South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia.

Now, Lisa is eager to transition into a less nomadic lifestyle. She looks forward to spending quality time with her partner and their cherished feline companion, Stevie. Lisa’s dedication to animal care and her love for the great outdoors make her an invaluable member of our team.

Dr. Maggie Digby

Veterinarian BSc DVM
Read more...

Her love for the diverse challenges of mixed practice has kept her engaged and fulfilled. Lisa thrives in the unpredictability of her work, where no two days are the same, whether it’s tending to a farm animal, performing surgery on a beloved pet, or sharing a moment with a friendly chicken.

Beyond her veterinary profession, Lisa is an avid nature enthusiast. Camping and hiking are her go-to activities, and she recently embarked on a 12-month adventure living out of a caravan while locuming and exploring the stunning landscapes of South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia.

Now, Lisa is eager to transition into a less nomadic lifestyle. She looks forward to spending quality time with her partner and their cherished feline companion, Stevie. Lisa’s dedication to animal care and her love for the great outdoors make her an invaluable member of our team.

Dr. Dan Reiner

Veterinarian BSc DVM
Read more...

Her love for the diverse challenges of mixed practice has kept her engaged and fulfilled. Lisa thrives in the unpredictability of her work, where no two days are the same, whether it’s tending to a farm animal, performing surgery on a beloved pet, or sharing a moment with a friendly chicken.

Beyond her veterinary profession, Lisa is an avid nature enthusiast. Camping and hiking are her go-to activities, and she recently embarked on a 12-month adventure living out of a caravan while locuming and exploring the stunning landscapes of South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia.

Now, Lisa is eager to transition into a less nomadic lifestyle. She looks forward to spending quality time with her partner and their cherished feline companion, Stevie. Lisa’s dedication to animal care and her love for the great outdoors make her an invaluable member of our team.

Our Support Staff

Stephanie Smith

Practice Manager
Steph has always had a great love of animals and began working in the Veterinary world when still at school. She has many years of experience working as a Vet Nurse locally and in the U.K.

Steph joined the WGVC team in 2005 and she is passionate about ensuring our patients and clients have the best experience we can offer them. She loves supporting our team to achieve our company goals of being the leading Veterinary Care provider in Gippsland.

Read more...
Steph and her family have a Burmese cat called Sunny and three Miniature Schnauzers Ruby & Lexi.

In her spare time Steph enjoys spending time with her family, catching up with friends, reading and gardening.

Cindy Beaumont

Inventory Manager
Cindy has always loved animals and farm life and has always known she wanted to work in the Veterinary industry. She had a looong career as a vet nurse before joining West Gippsland Vet Care in 2005.

These days Cindy works on reception and in the very important role of inventory manager. Without her keeping the shelves stocked the clinic would grind to a halt very quickly. Cindy enjoys being able to help clients with their pets and farm animals with helpful advice and keeping the clinic running smoothly. She also enjoys coming to work to spend time with her workmates.

Read more...
Cindy has lots of four legged friends on her farm! Two Australian Cattle dogs Queenie and Tessa, Nigel the Whippet, Rosie the Jack Russell and Poco the Frenchie! She also has stock horses, beef cattle, sheep and chooks!

When not working or looking after ALL those animals she enjoys horse riding, spending time with her dogs, trips up the bush and music.

Leanne Nicholls

Office Manager
Leanne grew up on a beef cattle farm and working in the agriculture industry for over 20 years before joining the team at WGVC. Joining the clinic that she frequented for many years as a client has allowed her to continue to work with clients that she has known for years in her other roles and also meet new people. She has relished the opportunity to continue to learn and expand her professional experience and knowledge.

Leanne enjoys interacting with all of our clients both large animals and small. She loves being able to pat, cuddle and enjoy pets in all shapes and sizes and call it work!

Read more...
Leanne has a dog called Bob who was a rescue pup from Pets Haven, Bob is Leanne’s family’s second rescue dog and she believe adopting a dog is one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have. Leanne and her husband help her parents run the family beef property consisting of around 110 head of mainly Herefords.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and camping in the high country with her awesome husband Nicko and no phone reception!

Naomi Wolfenden

Vet Nurse
Naomi has had a strong empathy for animals since she was very young and has always enjoyed helping them if they were unwell.

Naomi joined our team in 2005. She loves meeting our clients and their pets and enjoys listening to the stories that get shared with her. She has been known to shed a tear or have a good laugh with clients when they need it most. She enjoys watching the progression of our puppy and kitten patients as they grow and develop at each visit.

Read more...
Naomi and her family have a pug, a ragdoll cat and a few chickens.

In her spare time Naomi enjoys spending time with her children, tending to her chickens and occasionally exhibiting them. She also loves home decorating and can often be found with a paintbrush in her hand.

Georgia Kemp

Vet Nurse
Georgia has always had a passion and love for animals large and small and knew from a very young age that she wanted a career taking care of animals.

Georgia joined the WGVC team in 2008 and has worked her way up to be a supervisor for trainee staff. She is passionate about surgery and emergency nursing and loves reuniting a pet with its owner knowing she has played a part in its treatment and care.

Read more...
Georgia lives with her partner Steve, Zhada the Border Collie, Jett the Beagle and Trevor the cat. She enjoys training and competing in dressage with her young Warmblood horse, Saffy.

Marnie Barnett

Vet Nurse
Marnie is a very experienced and passionate nurse who joined our team in 2015. She is a supervisor to our trainees and has a strong focus on stress free visits for our patients and ensuring they are always happy and comfortable.

Marnie loves the diversity of mixed practice vet nursing and relishes being able to provide quality care to all our patients whether it be a tiny kitten in the cat ward or a sick calf in our calf hospital.

Read more...
Marnie and her family have many pets, Frankie the Staffy, two cats Nim & Woody, chooks and three horses Ochre, Fey & Nina. In her free time Marnie enjoys competing in dressage on her Warmblood, Ochre.

Kaz Lindley

Vet Nurse
Kaz is very passionate about working with animals large and small, and has been a qualified Vet Nurse since 2009. She loves working in a team environment and enjoys the everyday challenges we are faced with in a vet clinic. Kaz started casually with us in 2017 and then went full time in early 2020.

Chloe Wallace

Vet Nurse
Bio to come

Tayla Sheppard

Vet Nurse
Growing up on a farm, Tayla’s passion for animals blossomed early on. She knew from the start that she wanted to work in the animal industry. In 2018, she joined a veterinary clinic, where her love for animals thrived. Tayla’s closest companions are Buddy, the loyal Jack Russell, and her endearing pet quail, Tater.
Read more...
In 2019, Tayla achieved her dream of becoming a veterinary nurse. Today, she dedicates herself to nursing and caring for animals, combining her lifelong love with her chosen profession. 🩺🐶🐦

Sophie Hodge

Vet Nurse
Bio coming soon….
Read more...

Mikayla McDonald

Vet Nurse

Mikayla has been passionate about animal health and care from a young age, having grown up surrounded by various pets. This lifelong connection with animals inspired her to pursue a career as a veterinary nurse. Mikayla’s goal with each patient is to deliver the highest quality of care, ensuring that every individual leaves the clinic in optimal health. At home, she shares her life with a Border Collie puppy named Remi, an Aussie Shepherd named Pippa, two cats, Muffin and Deano, along with multiple fish and chickens.

Amanda Crowley

Vet Nurse

In 2020, Amanda joined the WGVC team, marking a pivotal moment in her professional journey. Prior to this, she underwent a notable career transition, transitioning from a background in primary school teaching to embarking on a new chapter in veterinary nursing. Amanda’s commitment to learning and caring for animals was evident as she successfully completed her Vet Nursing training, honing her knowledge and skills within mixed practice clinics.

Read more...

Her passion for both animals and people has been a driving force behind her fulfilling role at WGVC, where the welfare and care of animals are always at the forefront. Amanda finds immense satisfaction in collaborating with like-minded individuals who share her enthusiasm for providing top-notch care to animals under their watch.

Beyond the clinic, Amanda’s life is enriched by her family. She cherishes quality time with her fiancé, stepdaughter, and two young sons. The family enjoys the company of their Husky, Tess, on invigorating walks, and they create lasting memories on family trips in their caravan. Amanda’s dedication to the well-being of animals extends beyond the workplace, making her an invaluable member of the WGVC team.

Kyla Fraser

Receptionist
Bio coming soon….
Read more...

Rebecca Jennings

Receptionist
Rebecca enjoys giving lots of pats and treats to your furr-babies, to make them feel comfortable and welcome in our clinic.

Rebecca joined our team in 2021, and is so grateful for the opportunity to work with the passionate and friendly team at WGVC everyday. She loves seeing pets reunited with their humans after a stay with us, and is excited and inspired to expand her knowledge.

Read more...

Eileen Beaumont

Vet Nurse
Bio coming soon….
Read more...

Alicia Jensen

Receptionist
Alicia has been in the healthcare/administration industry for 10 years but decided to make the switch from humans to animals. Since working at WGVC her knowledge and passion for animals has grown. With 2 little rugrats at home and another on the way she is thankful to have the opportunity to work with such friendly, passionate, hardworking and understanding colleagues that make it not feel like work at all.
Read more...

Christy Cockram

Vet Nurse
Christy’s passion for animals began with horses, leading her to start her veterinary career at an equine hospital. However, she later shifted her focus to small animals, specifically Emergency and Critical Care nursing. With years of experience in ECC, Christy joined our team in 2022, seeking a better work-life balance for her family. She is excited to contribute her expertise and help a wide range of patients. Her dedication and skills make her a valuable addition to our practice.
Read more...

Michelle Wake

Groomer
bio to come
Read more...

Isabelle Harvey

Vet Nurse
Growing up with an abundance of pets and the family beef farm, Isabelle has always known she wanted to be a part of the veterinary industry. She aims to provide love to all patients great and small while they receive treatment at the clinic. She loves gaining knowledge from the experienced team at WGVC and getting to meet their valued patients, while learning amazing new techniques and skills every day. 

 

Read more...

Maria-Magdaleena Marchidan

Vet Nurse
Maria’s lifelong mission to advocate for all animals, furred, feathered, and scaled, started at a tender age. Her passion for animal care led her to pursue a career in the field, and in 2019, she ventured into the industry. After years of hard work and dedication, Maria became qualified in 2022.

In February 2023, Maria enthusiastically joined our team, bringing her insatiable appetite for learning and career development. Her favorite aspect of the job extends beyond cuddling puppies; it’s the joy she experiences when witnessing her once sick patients return, healthy, and content.

Read more...
For Maria, the hospital and surgery environment is where she thrives the most. It’s here that her unwavering dedication to animal well-being and her compassionate care truly shine. Her commitment to continuous growth and her heartfelt connection with her furry, feathered, and scaled patients make her a valuable asset to our team.

Bridie Smith

Vet Nurse

Bridie’s journey into the world of animal care began on a friend’s dairy farm during her childhood. Those early days spent helping out laid the foundation for her deep-rooted love for animals. As a teenager, she dedicated her time to the RSPCA, where her passion for animal welfare continued to grow.

 

Read more...

In her late teens, Bridie took on a role in boarding kennels, further immersing herself in the world of animals. It was during this time that she realized her true calling and decided to embark on a career in veterinary nursing. In 2009, she took a bold step and joined a small family veterinary practice, where she honed her skills and developed a strong sense of compassion for her furry patients.

Bridie’s dedication to animal welfare is unmistakable. Her heart beats for the well-being of all creatures, and her love for goats is something truly special. Whether it’s the gentle bleat of a newborn kid or the inquisitive gaze of an adult goat, Bridie’s connection with these animals is unparalleled.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Bridie finds solace and joy in exploring the world around her. With her two boys by her side, she embarks on adventures, always chasing the sun and seeking new experiences. In her life’s journey, Bridie has transformed her childhood fascination into a purpose-driven career, and her commitment to the welfare of animals continues to shine brightly.

Lily Heath

Receptionist

 

 

Read more...

In her late teens, Bridie took on a role in boarding kennels, further immersing herself in the world of animals. It was during this time that she realized her true calling and decided to embark on a career in veterinary nursing. In 2009, she took a bold step and joined a small family veterinary practice, where she honed her skills and developed a strong sense of compassion for her furry patients.

Bridie’s dedication to animal welfare is unmistakable. Her heart beats for the well-being of all creatures, and her love for goats is something truly special. Whether it’s the gentle bleat of a newborn kid or the inquisitive gaze of an adult goat, Bridie’s connection with these animals is unparalleled.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Bridie finds solace and joy in exploring the world around her. With her two boys by her side, she embarks on adventures, always chasing the sun and seeking new experiences. In her life’s journey, Bridie has transformed her childhood fascination into a purpose-driven career, and her commitment to the welfare of animals continues to shine brightly.

Donna Murnane

Receptionist

 

 

Read more...

In her late teens, Bridie took on a role in boarding kennels, further immersing herself in the world of animals. It was during this time that she realized her true calling and decided to embark on a career in veterinary nursing. In 2009, she took a bold step and joined a small family veterinary practice, where she honed her skills and developed a strong sense of compassion for her furry patients.

Bridie’s dedication to animal welfare is unmistakable. Her heart beats for the well-being of all creatures, and her love for goats is something truly special. Whether it’s the gentle bleat of a newborn kid or the inquisitive gaze of an adult goat, Bridie’s connection with these animals is unparalleled.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Bridie finds solace and joy in exploring the world around her. With her two boys by her side, she embarks on adventures, always chasing the sun and seeking new experiences. In her life’s journey, Bridie has transformed her childhood fascination into a purpose-driven career, and her commitment to the welfare of animals continues to shine brightly.

Cassidy Holland

Vet Nurse

Cassidy grew up locally in Neerim South and since a young age has always had a passion for working with animals great and small. After starting nursing in 2021 and becoming fully qualified, Cassie joined the West Gippsland Vet Care Team in July. She has a true passion for surgery in particular trouble shooting anaesthetics. When she isn’t in clinic she is often outside running her German Shepard Jax, or spending time with friends and family.

 

Geselle McFarlane

Trainee Vet Nurse

 

 

About our Clinic

The team at West Gippsland Veterinary Centre have been through a variety of changes over the last 30 years.

Founded in 1989 by local vets Bruce Robertson and Joe Brady, “Robertson and Brady Veterinary Clinic” looked after four-legged locals until 2005, when a major renovation, and the emergence of Doctors Joe Brady, Grant Nielsen, and Benton Smith as co-owners was marked by our name change to “West Gippsland Veterinary Centre”.

In 2008 we opted to expand our care and reach into the region, and took over the Drouin practice from retiring Mike Traumanis. After a renovation in 2010, we renovated and relocated the practice to it’s wonderful current location.

Dr Simon Ronalds joined our partnership in 2014 to take the place of Dr Joe Brady, upon his retirement. We changed our name once more to “West Gippsland Vet Care” to reflect our dual locations, and our commitment to caring for your animals. In 2019, Dr Chris Thorne was welcomed to the partnership team, bringing with him a wealth of small animal medicine and surgery experience.

Our staff boasts 11 experienced Veterinary Surgeons and a team of support staff made up of Veterinary Nurses, Receptionists and Administrative staff. We aim to provide the best in care for all aspects of your animal’s visit; from booking your appointment, diagnosing health issues, surgeries, to aftercare.

Our two state of the art veterinary facilities in Drouin and Warragul have been designed with the comfort of you and your pets in mind, with light and spacious waiting rooms, and with Fear Free techniques in place, we aim to make your visit as enjoyable as possible for you and your pet.

Our staff love having you and your pets in for check ups – and pride ourselves on our ability to access extensive medical histories for our patients in each of our consultation rooms. We stock fully equipped pharmacies, and provide our own in-house laboratory facilities in order to expedite the diagnostic process and to ensure that you leave our premises fully stocked with everything you need for the continuing care of your animals.

Should your pets or animals need surgery, our surgical facilities are state of the art.  Our operating theatres are equipped with the latest in surgical technology, and we host separate climate controlled cat and dog wards for pre and post-op care. We have the capacity to cater to large animals as well, with modern calf hospital and surgery, cattle ramp and crush.

At West Gippsland Vet Care, you can be assured that everything, from our staff to our facilities, operates with the best care of your animals in mind. You are welcome to visit us, and experience the difference we provide for yourself!

“Sincerity, kindness, and professionalism”

“I would like to send a huge thankyou to Simon, Chris, Chris, Tim, Ben, Nursing Staff and all Staff from myself, Greg n of course Fraser for their top notch care over the last 9 days while Fraser was with them after been bitten by a tiger snake on Sat 1st Feb 2015.

Thank you to Simon for his prompt actions, sincerity, kindness and professionalism when we first took Fraser into the clinic if it wasn’t for what Simon did and how he did it in those crucial few minutes and through Sat night Fraser probably wouldn’t be with us today then treatment and care for Fraser continued at the same high level standard from all the vets and staff involved. They all kept me informed updated. I cannot in anyway fault any of them. I have been dealing with this clinic for over 6yrs and would recommend them without hesitation. 

Again a huge Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you did for Fraser.”

– Vanessa S.,  5-Star Facebook Review

Book an appointment with one of the most experienced veterinarians in Gippsland today!

West Gippsland Vet Care Warragul

West Gippsland Vet Care Drouin

We have a 24/7 Emergency Service
(Available to Existing Clients Only)

We have a 24/7 Emergency Service
(Available to Existing Clients Only)

Opening Hours

Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 5:30pm
Sat: 8:30am - 12pm 

Opening Hours

Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 5:30pm
Sat: 8:30am - 12pm

West Gippsland Vet Care Warragul

We have a 24/7 Emergency Service
(Available to Existing Clients Only)

Opening Hours

Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 5:30pm
Sat: 8:30am - 12pm

West Gippsland Vet Care Drouin

We have a 24/7 Emergency Service
(Available to Existing Clients Only)

Opening Hours

Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 5:30pm
Sat: 8:30am - 12pm

Sign up for our Newsletter

Contact Us

For appointments, use our online booking feature or give us a call and speak to one of our friendly receptionists.