Adele graduated from Massey in 2016. She orginated from Rotorua but spent most of her childhood in Rarotonga. Adele enjoys both sheep and dairy work but also helps out with small animals when needed. She loves everything involving outdoors, including tennis, soccer, netball and horse riding!

David graduated from the University of Nottingham in July 2015 and immediately packed his bags and headed out to start his career over here in New Zealand.
He has a keen interest in all aspects of mixed practice and has even spent time working with zoo and aquatic animals.
Away from work David lives to travel and he cannot wait to begin exploring this region of the world.

Erin graduated from the University of Melbourne before making the move down to Southland in January 2014. Although her main focus is dairy, she also enjoys working with sheep, deer and small animals. On the weekend, she enjoys tramping, rock climbing and skiing.

Hayden joined VetSouth Ltd in October 2006. A native Southlander, Hayden has been working as a veterinarian in the Southland region since graduating in 2005. His non-vet interests include hunting, fly fishing, rugby and golf.

Keryn has worked as a vet in Samoa and North Queensland as well as New Zealand. After working in the tropics she moved to Southland in 2010 to experience the other end of the spectrum. Although mostly working with dairy cattle, she also does a bit of small animal and sheep work. She and her husband Max have two children.

Lisa joined VetSouth Ltd in January 2011 after finishing her Vet degree at Massey in 2010. Her family is originally from the Otago and Southland area, but she was born in Wellington. Lisa especially enjoys working with production animals, with dairy, deer and sheep work of particular interest. She also spends some of her time in the small animal department. Outside of work Lisa enjoys hunting, shooting small game, running, biking and tramping.

Liv is a companion animal vet who Qualified at Bristol University in 2001 and worked in the UK for 8 years before moving to NZ with her husband and 2 border collies. She worked in Greymouth for 15 months before moving to Otago to do locum work for Vetlife. In 2012 she moved to Southland and initially worked for CVS, then for Vetco before joining the PetSouth team end of September 2015. On her spare time she enjoys DIY, gardening and travelling.

Mary graduated from Liverpool in 2011 then after working in mixed practice in Devon, she couldn’t pass up an opportunity to work in New Zealand this year.

Mary loves knitting and baking in the weekends and has been spotted at the local chess championships.

Sally graduated from Massey in 2006. She spent 3 years in mixed practice in Otago and Southland before going on her OE. As well as plenty of travel adventures, Sally spent two years working in farm (mainly dairy) practice in the UK. She has been back in Winton now since Feb 2012 and her main interests are dairy cattle reproduction and mastitis. Sally enjoys working on mastitis investigations and consultancy and is a registered healthy udder provider.

Outside of work she enjoys tramping, biking and travelling.

Australian born with an Indian mum and Kiwi dad, Sunita came to VetSouth as a new graduate in 2005.

Since arriving she has worked with all sorts of animals but has a very strong interest in dairy practice. She does a bit of horse work in between her cow work and loves getting out and about seeing clients. She has quite a menagerie of animals which seems to be growing all the time. In her spare time Sunita enjoys horse riding,  travelling to hot countries and the odd bit of gardening.

Sunita is married to Hayden and has a 2 year old daughter who is more than likely going to become a vet as well!

Skye hails from Kangaroo Island, Australia where she grew up on sheep and beef farm. Early childhood dreams of becoming a vet (hairdresser a close second) came true when she graduated from University of Melbourne in 2004.

Since then, Skye’s had a liquorice allsorts career, working in dairy practice in Warrnambool (Australia), speying (lots of!) dogs in Samoa, working alongside animal health agencies in Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste on biosecurity projects, and with indigenous communities in northern Australia on exotic disease surveillance.

Outside of work, Skye’s achievements include growing three humans, completing a Masters in Veterinary Public Health Management (through the University of Sydney), and gaining membership to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in epidemiology.

Skye made the big move across the ditch with her young family in early 2017 to join VetSouth’s research team.

In her little spare time, Skye enjoys getting outside in the famous Southland weather, drinking wine, prancercising and drinking wine.

Mark qualified from Glasgow in 1988, and spent the next seven years moving between intensive dairy practice in the North of England and climbing mountains. A stint in New Zealand convinced him that this was the best place to do both, so in 1995 he moved to the Waikato in the North Island.

In 1997 he moved South to head up the dairy side of Central Southland Vets in Winton. He became a director in 2001 by which time the practice had doubled in vet numbers and quadrupled in dairy farm numbers. In 2005 Winton and Gore vets joined to form VetSouth, in an attempt to create a well-resourced clinic environment with top clients that would attract and retain the best vets in the country.

In 2004 Mark gained his Masters in Epidemiology, and whilst still leading the dairy side of VetSouth, he now splits his time with heading the research group within VetSouth. His role is 50% clinical; 50% research; and 50% management…He is also an executive member of the Society of Dairy Cattle Vets in New Zealand; has a share in a 600 cow dairy farm; and at home runs 1800 sheep and 3 kids on 400 acres.

Creating VetSouth was all about elevating rural vet practice; the belief that just because we live a long way away from things farmers shouldn’t receive second rate veterinary services. To that end, VetSouth continues to develop and innovate and attempt to work with some of the best farmers in the country to add value.

He has climbed all over the world, including 4 expeditions to the Himalayas, and first ascents in South America and Antarctica. These trips formed a large part of his early travels and public presentations. Nowadays his travels are more concerned with presenting at conferences rather than climbing mountains.

After graduating with her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing from SIT, Jeni joined our practice in 2010. Jeni hails from Cheshire, England and has lived in New Zealand for 17 years. As a Vet Nurse, Jeni takes care of the small animal patients from when they are admitted, during surgery, and afterwards until ready to be discharged, as well as a wide range of other duties.
During her spare time Jeni enjoys badmington and trout fishing. She lives on a lifestyle block with her husband and their menagerie of animals including three dogs Pip, Anna and Dante the Italian Spinone and two cats Zoro and Henry.

Olly graduated from Glasgow University, Scotland in 1991. After a couple of years working in mixed practice he moved to Hong Kong to set up a companion animal clinical. The following years saw Olly working in Australia, Singapore and the United Kingdom. In 1997 he immigrated to New Zealand with his kiwi wife and shortly afterwards set up a Companion Animal practice in Ponsonby, Auckland. He sat his examination for Membership of the Australian Veterinary Scientists in Emergency and Critical Care in 2001. In 2006 he moved to Central Otago with his two young children for the lifestyle and shortly after started work at Vetsouth in Gore.

In 2017 Olly took on the role of Small Animal Clinical Leader at Vetsouth. A role that provides an overview of all the companion animal services at Vetsouth. He is interested in all aspects of clinical work and strives to ensure that all the staff and clinics are well resourced with equipment, continuing education and resources to ensure that our clients and patients have the best possible care.

Megan started with VetSouth in February 2012 after completing her Diploma of Veterinary Nursing in 2011 at SIT. In Megan’s spare time she trains standardbreds and enjoys looking after her menagerie of animals on their lifestyle block.

Dale is originally from Tokonui, then Invercargill before finally moving to Gore. She is married with two teenagers and a few furry housemates. Dale started initially with VetSouth in the shop team and has recently moved into the small animal clinic while studying for her Vet Nursing Diploma at Otago Polytechnic. Dale also spends one day a week working from the Tapanui clinic.

Kayla spent her time growing up in Gore with her Mum & Step Dad, as well as in Te Anau with her Dad, Step Mum & brothers on the family’s sheep and beef farm. Kayla has always had a keen interest in both small and large animals which lead her onto studying Veterinary Nursing at SIT in Invercargill, while doing this she completed all her placement at VetSouth in Gore before graduating with her Diploma in 2016. She then went on to dairy farming for a while before starting as a Vet Nurse at Vet South in September 2017.

Outside of work Kayla enjoys following the rodeo circuit around New Zealand with her partner Dan who is a keen bull rider, as well as going outdoors mainly in Fiordland and spending time with her friends and family, especially her dog Jax!

Shbourne grew up in Gore and attended Menzies college in Wyndham, she then studied in Invercargill at SIT to become a vet nurse. Shbourne worked at Northern Southland Veterinary Services for 4 years before joining the team at VetSouth. Shbourne and her partner Phillip have 4 fur babies. Dogs, Buddy & Doofy and cats Clifford & Cheryl.

Shbourne enjoys playing sport and hanging with friends and family in her spare time.

Bianca was raised on a sheep farm in Waimahaka (Southland). She attended Southland Girls High School, boarding at Enwood Hostel. Her love of animals and working outdoors led her to pursue a career as a veterinarian. After five years study in Palmerston North, where she met her now husband, she graduated in the top 5% of her class and returned to Southland to practice as a mixed animal veterinarian. She started with Gore Vets in January 2006.

Gore Vets then became VetSouth Ltd later in 2006 after the amalgamation with Central Southland Vets. With the continued expansion of the dairy sector in Southland her role has become predominantly dairy focused, but she still enjoys the odd small animal and sheep and beef call. She has a special interest in dairy herd reproduction and BVD management. Bianca became a shareholder at VetSouth Ltd in 2011.

Cecilia grew up on a sheep & beef farm in Waipara, North Canterbury before moving to Christchurch. She spent a few years overseas working as a physiotherapist before realising that veterinary science was where her true passion lay. She graduated from Massey in December 2016 and enjoys working with both production & companion animals. Outside of work Cece likes to get out into the hills for tramping, skiing, enjoying the Southland views and is very much enjoying getting back to her rural roots.

After leaving Massey in 2007 Claire worked as a mixed vet in southern Southland until joining the VetSouth production animal team in 2014. She hails from Te Anau and now calls Glenham home. When she’s not working she might be found on the hockey turf or being taken for a run by her dog

Hugh is a Massey University Veterinary Science graduate from 1979. At first he worked in North Canterbury for two years , did small animal work in the USA for one year and travelled for a year before moving to Gore in 1984 . Although starting in a mixed practice role he soon moved to solely small animal work. Hugh has a special interest in veterinary surgery , especially orthopaedics, in which field he continues to enjoy the demanding case load of companion animal pets and working dogs presented to the clinic. Hugh is a Director and the senior small animal veterinarian in VetSouth, he strives to ensure that the SA Department staff are well resourced, trained and equipped to develop the professional skills and diligence needed to provide a high standard of care to the companion animal patients.

Louise joined VetSouth after graduating from Massey University, leaving her North Island roots behind to seek the best tramping, fishing, skiing and sightseeing spots of Southland. She is doing this with husband Joel and puppy Tika in toe.

She is interested in all aspects of vet work including sheep, beef cattle, dairy, and companion animals.

Rosie graduated from Massey in December 2013 and joined VetSouth a month later. She grew up in Jaffa-land but welcomed the big move down to Southland. Rosie has a keen interest in all aspects of the production animal field.

After finishing her veterinary studies in Denmark, Copenhagen 2011 Tina came to New Zealand and got her accreditation at Massey University. Hereafter, she joined VetSouth initially in a mixed vet role, but is now working with companion animals including working dogs. When not at the clinic Tina helps out at the farm or is exploring the beauties of New Zealand preferably from an altitude

Mandy is originally from Central Otago and was brought up on a sheep and beef farm in Tarras. She has worked on a cattle station in Australia and on a dairy farm in Southland. Mandy started at VetSouth in March 2014.

When not working she loves getting outdoors and catching up with friends and family.

Brittany is originally from Southland where she has grown up on several dairy farms. She enjoys the rural industry especially diary, and getting outdoors. In her spare time she loves getting together with friends and also helping her parents on the farm.

Having been a staff member of the Vet clinic since 1987 I have seen many changes. From early beginnings in the old clinic to the brand new clinic in 2002. From Gore Veterinary Supplies to VetSouth Limited. I have a very busy position as Account Administrator and one I enjoy very much. I enjoy working as part of the team at Vetsouth Ltd with all other staff. A great bunch to work with.

Katie grew up in the Otapiri Gorge on a sheep and beef farm. She then studied in Invercargill doing the Diploma of Veterinary Nursing, graduating in 2014. Katie enjoys working with both large and small animals, she loves the outdoors and getting together with her friends.

Sarah started working for VetSouth at the end of August 2012. She lives on a sheep/beef farm with her husband Kevin, not far from the Tapanui Clinic. She has two children, Dean who is an apprentice diesel mechanic in Mosgiel and Kaitlyn who is a student at Blue Mountain College.

Jeanette graduated from the Scottish Agricultural College in 2002 with a degree in Agriculture and then worked as a soil fertility consultant throughout the UK until she decided to take the plunge and travel to New Zealand. Jeanette fell in love with South Otago and has never left! She was born and bred into a large sheep, beef and arable farming operation in the north of England, and has spent many years working on farms both in the UK and South Otago. In Jeanette’s spare time her two children and her dog keep her very busy, and she loves to bake and cook. When time allows she also loves camping, the beach and disappearing into the Catlins!

Originally from Hampshire in the UK, Rosie completed her degree in Animal Production in 2000 and went to work on a large arable estate having previously gained livestock experience in both Devon and Winchester. Rosie, along with her husband, then immigrated to New Zealand in 2006 and began working on a dairy farm near Gore. They went on to win the Farm Manager of the year title in 2011 and went 50:50 share milking from June 2011. In 2017 they decided to take a break from dairy farming so they could spend more time with their children. Rosie started with VetSouth in April 2018.

Born in Scotland where she lived till the age of four, Joanne then grew up in South Africa and during that time spent 7 years working for the Department of Veterinary Services in KwaZulu Natal as an administrator, before immigrating to New Zealand in 2007. Since then she has worked in various roles including Recruitment, Contract administration and Office manager for a Drilling Company. Joanne has three teenage children and enjoys tramping, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Gemma joined VetSouth in 2012 and has worked in various HR related roles since 2005. Born in Christchurch, but having spent her last years of high school at Northern Southland College, she is happy to be back in the area, and considers Southland home. Outside of work interests include camping trips, theatre and waterskiing in the summer holidays!

 

Born and bred in North Canterbury Rebecca has been with VetSouth since 2006, making the move south after completing a degree in agriculture from Massey University and marrying a Southland local. With previous jobs in veterinary nursing and research she started off life at VetSouth in Farm Services then moved into retail coordination and now inventory, data management and finance, Rebecca has worked across most areas of VetSouth’s business and has enjoyed immersing herself in a fast paced and ever evolving environment that is constantly challenging..

Now working part time after having her 3 children, when not at work Rebecca can be found spending time with her young family or in her kitchen trying out new recipes.

 

John was brought up in the North of England and spent his early life climbing mountains and training to be an outdoor pursuits instructor. After realising that taking groups of delinquent kids into his beloved Lake District wasn’t really his thing, he joined the rest of the masses and moved to London where he developed a love for obscure indie music, and began his career in IT. He has been wrestling with technology in one form or another ever since. He met a kiwi girl and emigrated to New Zealand in 1999. Since then he has worked in, trained in and experienced a variety of IT roles and has developed a firm belief that simple, well applied technologies can benefit us all. He still listens to obscure Indie music but his travels tend to be based around family and fly fishing these days.

 

 

Melissa is Originally from Bombay, north of the Waikato. Before working for vetsouth Melissa studied with Telford and AG ITO where she gained certificates in animal health and Agriculture, she than went on to dairy farming for 12 years in the Winton region, where she gained a lot of hands on experience in agriculture. When she’s not working, she enjoys chasing the waves surfing on a hot day, bush walks and spending time with family and friends, and travelling somewhere she’s never been before.

Michelle grew up locally on a sheep farm at Brydone and Waimumu. Michelle started with Gore Vets in 1996 and has been employed in a variety of roles within the company including retail, customer services, vet nursing and more recently as the Operations Manager at VetSouth Gore. Outside of work Michelle is busy with her family, which includes two boys of 5 & 8 and she enjoys horse riding and pottering about on their lifestyle block.

 

 

Sharon joined the VetSouth team in March 2013. Before then she was involved in the dairy industry and education sector in West Otago. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband and their two sons. Sharon is enjoying working with the enthusiastic friendly group of people at VetSouth Gore.

Carey joined the VetSouth Winton clinic in 2011 after spending 8 years in Queenstown in various roles from Marketing to Wedding Planning!

Interests outside of work include snowboarding, wakeboarding and good wine!