Our Team

 

The Bendigo Equine Hospital, led by Dr Naomi Hunter, has a team of highly specialist surgeons and veterinarians that have the expertise to assist with all your equine needs and are dedicated to providing comprehensive care.

Our Veterinarians

Naomi Hunter

BVMS MCRVS

Simon Robinson

BVSc BScAgr MACVSc Diplomate ACT

Dr Kate Averay

BSc DVM MVS DiplECVS (Equine Surgery)

Our Support Staff and Administration

Jay Overvliet

Clinic Coordinator

Clare Wheatley

Head Equine Nurse

Kylie Ducrotoy

Equine Veterinary Nurse

Tara Edwards

Equine Veterinary Nurse

Grace Christiansen

Equine Veterinary Nurse

Shannon Moore

Equine Veterinary Nurse Assistant

Emily Edwards

Equine Veterinary Nurse Assistant

Monique Spicer

Reception/Administration Officer

Kaitlyn Gebert

Administration Officer

Nadine Gill

Administration Officer

Shannon Stone

Stables Manager

Rachelle Robinson

Assistant at Nagambie

Specialists and Consultants

Laura Nath BVSc (Hons), Cert EM (Stud Med), MVSc, FACVSC Registered Specialist in Equine Medicine

 

Laura is our consultant for internal medicine cases. Laura graduated from the University of Sydney in 2003. Following graduation, Laura completed an internship and remained at Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital as an assistant to Dr Angus McKinnon for several years, gaining a certificate in Equine Stud Medicine from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK in 2007. Laura worked for a period of time in the UK, then returned to Australia to complete a residency in Equine Medicine with Dr Kate Savage and Dr Sally Church at the University of Melbourne. Through this she gained a Masters degree after researching cardiac disease and gained Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in equine medicine in 2010. Laura has also worked in racetrack practice at Flemington Equine Clinic and at Rossdales and Partners in Newmarket, England. 

 
 

 

Tom Russell BVMS MACVSc Dip ECVS Australian and European Registered Specialist in Equine Surgery 

 

Tom is a 1993 graduate of Glasgow University. He began his career as an intern in Large Animal medicine at Glasgow University, followed by two years in private practice. From 1997-1999 he was trained in Equine Surgery at Melbourne University by legendary equine surgeon Dr Alistair Maclean. He then worked in private practice in Caulfield racecourse, the Middle East, and Macau, before moving to Dublin University to begin formal training for specialist status. He finished this training at Sydney University, and became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2006. 

He was a surgeon at Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital for eight years, before moving to Bendigo in early 2014. 

 

 

Dr Hadley Willsallen BVSc, MANZCVSc, DACVS-LA Registered Specialist in Equine Surgery


Hadley graduated from Sydney University in 2003, and started her veterinary career as an intern at Agnes Banks Equine Clinic. With a keen interest in surgery she then worked as an associate at Canberra Equine Hospital (2005) and Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital (2007-2009). In 2009 Hadley became a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Surgery of Horses. Later in 2009 she started a four-year residency in Equine Surgery at the newly built, state-of-the-art Veterinary Clinical Centre, Charles Sturt

University, Wagga Wagga. In early 2014 she was recognised by the Australasian Veterinary Board Council as a Registered Specialist in Equine Surgery after completing requirements and examination processes of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. 

As member of the AVA Hadley has served as the NSW State Representative Equine Veterinarians Australia since 2014. Hadley has worked as an official veterinarian at the Royal Agriculture Society Easter Show for 12 years and as an FEI official veterinarian since 2005. Hadley has worked since 2014 with Dr Nick Kannegieter as a travelling consultant Specialist Equine Surgeon for veterinarians around the country. Her special areas of interest are minimally invasive techniques (arthroscopy and laparoscopy), fracture repair, respiratory surgery in particularly laryngoplasty (tie-back) and referral oral dental extractions/sinus surgery. Hadley is pleased to be available at the Bendigo Equine Hospital. 

Simon Hurn BVSC, MVS, MANZCVS (Small animal surgery), FANZCVS (Veterinary Ophthalmology) Specialist in Veterinary ophthalmology

 

Simon graduated from University of Queensland in 1998. Simon initially worked in a mixed racetrack and stud practice in Melbourne before undertaking Internships in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic and Hospital. In 2002, Simon achieved Membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in Small Animal Surgery. Simon then graduated with a Masters of Veterinary Studies from the University of Melbourne in 2003. Simon started a residency program in Veterinary Ophthalmology in 2002 and achieved Fellowship of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in 2006. Simon is a registered Veterinary Specialist in the discipline of Ophthalmology, has presented scientific papers overseas and published peer reviewed scientific papers in Australian and international Veterinary Journals. Simon served as President of the Ophthalmology Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists from 2008-2011. Simon is an Honorary Fellow and Lecturer of Veterinary Ophthalmology at The University of Melbourne, Faculty of Veterinary Science. Simon is a Director at All Animal Eye Services.

Nathan Monk Remedial Farrier

 

Our specialist veterinarians utilise the services of Nathan in all cases where corrective trimming and shoeing are required. Nathan works closely with our vets to provide a combined vet/farrier approach to most foot related lameness. His skills are used on a daily basis to treat acute and chronic laminitics, sports horse injuries and navicular disease. Following any foot surgery such as infected pedal bones and keratoma removals, Nathan helps us design and apply the appropriate shoe for rehabilitation. Nathan performs our remedial work at the Bendigo Equine Hospital.