Meet Our Team

My family, husband Neil and children, Charlie and Summer are my greatest joy.

We have 3 pets, a Grey cat called Sparkles that was a birthday present for Summer in 2014 , a Tabby cat named Fiddy (a 50th birthday gift to myself) and a Jack Russell Cross named Tiki. Fiddy and Tiki grew up together and have a great bond often playing rough and tumble games together.

My free time is very fitness oriented. I enjoy gym workouts, running and yoga. I do Saturday triathlon during Summer as much for the camaraderie as for the personal achievement. Travel is also a passion with holidays within Australia and overseas often on the agenda.

At the end of 2017, myself and my husband Neil became sole owners of Murwillumbah Veterinary Clinic, something that is both exciting and challenging. Neil now works in the office in the role of Practice Manager.

In 2008, I started work at the Murwillumbah Veterinary Clinic. This clinic has a great family feel and immediately made us feel very welcome. The variety of work that the clinic offers is something I enjoy. In a day it can range from doing dental work on a rabbit in the morning to calving a cow in the afternoon; and plenty of dogs, cats in between. I enjoy all aspects of mixed practice and have particular interests in surgery, internal medicine and ultrasonography.

In 2010, Cristina and I went to the UK to live and work for a year. We filled locum positions all over the country and it was a great experience both professionally and personally. The work was interesting and diverse. We learned about pets that we don’t often see in Australia such as degus and chinchillas, and had some interesting experiences such as treating military dogs returning from service in Afghanistan. Between locum positions, we enjoyed exploring the UK and Europe in our motorhome. We had a lot of fun and met a lot of great people. After about three and a half years, we thought we had better head home!

After a short stint in Brisbane, we moved back in Murwillumbah. We love living and working here, and are blessed to have two children.

His interests include surgery, pain management and One Health.

In his spare time, Arjuna is almost always outdoors, often with his Wolfhound X, Keeva. He enjoys playing for his boyhood club MFC, and has recently taken up pottery!

In 2013 we returned to Australia, and while working part-time as a Veterinarian, I also gained qualifications to teach Veterinary Nurses at TAFE in Brisbane. It was an honour to be given the opportunity to share in a small part of people’s journey into their Veterinary Nursing career, not to mention the incredible teaching staff I met and learned from during that time.

Moving back to Murwillumbah in 2016, we now have two beautiful children and a cheeky Border Terrier called Ava. We love exploring all that this beautiful region has to offer, but the people we work with, and the friends we have made, make this place our home.

My veterinary interests are broad, and I love the variety that general practice offers. I enjoy small animal surgery, feline medicine and ophthalmology, but enjoy dealing with any pet with any problem really. Working in a supportive, collaborative practice such as Murwillumbah Veterinary Clinic means that we can work together on just about anything!

I look forward to chatting with you!

After graduation Tanis, her partner turned fiancé, and their newly adopted kelpie cross named Gypsy, made the move to the Murwillumbah area. They made an amazing decision and have really enjoyed living in the area.

In her free time Tanis can be found exploring the great outdoors: hiking, camping, learning to surf and climb, playing soccer or enjoying the beach.

On return to Australia, I continued to work in long-term locum positions in small animal practices around Brisbane.
After an extended break from Veterinary practice to raise our family of four children and manage our family farm at Uki, I returned to the Veterinary world to work as an assistant with a cattle repro vet and then began work at MVC.
When not at work I am usually at the farm hanging out with our much-loved horses and Speckle Park and Droughtmaster stud cattle.

I started working at MVC with the previous owners while my children were at school, at first doing afternoon work then as they got older I moved to full time work both in the office and nursing. Since Steph and Joan (and then Joan as solo owner) took over I have watched the place grow and change in great strides. I am happy to admit I was a bit nervous about what those changes might be after working with the same people for so long!

I am now the head surgical nurse at the clinic. I do admissions, pre meds for surgery, assist the vets during surgery and ensure the recovery of your pet after. I also do the ordering for the clinic so if there is something we don’t carry come in and talk to me. As the clinic has grown, keeping on top of inventory is difficult and I am having to learn new computing skills – just goes to show you CAN teach old dogs new tricks!

I still love working with the animals here and the rest of the staff are like extended family to me now after so many years together. It’s lovely to work somewhere where just about every face that comes in the door is someone you know. This is one of the delights of living in such a great Australian country town.

I have an extensive knowledge of horses. Since a small child I have completed successfully in Pony Club, Agricultural Shows and have won at Royal Show level.

I have been involved with the racing industry for 39 years.

I don’t have much free time, as I am also kept busy clipping horses but I enjoy looking after my property, keeping fit, lifting weights, bike riding and running. I have an extensive animal family at home, including horses, cows, dogs, cats and a bird!

We really are a team here though and everyone helps each other as needed being ready and able to turn our hand to most tasks. This is particularly so in times of emergencies which require all hands on deck at a moment’s notice.

I always knew I wanted to work with animals from my very first job in a pet shop, later volunteering for Friends of The Pound. I particularly find it a rewarding experience when former pound animals are desexed here, recover and go home to their loving new owners.

Outside of work, I love to travel and spend time at the beach with my dog Harley or playing at home with my cat Kit.

Growing up I had a father that was a real animal lover that used to bring home an array of lost or injured animals that we would nurse back to health so they could be released back into the wild, This meant even having an Echidna in our bathtub for 2 weeks after getting hit by a car that we had to go out and dug up grubs from the garden each night to feed. We had all sorts of animals including snakes, lizards and turtles, i always had friends that would want to come over as most never even seen these reptiles let alone hold and see them feed.

While working at the Murwillumbah vet clinic myself all the staff have become a really good friends ( more like family ) which makes it an enjoyable workplace, At the clinic i perform a number of different roles, Consult nurse, surgical nurse and kennel nurse, All of which are very enjoyable helping out all our patients so they can have their best possible life.

With my spare time i usually spend it feeding cleaning attending to my animals, Taking kids to all their different activities and sports and hoping that i will get a day to go and spend some time laying in the sand on the beach.

I love all aspects of working at the clinic, from seeing my colleagues every week, meeting new clients and helping all of our patients and clients work towards what is best for their health and wellbeing.

I have lived in Murwillumbah since 2007, when my husband and I built our first home together and started a family. We have three children and two dogs, and a very busy and full life. My family really enjoy hearing about what we achieve in a day, how varied it is in the clinic, from seeing guinea pigs and rabbits, to lambs and piglets, alpacas, cattle – even the occasional dog and cat! My dogs also like to learn about my day by systematically sniffing me from my boots to my shoulders every time I walk in the door.

Outside of work, I love to support my family in their endeavours, travelling, eating out and bushwalking.

At the clinic you will likely find me in one of the consult rooms greeting you when you come in with your pet, or out in surgery monitoring our patients and recovering them. Being a vet nurse is truly one of the most rewarding jobs and to work alongside such incredible people like those at MVC is really the cherry on top.

You’ll find me mostly in a consultation room with one of our incredible vets, or admitting your beloved animal for a surgical procedure where I’ll monitor their anaesthetic and recovery. I really enjoy creating a space in the clinic for your animal to feel comfortable and safe – whether that’s in my arms or tucked away in a warm bed with lots of blankets.

I look forward to meeting you and your pet in the clinic 🙂 

I studied Vet Nursing and qualified late 2022 at Murwillumbah Veterinary Clinic I have a special interest in emergency nursing, livestock medicine, biology and pharmacology. I gave birth to my beautiful daughter Nov 2022 and I am now working a few days week and well as being a busy mum 

You may see me in consult, admitting your pet for surgery, greeting you on the phone or carrying the calving equipment around your stock yards. But I’m mostly found in the prep room cuddling and comforting your pets when they are receiving treatment. Working at the clinic is a dream come true and I’m so grateful to be apart of such a kind and supportive team, I cannot wait to learn and grow in my vet nursing career. 

You may see me in consult, hear me on the phone or meet me at a home visit, helping our incredible vets care for your pets.

In 2014 I won the Hills/VNCA national Vet Nurse of the year, then completed my diploma in general practice in 2015. When I’m not in the clinic you will either find me at the beach with my Staffy Keisha or BRB… traveling abroad.

My passion has always been all things feathered and I like to be known as the bird nerd! I have many varieties of birds which include Finches, Canaries, Doves, Quails, Guinea Fowl and of course Chooks, which keeps me very busy! I also have a dog and cat and a large collection of Tropical Fish, which some people may not know about me! Looking forward to meeting you at Reception!

From a very young age and growing up on a farm with all types of animals big and small. I have always loved their company and being around them. I wanted to become involved in caring for them, to pass on my knowledge of animal health and to help improve your pet’s lives, by having your dog groomed, it’s important to keep your best friend’s coat and skin clean and healthy.
“A Clean Pet is a Happy Pet!”

The team of vets and nurses here at the clinic are very professional and ensure that i will get the best understanding and knowledge possible to enhance my desire for learning the correct procedures.

As for my Hobbies/Interests, I enjoy horse and motorbike riding, cattle work/farm work, op shopping, listening to music and spending time with family and friends.