Our Staff
THE VETS (AND THEIR PETS)
Dr John Robertson - BVSc
John was raised on a dairy farm at Millaa Millaa, and moved to Cairns in 1971. John joined the Cairns Vet Clinic in 1979 and became a Partner in 1981. John spends his spare time on his farm at Malanda.
Dr Catherine Mackenzie - BVM&S
Catherine is a Scottish import from Edinburgh University. She traveled extensively on a yacht before deciding Cairns was the place to live. She has been with the Cairns Veterinary Clinic for 17 years, originally working part time while juggling a young family and eventually becoming partner. She has a golden retriever that loves to adopt everyone, a black cat that is very aloof, 4 horses (she fancies herself as a horse whisperer!) and three kids She loves to unravel a good mystery medicine case and is very excited by our new in-house laboratory. She also has a special soft spot for lovely old cats and would like to make them live forever.
Dr Dallas McMillan- BVSc
Dallas completed his degree in Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney in 2000 and then commenced working for Cairns Vet Clinic immediately after this. He is now married with 2 children, 2 Afghan Hounds, 3 moggies and 6 horses including Arabians and thoroughbreds.
As a vet, Dallas is particularly interested in the areas of skin disease, dentistry, ultrasound and equine foot care, conformation and breeding.
Dr Murray Gosney- BVSc
Dr Lizzie Jensen- BVSc
Lizzie graduated from Liverpool University (United Kingdom) in 2003. She worked in mixed practice until starting up her own pregnancy ultrasound scanning business. In 2008 Lizzie made the move to Australia and initially worked in mixed practice in South East Queensland before moving up to sunny North Queensland a year ago to take up a part time position at Cairns Vet Clinic.
Lizzie has a young daughter and spends her “free time” wondering how she used to spend her “free time” as it doesn’t seem to exist anymore! She is also the proud owner of a dog and an overly friendly duck!
Dr Vicky Turner - BVSc
Vicky grew up in Zimbabwe. Her family made the decision to immigrate to New Zealand in 2004. There she completed a vet degree at Massey University before deciding to cross the ditch for warmer weather. She is enjoying tropical North Queensland and all it has to offer. In her spare time she likes to explore the beaches with her cocker spaniel dog, Zara.
Dr Claire Stevens - BVSc
Born and raised in Cairns, Claire is one of our more recently graduated vets. She completed her Vet Science degree in Brisbane at the University of Queensland. Claire enjoys travelling and being outdoors. As a vet, Claire is passionate about small animal medicine and pathology and hopes to specialise in one of these areas. She can't get enough of dogs and cats of all shapes and sizes and hopes to work with these wonderful creatures for the rest of her life!
THE NURSES
Kristy-Anne Carney – Head Vet Nurse
Kristy-Anne moved from Brisbane to Cairns, sight unseen, and has never looked back. She has been with Cairns Vet Clinic since 2006 and completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 1999. As Head Nurse, Kristy-Anne is responsible for training and mentoring new and existing nurses, ensuring all surgery equipment is maintained, organizing nurse rosters and monthly client education, just to name a few. She is the proud owner of two dogs, “Shadow”, a 12 year old border collie and “Sky” a local gal adopted from RSPCA Cairns. In her spare time Kristy-Anne loves to explore everything that the tropics have to offer, including spotlighting for native animals.
Errol Gardiner - Vet Nurse and Canine Behavioural Consultant
Errol is a qualified vet nurse with a specialisation in canine behaviour. He has both a broad theoretical foundation and practical experience in training companion animals. He is registered as a Canine Behaviour Specialist and Obedience Dog Trainer with the National Dog Trainers Federations. He also has experience working in both the companion and working dog field.
Luigina Anderson – Vet Nurse
Luigina is a true local, born and bred in Gordonvale. She began working at the Gordonvale Surgery in May 1987. Her household is simple, made up of groups of ONE. One dog, one cat, one bird, one child (now living in Tasmania), one husband (still living at home), one house (with only one bathroom), one car and one job. She has owned pets all her life, but her “Zoro”, a Maltese terror, oops, Terrier X Poodle, is a challenging, very lively and excitable little dog. Her cat, “Squeek” is a quiet, loveable grey tabby and never meows, hence the name. Her bird, “Bubbles”, a budgie, talks all day long. In her spare time Luigina likes to spend time in her garden and laze on the beach.
Janet May – Vet Nurse
Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, Janet qualified originally as an Enrolled Nurse in 1991 before retraining and qualifying as a Vet Nurse in 2000 through the Royal College of Vet Surgeons United Kingdom. She worked at Edinburgh Uni for training and then moved to a small animal practice in Edinburgh. Janet had already visited Australia as a backpacker and in 2001 decided to come back for good and started work as a Vet Nurse in Bowral, NSW before moving to Cairns. Janet loves to travel (obviously) as well as camping and cycling. She has a pet Rottweiler called Douglas – named so because having had to re-home 2 dogs due to relocating she had decided no more dogs, so had to name him Douglas so I remained dugless!
Shereece Kaden – Trainee Vet Nurse
Shereece was born in New South Wales but raised in Far North Queensland. She grew up surrounded by plenty of animals including dogs, cats, birds, geese, ducks, chickens, turkeys, peacocks, fish, sheep, horses, guinea pigs (just to name a few). In her spare time Shereece has helped to nurse injured and sick wildlife and also spent 2 years as a wildlife keeper in a nature park where she got to handle native animals such as snakes, crocodiles, lizards, wombats, koalas, dingoes, wallabies and kangaroos. Shereece is currently studying for her Certificate IV in Vet Nursing.
Liz Rice – Vet Nurse
Liz started vet nursing over 20 years ago in a large and small animal practice in Manjimup, in the south west of WA. She has a passion for animal nursing and now lives in Kuranda with her husband and son, and the extended family of dogs, cats, chickens, horses, more chickens, fish and aviary birds. Her main interests are classic motorbikes and animals. She currently rides a 1982 Moto Guzzi that she has recently rebuilt from the frame up.
Donna Salecich – Vet Nurse
Asami Sakamoto – Trainee Vet Nurse
Asami was born in Japan but made the decision to move to Cairns 9 years ago. She has a Bachelor of Science – Zoology Degree and prior to coming to Cairns Vet Clinic was a wildlife keeper at the Cairns Wildlife Dome. Asami started with Cairns Vet Clinic in 2008 initially as a Kennel Attendant, however due to her love of animals decided she wanted to continue to develop her skills and knowledge in this area and is now studying towards her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.
In her spare time when she’s not studying or working Asami is also a volunteer wildlife carer which requires her to look after orphaned and injured wildlife animals. She is also the proud owner of a pet Carpet snake called “Wasabi”.
Sarah Dinsey – Trainee Vet Nurse
RECEPTION
Kristy Jaunzems – Client Services Officer
Kristy started with Cairns Vet Clinic in 1997 and graduated in 2004 with her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. Kristy is now the clinic’s Client Services Officer and is responsible for ensuring that all our clients receive professional and friendly service at all times. For many years Kristy has volunteered at the Cairns City Kennel Club, teaching wayward dogs and puppies to become better companions for their owners and in her spare time she attends agility trials with her dog Jemma as well as navigates for her husband Neil in their race car. They have even been to Targa Tasmania!
Rebecca Crouch - Receptionist
Rebecca came for a holiday in Cairns last year and hasn't looked back since. She brought her cat, Toody, and they are enjoying the people and weather. Rebecca is a qualified vet nurse, and loves helping customers and their pets at the front counter.
PRACTICE MANAGER
Michelle Barker
Michelle has recently joined the Cairns Vet Clinic after working in managerial roles in a range of industries. She returned to North Queensland after many years overseas, and enjoys the relaxed lifestyle that Cairns offers. She has a menagerie of animals, including reptiles, rodents, chickens and a dog.