DIRECTORS

Tom graduated from The University of Melbourne in 2010 and started as a mixed new graduate at Tarwin Veterinary Group. He intended to stay for a couple of years but never managed to leave. He travelled and worked in Alaska for a year in 2015 but returned with his wife Den (also a vet in the practice) to South Gippsland in 2016.

Tom and Den live in Buffalo with their three daughters Muriel, Margie and Minnie. Tom mainly focuses on farm animal medicine but you may also see him working in our companion animal clinics.

He has been a director of GVG since 2017 and chair of the board since 2024. He is a qualified Repro Right Advisor, graduate of the AICD and obtained his memberships in dairy medicine (2017) and veterinary pharmacology (2021) through the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS).

Paul graduated from the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 2009. He spent his first 3 years as a large animal vet not far from where he grew up in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Subsequently, an insightful 3-year stint as a technical consultant for the ruminant division of a global pharmaceutical company helped him realise his place on farms helping farmers improve stock health, productivity and profitability.

This saw a move to Australia to get his hands dirty again as a livestock vet. To better understand decisions and health interventions on farms, Paul undertook an MSc in applied animal health economics and epidemiology at the University of Calgary, Canada, where his findings on bovine Johnes Disease control were published in a peer reviewed journal.

Paul joined GVG in 2019 and now enjoys applying experience from his varied background everyday out on farms. He became a director in late 2023, with particular focus on production animals, systems and occupational health & safety.  Outside of work, Paul enjoys travelling and all South Gippsland has to offer in the way of mountain biking, water activities, golf, gardening and spending time with his wife Meg and their beloved cats.

Peter graduated from the University of Queensland in 1991 and was awarded a Bachelor of Veterinary Science with Honours. In 1992, Peter commenced employment with Tarwin Veterinary Group. In 1994, Pete travelled extensively in Europe and was employed as a locum in various dairy practices in the United Kingdom.

Upon returning to Australia in 1995, Peter returned to the company and became a partner in 1997. In 2003 Peter left TVG and was employed by Strategic Bovine Services where he provided consultancy services to dairy farms in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania before returning to TVG as a director in 2007.

In 2010, Pete was awarded a PhD in dairy cattle nutrition and epidemiology from the University of Sydney. He has lectured at local and international conferences and published a number of papers in peer reviewed scientific journals on various topics in dairy cattle nutrition.

Belinda Herrald is a senior companion animal veterinarian working mainly at our Wonthaggi and Leongatha clinics. She graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (with Honours) from the University of Melbourne in 1999.

After starting her working life in mixed/dairy practice, Belinda has worked in various companion animal general and emergency clinics in Australia and England, in both clinical and management roles. She joined the former Wonthaggi Veterinary Clinic in September 2007 as a casual/locum, then became a permanent part-time staff member in February 2008.  She became a director of the business in 2024.
Her professional interests include companion animal medicine, ultrasonography, soft tissue surgery and emergency medicine. She also enjoys mentoring new graduate vets and being involved in the day-to-day management of our companion animal clinics.

Belinda lives on a small property with her family, two cats and a variety of chickens, sheep and cows. She enjoys growing, cooking and eating real food; and travelling with her family to visit friends and family around the world.

Michael O’Brien is an equine veterinarian and one of the key members of the GVG Equine team.  Mike originally joined us in 2011 having worked at a busy equine practice in South East Queensland for the previous stud season.  He was a valued team member of Tarwin Veterinary Group for the next two years, rejoining the now Gippsland Veterinary Group in May 2021. 

In 2014, he completed an internship at Randwick Equine Centre in Sydney.  He then worked as an associate in equine practice at Illawarra Equine Centre and later, at the Liphook Equine Hospital in the UK.  Mike enjoys all aspects of equine veterinary practice and helps deliver important services to our growing number of clients in this area.  In 2024, he gained his certificate in advanced veterinary practice from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK, following the successful completion of six modules and examination in the field of equine lameness diagnosis and therapeutics. 

Mike joined the board of directors in 2025 and is enjoying the challenge of practice management along with his clinical duties.  Mike and his wife Claire, also a GVG vet, are raising their family in South Gippsland and love being part of the local community.

Graduating in 2004 from the University of Queensland, Melissa came to Tarwin Veterinary Group as a new graduate. Growing up on the family farm in Bendigo, Melissa has always been interested in both companion and farm animals, gaining extensive experience with both throughout her career.

Melissa is known at GVG for her boundless energy. She started the Leongatha Veterinary Clinic puppy school in 2006, which has been a great success. In 2008 she pursued her interest in emergency medicine, completing a distance education course in emergency medicine and critical care. Over the next few years Melissa would like to complete her memberships in companion animal emergency medicine and critical care. Today Melissa is a director of Gippsland Veterinary Group and has focussed her energies on companion animal medicine, working out of our Foster, Inverloch and Leongatha clinics. On the GVG board, Melissa is heavily involved in the human resources and finance teams.

Outside of work, Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband Luke, son Cooper John, daughter Sophie and their pets. Her interests include netball, running and water sports.