Our Team
Meet our friendly and experienced
team of vets and nurses.
Our Team
Meet our friendly and experienced
team of vets, nurses, and receptionists
Meet Our Veterinarians
Meet our Nurses
Practice Owners
Dr. Simon Edwards
Practice Owner, BSc BVMS, Cert IV A + WT
Simon is one of the owners of the Willunga and Aldinga Veterinary Services. He has been part of the practice since late last century (c1995) and spends most of his working days out on farms chasing cows around. Cattle work is his main focus, but he enjoys all aspects of the practice, and can be seen doing the occasional small animal consult or surgery when needed.
When he is not working he may be seen cycling up a local hill or playing his saxophone with some mates in a couple of local bands, or looking after the many pets and rescues that he and his wife look after.
Dr. Michelle Rees
Practice Owner, BSc BVSc
Michelle graduated Veterinary Science in South Africa and then travelled to Australia for work. She worked in New South Wales and then settled in Queensland and worked for a number of years. In March 2020 Michelle and her family made the move to South Australia and Michelle joined the WAVS team.
Michelle became a partner in the practice in July 2021 joining the current partners Simon and Martin.
Michelle is one of our senior small animal veterinarians seeing a wide variety of medical and surgical caseloads.
In Michelle’s spare time she enjoys spending time with her kids, watching various sports and activities and loves sewing and the beach.
Our Veterinarians
Dr. Neil Thies
Veterinarian, BVSc (Hons), MAVS
Neil graduated from Melbourne University in 1979 and joined WVS in 1984. He has completed a Masters in Veterinary Science. Neil brings a wealth of medical knowledge and surgical skill to our team.
Outside of work Neil spends time with Trees For Life and is a dedicated endurance runner and swimmer. He has completed two IronMan triathlons, as well as participating in the 10km + Rottnest Island swim, off the coast of WA. Currently he is racing half and full marathon events.
Dr. Clare Ellis
Veterinarian, BVSc (Hons), CCRT CVA (IVAS)
Clare grew up in Brisbane and graduated from the University of Queensland in 2001. She has been working at WAVS since 2008 after 5 years working at Murray Bridge Vet Clinic and a 2 year stint in the UK. Clare is a certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) and offers rehabilitation and physical therapy for a wide range of conditions including lameness, arthritis and spinal conditions, post orthopaedic surgery, geriatrics and sporting dogs.
Since 2008 Clare has been a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA) and regularly treats animals with acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, including utilising nutritional modification and herbal medications. When not working, Clare enjoys spending family time with her husband and two daughters – camping, gardening and cooking; and volunteers as a lifesaver at Aldinga Bay SLSC. They live in Willunga with Golden Retriever Ella, cats Tickle, Yoyo & Zara, and an assortment of chickens and fish!
Dr. Emma Hoolihan
Veterinarian, BSc BVMS
Formerly a broadcast journalist, Emma received her veterinary degree from The University of Adelaide in 2018. Following graduation, Emma completed an internship at a speciality surgery referral centre in Melbourne, before moving into general practice.
Emma has a special interest and training in advanced surgical procedures, including orthopaedics, reconstructive oncology and brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. Emma wholly appreciates the delight animals can bring to families and is motivated to provide your pet with the highest quality of care.
She lives on a farm in the beautiful Inman Valley with her husband, daughter and their expanding menagerie. In her spare time, Emma enjoys horse riding, running and gardening. When relaxing she can be found curling up with a good book and her two Devon rex cats, Chrissy and Henry.
Dr. Daniel Richmond
Veterinarian, DVM
Dan graduated from Murdoch University in Perth in 1995. He worked in the UK for 3 years in a small animal practice then to Perth and the southwest of WA before buying Aldinga Vet Clinic in 2007. In 2013 Dan sold the Practice which created WAVS. Dan has a keen interested in imaging – ultrasounds and radiographs, difficult medical cases and soft tissue surgery.
Dr. Brooke Lamey
Veterinarian, BSc BVSc
Dr. Jane Ellery
Veterinarian, BSc BVMS (Hons)
Jane Ellery graduated with honours from Murdoch University in 2001 and has been practising small animal medicine predominantly in Adelaide since this time. She spent 2 years locuming in the U.K. on a working holiday, allowing her to travel extensively through Europe and the United kingdom. She has mostly worked in small animal general practice, but gained valuable experience working for 3 years in small animal emergency medicine at one of Adelaide’s dedicated emergency and referral centres. As well as treating cats and dogs, she is also happy to see rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and mice. She currently has 3 cats and a whippet and a house full of animal hair. She lives locally and is therefore able to enjoy the beach, snorkelling and eating good food.
Dr. Reginald Goh
Veterinarian, BSc DVM
Reg started at the Willunga Clinic at the beginning of 2022 after graduating from the University of Adelaide in 2021. He has an interest in all animals large and small with a growing passion for Australia’s diverse native wildlife. Reg has a keen interesting in imaging and surgery.
Dr. Tori Ludlow
Veterinarian, BHSc BSc DVM
Tori graduated from the University of Adelaide in 2021 and worked as a mixed practice vet in Sheffield, Tasmania for 18 months. She joined the team at Willunga Vets in June 2023 and currently works across all 3 clinics in both small and large animal roles. She enjoys the day to day variety of working as a mixed animal vet and it always up for a challenge! She loves chatting to farmers and has a keen interest in small animal soft tissue and orthopedic surgery.
Outside of work you’ll find Tori keeping active enjoying a walk, surf or pottering around in the garden. She loves being outdoors but won’t say no to a night in by the fire with a glass of wine and a bag of lollies!
Dr. Alisha Richardson
Veterinarian, BSc BVMS
Coming soon!
Dr. Dan Reiner
Veterinarian, BSc DVM
Dan graduated from the University of Adelaide in 2020 and started his career in dairy practice in south west Victoria.
Dans interest in large animals began from a young age, growing up on a small farm outside Mount Gambier as well as taking up work at neighbouring dairy farms after finishing high school. This experience sparked dans interest to becoming a veterinarian.
Over the years, dan has developed special interests in cattle medicine, surgery, obstetrics and lameness management.
In his spare time, Dan enjoys playing a wide range of sports, catching up with mates, and camping.
Dr. Matilda Lovegrove
Veterinarian, BSc BVMS
Matilda started with WAVS in early 2023 after working in rural Victoria at a dairy focused mixed practice. She grew up in SA, attending vet school at Adelaide university and is keen to return and work in the Fleurieu.
Matilda enjoys mixed practice but has a keen interest in cattle medicine and surgery. Outside of work she enjoys riding her horses and hiking with her dog Millie.
Our Nurses and Receptionists
Kim
Nurse Manager – Aldinga, Cert IV, Dip L & M
Kim is responsible for the nursing team across the three WAVS clinics. She began her nursing studies during her school years and once she had completed year 12 she dedicated the next 20 years to nursing. During this time Kim has completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and Diploma of Leadership and Management. Her passions include her menagerie of pets, including talking birds! She loves training her Golden Retriever Marley, who loves visiting schools and retirement homes.
Kerri
Large Animal Reception Supervisor Cert IV
Kerri has worked as a veterinary nurse for 13 years in both small and mixed animal practices, including Head veterinary nurse. I have completed Certificate II in Animal Studies; certificate IV in racing and Certificate IV Veterinary Nursing.
I enjoy all aspects of veterinary nursing, with a special interest in Animal behaviour, Leadership and training. Outside of work, I spend much of my time enjoying family life with my Husband, 2 daughters at our farm at Currency Creek with the sheep, horses and 3 dogs Pearl, Lilly and Stella the Tenterfield Terriers.
Simone
Veterinary Nurse, Cert IV, Cert IV (Business Administration)
Simone is a certificate IV level vet nurse who joined WAVS in 2020 after moving to the area with her husband and kids for a real sea change from rural SA. Simone has a strong focus on reception and client contact and has been nursing for over 10 years. She has various pets ranging from native animals (bearded dragon and ring tailed possums) to a naughty Beagle, Ella and a feisty cat named Horus.
Karen
Veterinary Nurse, Cert IV
You will usually see Karen at the Front desk or answering your call.
Karen has been with us for 21 years!
Karens best furbaby is a one eyed pug called June. She also is the mum of Jerry the ragdoll. Karen has some beautiful silky chooks called Marsha, Jan and Cindy.
She has a beautiful family of 3 grown kids and an adorable granddaughter and grandson.
Vikki
Registered Veterinary Nurse, Cert IV, Dip (Emergency & Critical Care)
Vikki has been nursing for 23 years. She worked at WAVS for 10 years previously and returned 2 years ago. She is a registered nurse with a Cert IV in Veterinary nursing and a diploma in Emergency and Critical care. Vikki enjoys all aspects of Veterinary nursing but has a passion for surgery and emergency cases. She has also studied dog/cat behaviour and is passionate about fear free handling.
Vikki has 3 horses , 3 cats (Normy, Wiggles and Whost) and chickens. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her horses and pets, photography and crafts.
Kelly
Veterinary Nurse
Kelly is a veterinary nurse who has been working in the industry for over 20 years. She has a particular interest in feline medicine and behaviour, as well as surgery. She also enjoys working with chickens and ducks. She currently owns a number of cats, including oriental cats which she enjoys taking to cat shows. She also has a pet pigeon called Polly and a few others in the menagerie. At home she is a mum to a wonderful little boy and in what spare time she has she enjoys reading and going to the movies.
Naomi
Veterinary Nurse, Cert IV
Naomi is a qualified nurse who joined the clinics in September 2021. She currently is enjoying working on reception as well as in the hospital. Naomi has been a nurse for almost 10 years with a focus on equine most recently. She is enjoying a return to small animals.
In Naomi’s spare time travelling and hanging out with family and friends.
Teresa
Registered Veterinary Nurse, Cert IV
Teresa joined Willunga & Aldinga Veterinary Services in 2021. Previous to this she has worked for 3 years in general practice and 5 years assisting at one of the busy emergency centers in Adelaide. Teresa’s main focus in the clinic is with hospital patients and patient care. You often see Teresa carrying cat carriers full of kittens. At home she has 2 cats, 2 birds, 1 turtle, 2 young adult children and her husband.
Elizabeth
Veterinary Nurse
Elizabeth has been working as a vet nurse since 2012 after pursuing other adventures and careers. She is passionate about surgery, dentistry, nutrition and behaviour and also enjoys working with exotics, natives and pocket pets. She has two beautiful indoor cats and in her spare time she likes to read.
Annabel
Veterinary Nurse, Cert IV
Annabel has been in the industry since 2005 and nursing at WAVS for 7 years and enjoys all aspects of nursing, particularly hospital nursing.
Annabel has a new dog called Alanee who is a Bearded Collie. She also has three cats Molly 19, Bella 6 and Bella’s son Alfie.
A special interest in dog grooming, hand-raising sparrows and finches and the occasional noenate kitten.
In her spare time, she spends most of her time gardening, cooking and time at the beach with her 5-year old son, husband and Alanee.
Beck
Veterinary Nurse, Cert IV
Beck completed her cert IV in Veterinary nursing in 2019 and joined the WAVS team in 2020.
She has an interest in hospital nursing and Patient care. At home Beck has two dogs Cindy and Ruby and two cats, Storm and Toby.
Toby is living her best life at 20 years old.
Gabby
Veterinary Nurse, Cert IV
Gabby has been nursing since 2017 and began working at the Willunga and Aldinga Veterinary Services at the end of 2021. Previous to nursing, she has worked in a range of animal areas such as animal shelters and wildlife parks.
Gabby enjoys the variety of different areas in nursing with a special interest in surgical nursing and reception.
Gabby has a range of family pet members at home including 2 dogs, lots of birds, a green tree frog, fish and spiney leaf insects.
Outside of work she enjoys spending time with family, nature walks, snorkelling, surfing, sailing, paddle boarding and kayaking.
Caitlin
Veterinary Nurse, Cert IV
Caitlin started working with in animals in 2015 by volunteering at the RSPCA. She has a Rottweiler X called Bear and 2 cats Luna and Georgie. In her spare time she likes to get outdoors and be active. Caitlin is currently on maternity leave.
Ash
Veterinary Nurse, Cert IV
Ash has been nursing since 2017 and joined the WAVS team in 2020. Ash particularly enjoys hospital nursing and seeing patients recover and go home with their families. In her spare time she enjoys taking her dogs Lenny and Xena to the beach, spending time with her horse Konrad and entertaining two mischievous kittens Dee and Floki.
Zara
Veterinary Nurse, Cert IV
Zara joined the WAVS team in 2021 after completing her Certificate iV in Veterinary Nursing. She has a passion for nursing orthopaedic surgery cases & exotic animals.
Zara has a small zoo of sorts at home with 11 animals: 3 rabbits, 2 guinea pigs, 2 chihuahua, 2 rats and 2 horses! Zara also has an interest in becoming a Veterinary Surgeon one day!
Ailie
Veterinary Nurse, Cert IV
Alilie has worked in the vet industry for over 10 years. During a break in the industry Ailie pursued a career as a Naturopath and would love to combine these 2 modalities, somewhere in the future, with a particular interest in preventative care. Ailie is interested in alternative medicine with the understanding that all aspects of medicine have role within our lives.
Ailie has a multitude of dearly loved pets and has a soft spot for the Border Collie Breed. We are so glad Ailie returned to the Veterinary industry and we can tell she feels quite at home with the animals.
Rebecca H
Veterinary Nurse, Cert IV
Rebecca joined the WAVS team at the beginning of 2022 whilst she was completing her Cert IV in Veterinary nursing. After graduating, she has taken a strong interest in the face-to-face side of nursing, helping clients over the phone and in person.
Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her two boisterous dogs and 4 rescued cats.
Ruby
Veterinary Student
Ruby is currently a 4th year vet student and we have been lucky to have her working as a nurse on weekends and during uni holidays. Ruby has a passion for both small and large animals and sees herself as a mixed animal vet in the future.
Outside of work and study you will find Ruby taking her dogs for a run along the beach, exploring the local hiking trails, or sitting around a fire with a glass of red wine.
Magda
Veterinary Nurse Puppy Preschool Trainer
Magda joined the WAVS team in March 2022 as a receptionist and is learning nurse duties on the job. Working as a volunteer at Minton Wildlife Rescue and also as a dairy hand has given me lots of experience with animals.
Magda lives on a property with my partner outside of Yankalilla, with livestock including chickens, alpacas and a pet sheep named “Barbara” who was hand raised- she is more like a dog than a sheep.
With a keen interest in animal behaviour Magda is a great asset in our Puppy Preschool program.
Amanda
Veterinary Receptionist
Amanda lives in Mount Compass and grew up on a hobby farm. where her love for horses began.
Amanda worked on a remote cattle station for 3 years and was an Equine Veterinary Nurse for 5 years and is also a qualified Equine Sports Massage Therapist.
Amanda has three horses and 2 Great Danes who love going on boat rides. Imagine the onlookers’ faces!
Amanda enjoys sporadic adventures with her horses and friends, going fishing in our boat or off beaches.
Victoria
Veterinary Nurse, Cert IV
Victoria trained in the USA and became a certified Registered Veterinary Technician in 2017.
Victoria has a special interest in cardiology and internal medicine.
During her time in the USA she worked at as a Veterinary Medicine Nurse and in the USA as Cardiology and Internal Medicine nurse. This has provided her with a wealth of knowledge and experience in this field.
At home Victoria has two boxers to keep her busy.
Ceri
Large Animal Receptionist
Ceri grew up in Botswana and the UK and came travelling around Australia in 2015, 7 years later she is still here and has made Australia home.
Ceri worked in different areas of the animal science and welfare industry and as an equine veterinary nurse before having a year off with her daughter. interestingly
Ceri is actually a zoologist by training – and does a lot of work with the mammal department at the South Australian Museum, I am mainly involved in the cetacean tooth ageing laboratory and out at Bolivar as part of the cetacean dissection team.
Outside of work life is busy to an energetic staghound and an even more energetic toddler. Ceri loves spending time exploring our beautiful state with her husband and young family.
Kat
Large Animal Receptionist
Katala first became a veterinary receptionist in 2021 and she fell in love with the industry immediatly. She has a strong interest in ruminant health, which is what led her to come to our Mt Compass Large Animal Clinic. In particular she enjoys learning about parasite control and has completed the industry endorsed Paraboss Sheep Advisor course. As well as many rescued cats, she also has a collection of approximately 50 sheep, whom have all been handraised by herself.
Over the years she has also worked on dairy, beef, yabby, chicken and goat farms as well as a couple of horse studs all in the Adelaide Hills.
Holly
Large Animal Receptionist
You may recognize Holly as Simon’s daughter, visiting farms with her dad and little sister Rose from a young age. Holly has been enjoying working as a receptionist for the Mount Compass clinic since early 2022.
Holly has a Kelpie x Border Collie named Burra who enjoys long runs on the beach, and a cat named Sox who likes playing rough and tumble with dogs.
Outside of work Holly is in her final year of study to become a Registered (human) Nurse and hope to become a remote area nurse, travelling to remote communities around Australia.
Petria
Large Animal Receptionist, Cert IV
Petria is a Cert IV Veterinary Nurse, with approximately 25 years’ experience in the Industry.
She has worked in several mixed practices over this time, including 12 months in Gympie, Queensland.
She particularly loves the reception role!
At home she has a Whippet “Brydie” and a Tenterfield Terrier “Sam”, and horse “Amy”
Her interests outside of work include spending time with her partner, and her two adult sons, riding either her horse or her motorbike, and most recently is kept busy with their new property at Macclesfield, where they are planning to build a new home.
Rachel
Veterinary Nurse, Cert IV
Rachel has been nursing since 2012 and joined WAVS in 2022.
I enjoy all aspects of nursing, but have particular interests in nutrition & weight loss management, end of life care and wildlife nursing. I am also a wildlife foster carer and a previous dog & cat foster carer for rescue groups.
I live on a small hobby farm with my husband, 2 young children and a menagerie of animals, including 3 dogs, 2 cats, 1 guinea pig, sheep, chickens and alpacas. I enjoy gardening, sewing, photography, camping and 4wding in my spare time.
Kristin
Marketing Administrator, RVN Cert IV, DIP Ag Production
Introducing Kristin, the Registered Veterinary Nurse whose heart beats for two extraordinary passions: the world of veterinary care and the art of marketing. With a decade of marketing expertise under her belt, Kristin has embarked on a journey that seamlessly merges her adoration for animals and her zeal for showcasing businesses.
Beyond the clinic, Kristin’s home is a lively haven full of fur, feathers, and scales. This includes two golden retrievers, a bearded dragon, and an array of colorful birds including Wasabi the Quaker.
Wasabi’s journey began right here in our clinic, where he was hand-raised. During his impressionable days he picked up more than just feathers – he also acquired a handful of intriguing phrases that are sure to put a smile on your face.
Meet Our Veterinarians
Meet our Nurses
Aldinga Vet Services
Mt Compass Vet Services
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Sat & Sun: Closed
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