Meet Our Dedicated Team

Carney is our longest-serving nurse, with over 40 years at WVC, having started with us in 1982, and she truly has a wealth of knowledge about everything at the clinic. We often say she should be bronzed for her dedication! Carney knows how every part of the vet clinic works, from managing inventory to solving problems, and is known for her efficiency and competence. When she’s not working, Carney is usually busy tending to her herd of cattle or walking her dog.

Jill has been a valued member of the WVC team for since 1994, and is well known by many of our long-term Somerville and Balnarring clients and patients, having cared for many generations of pets. Her quick-witted humor and warmth are easily remembered, as is her side-kick Steven the Chihuahua, who helps her on reception at Somerville and Balnarring and even has his own clinic branded uniform.

Sandy has been a Mornington Peninsula local for decades and has been working with the WVC team since the year 2000.  She has been the friendly face at Balnarring Vet Clinic for many years. In her spare time she enjoys walking her dog, Frankie an American Staffy, riding her horses and spending time with her grandchildren.

With over 30 years of experience as a vet nurse, Rhonda is an excellent source of advice. She joined WVC in 2015, and can be found at our Hastings branch, greeting clients with her warm smile or answering calls with her friendly demeanor. Outside of work, Rhonda stays busy caring for her four horses, dogs, cats, and chickens.

Lesley, originally from Scotland, has been working as a veterinary nurse in Australia for decades, though her mild Scottish accent still makes her easily recognizable in the clinic. She joined WVC in 2009 and is one of our most experienced surgical nurses. Les has a strong focus on staff wellbeing and was the driving force behind creating the Lotus Room for staff at our Hastings clinic. Outside of work, she enjoys fishing with her husband, Paul, and spending time with her terriers, Fergus and Sidney, as well as her grandchildren.

A very experienced nurse with a keen interest in Quarter Horses, horse riding, and yoga, Sally joined our team in 2009 after a placement at our Hastings Clinic. A local to the area, she is primarily based at the Hastings and Balnarring Clinics. Sally has run a puppy school at the Hastings Vet Clinic for nearly a decade, helping many hundreds of puppies from our community get a great start in life. When she’s not working, Sally practices dog training with her own dogs, Tess and Milly, enjoys horse riding, or spending time with her grandson.

One of the friendly faces you'll encounter at our Hastings branch is Claire, who has been with our team since 2016. With nearly 30 years of experience in the veterinary industry, Claire is a skilled vet nurse, specializing in surgery and using her wealth of knowledge to mentor and train our newer nurses. She also runs animal rehabilitation sessions at the clinic, helping with post-operative recovery for orthopaedic procedures and managing chronic joint conditions. Outside of work, Claire enjoys spending time with her son, her GSP, Chewy, and her cat, William, while staying active through martial arts.

With over 20 years of nursing experience, Lisa is originally from inland Byron Bay and has worked mainly in NSW before joining WVC in 2018. She has a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Dembe, a German Shepherd named Mable, as well as Thomas the Cat and Kevin the Lorikeet—quite the menagerie! With her kind, compassionate nature, Lisa is a true asset both at the front desk and nursing pets in the hospital. Lisa has a passion for feline nursing and care of cats in our clinics. Outside of work, Lisa loves Rock 'n' Roll, pottery, Rockabilly, and anything that replicates vintage life.

Sarah, a local to the Mornington Peninsula, joined the Westernport team in 2018, and works across our Hastings and Somerville clinics. She combines both skill and compassion in surgery and reception, providing the highest level of care for pets. Sarah also manages our website, ensuring it stays up to date. Outside of work, she has a black Labrador named Winnie, two cats, Louis and Mitsy, and has fostered many cats and kittens before they found their forever homes. Sarah is also currently studying to become a human nurse and midwife while raising her two young children.

Ellie joined our nursing team in 2020 and brings a wealth of experience, having worked in specialist surgery and emergency since starting her nursing career in 2013. She has a particular passion for nursing ICU hospital patients. Ellie has a beloved menagerie of animals, including four cats, Hugo the Akita X, and Sushi the Jack Russell. In her spare time, Ellie enjoys yoga and exploring nature with her dogs. She is especially passionate about cats and has been the driving force behind our clinic's ISFM cat clinic application, as well as the creation of a dedicated cat consult room and waiting area.

Meg joined the team at Westernport in 2021 and completed her Cert IV qualification in vet nursing in 2023. She divides her time between our Hastings and Somerville vet clinics, bringing her skills and passion for animal care to both locations. Outside of work, Meg loves showing miniature goats, four-wheel driving, camping, and spending time with her two adorable miniature dachshunds, Leroy and Millie. She’s also an avid baker, and the team at WVC regularly enjoys her delicious homemade treats!

Amelia joined WVC in 2021, bringing over 10 years of veterinary nursing experience from both small animal and mixed practice clinics. She works across our Somerville and Hastings clinics and has played a key role in making our practices more environmentally sustainable. Amelia has a beloved Standardbred horse named Cirro and enjoys gardening, water skiing, and horse riding in her spare time. However, much of her time away from work is spent caring for her two young children.

Lucy joined our WVC team in 2021, bringing over a decade of vet nursing experience. Throughout her career, she has gained expertise in various areas, including emergency and critical care, sports medicine for greyhounds, and theatre nursing, with a particular focus on orthopaedics. Outside of work, Lucy enjoys spending time with her young sons, husband, cat, and horse. She loves being outdoors, horse riding, playing sports, and travelling with her family.

Aimee joined our team in 2022 and recently completed her Certificate IV in vet nursing. She has a very vocal cat named Mo, who she adores, and enjoys building connections with both pets and their owners. In her spare time, Aimee loves spending time with her partner, Sam, along with Mo the cat and Oni the dog. She is also passionate about creating digital art, with animals often being a major theme in her work.

Bronte joined the Westernport team at the start of 2022 and has a particular passion for surgery, along with a special area of knowledge in reproductive medicine and surgery. Outside of work, Bronte’s household is run by five furry friends—Bulldog Porshia, Golden Retriever Walter, and three cats, Millie, Karma, and Golly. She also devotes much of her time to caring for her grumpy old horse, Riley. When not at home, Bronte enjoys both local and far-flung adventures with Walter.

Belinda joined WVC in 2022 and works across both our Somerville and Hastings clinics, where she brings her wide experience in vet nursing to both reception and surgery. Originally from the UK, Belinda’s journey to Australia took her through Russia and Italy, adding a rich mix of life experiences along the way. Now living on the Peninsula, she shares her home with two rescue dogs and a one-eyed Burmese cat. Outside of work, Belinda enjoys staying active through hiking and keeping fit, as well as international travel. 

Matilda joined WVC in 2023 after completing a clinical placement for her Cert IV in vet nursing with us. A local to the Peninsula, she lives on a property with a handful of dogs, horses, and cats. Matilda has developed a keen interest in surgery and a strong passion for wildlife care. In her spare time, you can find her at the beach with her ball-obsessed dog or teaching local dance classes.

Katie began at WVC in 2021 as a kennel hand while completing her secondary school studies. She completed her training in 2024 and has become an integral part of the team at our Hastings clinic, assisting with both reception duties and surgery. In her spare time, Katie enjoys applying the skills and knowledge she has gained through her work to care for her beloved cat, Nala.

Jess is originally from the northeast of England and can be recognized by her distinctive northern accent. She began her nursing career in Scone, NSW, and joined WVC in 2024. After working with horses while studying, Jess moved to Melbourne to pursue her dream of working with small animals. She has volunteered extensively with rescues and fostered many dogs and cats, adopting her own rescue dog, Gus. In her spare time, Jess enjoys long beach walks, camping, and spending time with her young daughter.

Tiarra began her vet nursing career in 2015 and joined WVC in 2023. Throughout her career, she has locumed at various clinics across Victoria, working with a wide range of animals, from cats and dogs to wildlife. Tiarra enjoys the surgical and nursing aspects of her job, particularly when working with geriatric and anxious pets. She has a rescue dog with behavioural issues, which has given her a special understanding of nervous patients, and she often fosters animals when she can. Tiarra is currently on maternity leave following the arrival of her daughter.

Elise began her career in the animal industry in 2015, discovering a passion for surgical nursing. She joined WVC in 2024, bringing a passion for surgical nursing, anesthesia, dentistry, and hospital care, with a particular love for working with clients and their pets. She has a soft spot for cheeky rabbits and Border Collies. Outside of work, Elise is kept busy raising her young son.

Laura began her journey at WVC as a trainee nurse and returned in April 2024 after spending seven years as a specialist surgical nurse. Now, it’s a family affair, as she works alongside her mother, Lesley, a long-time WVC nurse. Laura enjoys all aspects of nursing, with a particular passion for surgical care. Outside of work, she is kept busy by her two young daughters and two cats, Hugo and Luna.

Madi joined the WVC team in 2025 and is nearing the completion of her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. Her love for animals has been a constant throughout her life, and she is passionate about providing them with the best care. Madi particularly enjoys caring for her own pup, Atlas, and looks forward to continuing to grow her skills as a vet nurse while helping animals in the clinic.

Lily joined WVC in 2024 as a kennel hand after completing a round of work experience in 2022. She is currently training as a vet nurse. Lily has a Shepherd X puppy, a one-year-old tabby cat named Sushi, and a long-neck turtle named Turbo. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending time tending to her animals, always finding joy in caring for them.

Piper has loved and had a passion for looking after animals her whole life. She has completed a Cert II in animal care and is on the way to complete the Cert IV in Veterinary nursing. Piper is excited to build her knowledge and skill set with as part of the team at WVC. Outside of work Piper has been riding horses for around 4 years and mostly enjoys trail riding and show jumping. Her Staffy, Smudge, is always the highlight of her day. Smudge also enjoys tagging along while I ride the horses. At home Piper has 2 dogs, 2 horses, 3 alpacas and 5 chickens.