COMPANION ANIMAL VETERINARIANS

Andrew grew up in Leongatha, studied Veterinary Science at Melbourne University and first worked with Tarwin Veterinary Group in 1987. After periods of work in the UK and Ballarat, Andrew returned to TVG in 2002 with his wife Carolyn, also a current GVG vet.  He is a former director of the practice and continues to contribute to the management of both Leongatha and Mirboo North Veterinary Clinics. Andrew’s professional interests include dermatology, cytology, internal medicine & exotic diseases.

When not at work, Andrew can be found either on his family beef farm in the Walkerville area or with his children, usually somewhere near a swimming pool. When the few opportunities arise Andrew likes to disappear bushwalking, kayaking and travelling.

Carolyn grew up in Melbourne and graduated in 1985 from the University of Melbourne with an honours degree. Her early years as a veterinarian were spent in various mixed practices in Victoria and South Australia. She then spent two years travelling in Africa and Europe and working in England. She returned to Australia in 1989 to practice at Tarwin Veterinary Group as an associate veterinarian for 5 years.

Since the early 1990s Carolyn has worked in companion animal practice except as a brief stint in Ballarat as an equine anaesthetist. After completing a Postgraduate Foundation in Veterinary Science [PGFVSc] distance education course in radiology via the University of Sydney, she gained her Membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in the Radiology Chapter. Seven years were then spent in a busy companion animal practice in Ballarat and having a family.

In 1992, Carolyn returned to Tarwin Veterinary Group with her husband Andrew to join as principals particularly involved in the companion animal part of the practice. Since then, Carolyn has done extensive continuing education to further develop in radiology, (including PennHIP accreditation for assessing canine hip laxity), ultrasonography and soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery. Her special interests of diagnostic imaging and surgery slot in well with general practice. Hobbies outside work include spending time with family and friends, reading, swimming, bushwalking and travelling.

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.

Our Newhaven clients will recognise Jenny as "their local vet".

Jenny was a co-owner of the Wonthaggi, Newhaven and Inverloch clinics for many years, before merging with Tarwin Veterinary Group in 2017, to form Gippsland Veterinary Group. Her leadership continued as a dedicated member of the GVG board of directors, including a period as chairperson of the board. Jenny stepped off the board in 2024, but continues to be a valuable member of our companion animal and Newhaven veterinary clinic management teams.

Caroline graduated from Edinburgh University in 2007, and after a brief stint working in her home country of Scotland she embarked on a ‘working holiday’ to Australia. She liked it so much she never quite got around to going back home! Initially she found herself working in a mixed practice in Koo Wee Rup which over 8 years gave her a great foundation working with companion animals as well as horses and livestock. After moving to South Gippsland, she started work with Gippsland Veterinary Group in 2017.

Life with a family on a busy dairy farm does not leave much time for extracurricular activities, but if given the chance Caroline also enjoys riding her horses and enjoying the beautiful scenery South Gippsland has to offer.

Kylene joined GVG in September 2021 having emigrated from South Africa with her husband Francois and her young family. Kylene graduated from the University of Pretoria in 2010. Her special interest area is companion animal surgery and since graduation Kylene has undergone further studies in fracture management, ultrasound, extra capsular stabilisation of the canine stifle (knee), the use of computed tomography (CT) and general orthopaedic surgery.

She worked for 5 years at the Waterfall Clinic in Durban, where she predominantly worked on companion animals and some exotics. She then worked for 5 years at the Westville Veterinary Hospital, focussed entirely on companion animals, before being recruited to GVG just as the pandemic took hold. 18 months later she was finally able to relocate to Gippsland to join us.

Since graduating, Kylene has continued to develop her strong interest in surgery including plating, cruciate repairs, dentistry, spinal surgery and arthroplasty. Along the way she has also accumulated experience in soft tissue surgery and medicine as it applies to companion animals. GVG are very pleased to have Kylene as a welcome addition to our strong surgical team.

Marietjie graduated from the University of Pretoria in 1987 and migrated to Australia with her husband Pieter (also a GVG vet!) and 3 children in 2007. Marietjie joined GVG in 2017.

Professional interests include feline medicine, emergency medicine, cardiology and ultrasonography. In her spare time she likes to garden and travel.

Manon joined Gippsland Veterinary Group in February 2022, she is a graduate of Melbourne University DVM program. Originally from NSW / ACT - Manon speaks fluent French and has a strong interest in both large and companion animals. In her spare time

Ildiko graduated from the University of Pretoria, RSA in the 1990s, having been determined to be a vet since a very young age. She joined GVG in 2020, looking for a sea change after working at the Lort Smith Animal Hospital in Melbourne for over a decade. She has a wealth of experience as a companion animal vet in Australia as well as 12 years in the UK.

She loves meeting the locals and their pets, and has a special interest in feline medicine, having obtained membership qualifications in the Australian College of Veterinary Surgeons feline medicine chapter. Her special interests include geriatric medicine, endocrinology and infectious disease. When not working, Ildiko loves exploration, photography, hiking and spending as much time as possible observing the natural world.

Sarah completed her Veterinary Science studies at Jame Cook University, Townsville in 2012. She went on to work as a GP veterinarian in Yarram and then Morwell, gaining experience as a companion animal veterinarian with both routine, emergency and surgical caseloads. Sarah then relocated to the UK where she worked for 12 months as a locum companion animal veterinarian in the north of England.

Returning to Australia, Sarah joined GVG in 2018 and can mostly be found working out of our Newhaven, Grantville and Wonthaggi clinics as a busy companion animal veterinarian. In her spare time Sarah enjoys music, reading and spending time with her dogs and young family.

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 ben 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.

Mary studied veterinary science at the University of Queensland and joined Tarwin Veterinary Group in 1996. During her first few years with the practice Mary worked as a mixed vet, however since around 1999, Mary has focused her work in the area of companion animal medicine and surgery.

Many years of practice and continuing education have given Mary a broad range of knowledge and skill in her chosen area in veterinary medicine. Mary enjoys the opportunities from working within a rural practice to establish relationships with people in the community, and serve their needs and those of their pets over a prolonged period of time.

Mary is a former director of Gippsland Veterinary Group and served as Chairperson of the GVG board from 2017-21. In July 2021, Mary stepped back from the board and currently works part time as a senior companion animal veterinarian at our Inverloch clinic.

Den graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2010 and moved to Alexandra, in northern Victoria.  She loved her first couple of years here, working as a mixed practitioner and gaining a wide range of experience. Keen to pursue her equine interest, she worked in an ambulatory equine-only practice west of Melbourne before locuming overseas. On her return to Australia, she settled in South Gippsland to work as GVG's primary equine vet in 2016.

Den particularly enjoys medicine and reproduction and in 2017, she passed her membership exams in equine medicine through the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS). This was a great opportunity to network with other equine vets, refresh her knowledge on all things medicine and provide GVG clients with a more thorough local service.

Den is now a working mother, with three girls keeping her on her toes at home!  She consults across both our equine team and most of our companion animal clinics, so she is well known to many of our clients.

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