ELIZABETH KENT              

Elizabeth Kent is one of the original members of the Family Petcare team, starting when the clinic first opened in March 2000. She started nursing in 1996 after having been a secondary School teacher for almost seven years. The busy, small animal practice in Melton where she first began nursing has given her an excellent grounding in animal care. Elizabth's young family moved to Ballarat in 1998 when her husband was transferred to the district.

After a years maternity leave in 1999 for the birth of her third child she was ready for some new challenges.

Ballarat Family Petcare Clinic has certainly provided some wonderful experiences for her. Diane Gibney, without a doubt, the best veterinian she has worked for. Not only has she gathered around herself a fantastic team of women, she has encouraged Elizabeth to learn new skills, to expand her abilities and to challenge herself both mentally and physically. The clinic is unique in that it has allowed Elizabeth to become really involved, not just with the animals, vut with their owners as well.

Elizabeth in turn,brings maturity, wisdom.support and humour to the clinic, qualities that are highly valued by the other staff memers. She has specialised in dental care and surgery and is currently investigating the practices of massage and physiotherapy in post-operative care.

Elizabeth and husband ,Steven, are raising their three boys in Smythesdale where they enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle. 'Sunday's ' are the best - that's family day.No work, school, sports or lessons. We like going to the beach or on picnics in the summer, or we might take the horses and the bikes up into the bush and muck around for hours. During the week there's this big list of afterschool sport music lessons,gym classes and competitions that we've all involved in.Elizabth's family is an important aspect of her life.When she's not so busy, Elizabeth loves all sorts of music, books and craft activities.

Elizabeth has a natural rapore with the clients at BFPC and a genuine, caring nature towards the patients. She is a real asset to the team.

MELISSA BROWN                  

Melissa is a relative newcomer to the Ballarat area, having grown up and lived on the Mornington Peninsula until three years ago.

Melissa worked in Mornington for a veterinary clinic for twelve years, watching it grow from a small, mixed practise to a busy three clinic business. During that time, she worked in all aspects of the surgery, from reception and office duties, to surgical nurse and starting up the puppy pre-school.

During this time, she had her two children, a daughter and a son now aged 13 and 11.

Three years ago, Melissa decided that a life change was in order and she moved to the country where her sister also lives.

It was a love of her horses and a desire to have them close by that led to the decision to purchase a small farm where she can have her horses and dogs in the backyard. Her partner is also an avid horse person and, having recently bought a young colt they hope to start their breeding program in the near future.

On leaving Mornington, Melissa’s previous employer recommended Diane Gibney to her. Melissa approached Caroline McCutcheon in regard to employment during her first consultation. Soon after, some locum work was available and this soon became regular employment.

“ It has been wonderful to join the team at this clinic. They have made me very welcome and it’s easy to work with such a progressive, compassionate and friendly group of people”

LYN DYER                                   

Lyn commenced her career in the Veterinary Industry 25 years ago at the University of Melbourne, Werribee. Here she oversaw the Clinic and Hospital's Pharmacy. Her love and empathy for animals and client's saw her go on to achieve her qualifications as a Veterinary Nurse, working in a few clinics around Melbourne.

Lyn has a passion in the fields of Emergency and Critical care, and Small Animal Medicine ,hoping to eventually continue her love and insatiable appetite for knowledge , and finish her advanced studies in these advanced fields.

Lyn joined the dynamic team at  BFPC in August 2004 undertaking a new and challenging role as Office Administrator.

When she is not working, Lyn spends most of her time , along with husband Ron, in Breeding and Showing German Shepherds. A member of the German Shepherd Club for 25 years,actively involved in training, showing,breeding  and also was an Obedience Instructor for ten years.

Lyn looks forward to her new role at the clinic with enthusiasm , knowing this, like all aspects of Veterinary Nursing is another important achievment in her goals.

PAM READ                              

Pam's main career started in Education where she worked in administration for approximately twelve years. Due to Government changes a new career had to be decided upon and when opportunity struck a new career was forged, now years later..........

Pam works as one of our Support personnel and will greet you with her warm smile and friendliness. She loves meeting people and being able to offer warmth and compassion when required, so this job is certainly what she enjoys!  She has spent the last ten years working in the Veterinary Industry and with her knowledge is readily available to help you with all your general inquiries about appointments, worming, flea control, diets, vaccinations, desexings etc. She loves the challenge of day to day life and in this industry, it is certainly unpredictable.

Pam loves to garden and is an avid reader,and enjoys a 4km morning walk with her German Shepherd  'Enya'. She is married to a wonderful man, has four gorgeous sons, three daughters-in-law and three beautiful granddaughters....Wow !!!!!

NICKI CATLEY                       

Nikki has been a very valuable team member for the last two years. She comes from a retail background in animal care, and has extensive experience in reception duties.

Since the birth of her son, Sam, she is now working casually at the Clinic and enjoying being a mum for the rest of the time.

Her special interest lies in animal behaviour.

Away from the clinic her interests include cycling, walking, reading and of course, most importantly , being a mum.

Nikki now has two beautiful children and runs the "Puppy Pre School " through the clinic.

ANNE HARRIS                         

Anne has owned pets all her life - cats, dogs, horses,birds and rabbits. Her past work history involves being a track rider at a racing stable, kennel work at Dog breeders, and also at an Animal aid.

Anne ran her own grooming business for 12 years in Croydon before moving to the Ballarat area.

Her hobbies and interests involve walks in the forest with her dogs, gardening, obedience and agility training. Loves all animals , comedy programes, and reading, but her dislikes are paperwork, annual tax returns, and trying to remember where she put all the receipts!! Computers are a bit of a mystery and text messages, well forget them. You may find Anne's mobile is switched on probably once a month when she remembers to....

JACINTA SMITH                    

Jacinta is the newest and youngest member of the BFPC team. She is currently completing her year 12 VCE studies at Mt Clear Secondary College. She is concurrently working and studying at the Clinic for Certificate 11 in Animal Studies through a trainee program.

Jacinta's spare time is mostly spent with her horses, especially 'Chance'. She has invested an enormous amount of time and energy into endurance training. In 2000 she completed her first Quilty - a 160km endurance ride over 24 hours.

Her goals for the next few years include buying her first car; bringing her young horse up to endurance competition standards and completing her VCE and Vet Nursing Studies.

RACHEL BLYTH                      

Rachel first started Veterinary nursing with the Ballarat Family Petcare team in 2000. Nursing complemented her extensive Animal Welfare work with the Ballarat RSPCA whom she has been involved with for almost 10 years.

After taking time off to travel Australia and work in the Airline Industry, Rachel returned to Victoria to study Archaelogy at Latrobe. Rachel's continued passion for working in the Pet care Industry has led her back to the "fantastic, loving and caring " team at Ballarat Family Petcare Clinic.

Rachel continues to pursue her "Art" interests alongside animal work. She resides in Ballarat with her two cats  "Tigga and Noah" and her dog  "Marley".

FELICITY LUCAS                     

Felicity started working with the great team ab Ballarat Family Petcare in January 2007. Having a passion for animal care at a young age, she grew up with many cats and dogs, fish, birds and rabbits. Living in Melbourne after finishing high school gave her a great opportunity to work as a volunteer at the RSPCA where her love for small animals evolved. She is currently studying for her vet nursing certificate IV.

In her spare time, Felicity loves reading books and enjoying time with her dog Monty.

REBECCA WESTON                     

Rebecca is the one of the newer members of the BFPC support team and works along side Pam in reception. She loves activities such as walking, gym and reading. Her favourite magazine is 'Thats's Life".

Rebecca has a love of animals, which she feels are great companions.

After completing Year 12 at Damascus College in 2002, Rebecca then went on to SMB to complete a Certificate Two and Three in Office Administration which then led her to a job in Administration as an Office Administrator. Her work in administration for three years then led her to join the team at BFPC in Reception.