Our team

Our experienced veterinarians and vet nurses ensure your pets receive excellent care and attention.

Our vets

Dr Mike Fitzgerald

Smiling person in blue scrubs standing in a clinical setting.

BVSc, MANZCVSs

Dr Mike graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from Sydney University in 1982.

He is also a Member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists (Small Animal Medicine Chapter). He has also pursued post graduate research in tick paralysis and has been on expert advisory panels on tick paralysis.

Prior to establishing Alstonville Vet Hospital, he worked in Sydney where he had the privilege of being mentored at North Shore Hospital, one of Sydney’s leading hospitals. He also spent two years working as a vet in London and the UK. 

In 1985, with the dream of establishing a vet hospital in a small town that needed one, he drove into Alstonville, and it was love at first sight. Having lived here for 40 years now, Mike values more and more each day the connections that bind a small village community together. Apart from pets of all kinds, he has had the privilege and joy of treating many hundreds of species, everything from bees and whales, sugar gliders and pelicans, koalas, echidnas, platypus, lizards, snakes of many varieties, frogs, bats, birds from finches to emus and ostriches. And he has loved it. 

In his spare time, Mike heads into the bush where he is a nature sound recordist and a keen amateur nature photographer. You can listen to his recordings at Bigscrub Sounds on Soundcloud.

Dr Gerrit Tandetzke

Veterinarian holding a small animal in a clinic setting, wearing protective gloves, with medical equipment in the background.

DVM MRCVS

My name is Gerrit, and I grew up on the Baltic Sea in West Germany. Living 5 minutes walking distance to a private zoo, I grew up bottle feeding lion cubs and I had my own pet racoon for 13 years- but my ultimate love was horses. I was lucky to get into vet school in Berlin straight after school and during my final studies I combined travelling with the necessary work experience.

During my first visit to Australia in 1996, I fell in love with this beautiful country, and it was always on my bucket list to live and work here. This dream finally came true in 2017, when I moved my family to the Northern Rivers, after 18 years living in the UK.  I did an internship at the Veterinary Referral Centre for Critical Care and Cancer in the UK, but my ultimate passion is all aspects of small animal general practice work. Over the last 6 years I developed a special interest in ultrasonography. In my spare time I love spending time with my two teens, my dog Jack and cat Sid, I love travelling and photography.

Dr Tallulah Whitehead

BVSc Hon

Growing up on a sheep and cattle property in NSW, Tallulah decided from a very young age she wanted to be a vet. After graduating from the University of QLD in 2012 she spent the next 5yrs working in a mixed practice in rural QLD where nights on call were frequently spent stitching up ripped pig dogs.

After a few years of travel and locuming Tallulah knuckled down and completed an emergency medicine internship at the Uni of Sydney. With her small animal skills sharpened Tallulah decided she was ready for a permanent sea change and stumbled on the lovely town of Alstonville. Tallulah has loved working with the team and clients at Alstonville vet Hospital for the past 5yrs. In her spare time Tallulah is either on the beach with her Kelpie, surfing or exploring any of the Byron trails.

Our veterinary nurses

Woman sitting on grass holding a black and gray dog, in front of a wooden fence, wearing a floral dress.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    Elise is a Northern Rivers local, moving to the area at a very young age and growing up here, she holds a wealth of knowledge and a love for the area and people. Elise's passion for animals also became evident at a young age, in particular, horses. Her free time was always spent either drawing or reading something revolving around horses, primarily Pony Pal and Saddle Club. Her dream when she grew up was to have a large property where she lived with all kinds of animals. Growing up, Elise had a large variety of animals such as a border collie cross cocker spaniel dog, a ginger cat, a budgie, cockatiels, rabbits, Guinea pigs... then her dream came true in her teenage years where she finally owned her very own horses.

    Elise was the ‘O.G original’ Tafe student of Alstonville Vet Hospital. She completed her Animal Studies Certificate whilst volunteering at our hospital and then became part of the team while completing her certification of veterinary nursing. Elise fell in love with hospital and team who she now calls her ‘work family’ and has never left.

Person kneeling on grass with two dogs, surrounded by green plants.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    Yasmin joined Alstonville Veterinary Hospital team in 2011 while completing her Certificate II in Animal Studies and then completing her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (with 21 distinctions!)

    Yasmin loves all aspects of being a Vet Nurse, she especially loves how every day is different and is always learning new skills. Yasmin loves animals of all shapes and sizes, with her favourite animal being a horse!Veterinary industry. I am a true blue country gal. In my spare time I like to compete in camp drafts, stockhorse events and work the family farm.

X-ray of a bird with a label marked 'L' on the right side.
A person in a blue shirt sitting on a couch, holding two small dogs with a covered patio in the background.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    Robyn completed her Veterinary Nursing studies when pen & paper were used, & information was gained from reading textbooks. She finds the most challenging part of the job navigating the computer program. Her passion is animal welfare, which has seen her volunteer with various animal charities locally, as well as Borneo, Costa Rica, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Laos & Thailand.  She shares her home with a rescue dog (currently looking for another one) & 2 rescue Burmese cats.

    Yasmin loves all aspects of being a Vet Nurse, she especially loves how every day is different and is always learning new skills. Yasmin loves animals of all shapes and sizes, with her favourite animal being a horse!Veterinary industry. I am a true blue country gal. In my spare time I like to compete in camp drafts, stockhorse events and work the family farm.

Woman in a pink shirt and cowboy hat standing with a black horse on a grassy area, with buildings and trees in the background.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    I started life in the northern beaches of Sydney doing my vet nursing studies at Ultimo tech, way, way back in the 80’s before computers or mobile phones existed !!  My young family and a beautiful boxer puppy moved to Alstonville 30 years ago we soon added 2 more kids and an assortment of pets to fill our home.  After the 2 legged kids went off to preschool and school I resumed my career and joined the family team at AVH in 2000. After 25 years on the job and being the second oldest and longest employee of AVH, that is a testament of what a great place it is!

    I currently share my life with my partner, 2 rescue cats one is a sweet moggy the other closely resembles scar faced claw🙀we also have 2 happy oodles and a big bunch of grandkids that visiting regularly! I’m also one of those crazy cat ladies as I look after other people’s cats at my cat boarding resort Catpackers well!!!😻

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    A born and bred Alstonville girl joined the team at Alstonville veterinary hospital back in 2019 after completing her Certificate IV in veterinary nursing. My love and passion for the agriculture and farming sector drew me towards a career within the Veterinary industry. I am a true blue country gal. In my spare time I like to compete in camp drafts, stockhorse events and work the family farm.

Person holding a Siamese cat indoors

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    An Alstonville local for over 20 years, I started my vet nursing journey pursuing work with wildlife. However, I quickly fell in love cats and dogs during his placement whilst study his Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, and later joined the Alstonville Veterinary Hospital team in 2022. I enjoy the pace and variety of experience vet nursing offers, and relish the opportunity for a challenge or chance to learn something new. When not working, I spend time volunteering and studying. I am also the happy owner of two small mischievous dogs, and am the willing slave to four feline overlords.

Veterinarian holding a small dog in an exam room.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    Sasha completed her TAFE veterinary nursing and animal care qualifications in 1997, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from University of Technology in 2002 before moving from Sydney to the Northern Rivers. She began working with Dr Mike in 2007 and has been an integral part of the Alstonville Veterinary Hospital family ever since. Starting as a casual nurse, Sasha was instrumental in developing and running the clinic’s first Puppy Preschool program. This soon developed to a full-time nursing and office manager role, before stepping back to focus on raising her own family. After completing a Certificate IV in Bookkeeping she hung up her vet nursing boots and today works part-time managing the administration, bookkeeping and financial aspects of the business.

    She is a registered BAS agent with the Tax Practitioner’s Board and runs her own small bookkeeping business supporting other local organisations, but her true passion lies in animals and nature, so being part of the dedicated Alstonville Veterinary team allows her to stay deeply connected to both.

A woman in a blue scrub top holding a baby echidna in her arms, inside a veterinary or medical setting with a microscope in the background.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

A person smiling and holding a dog by a rocky shore during sunset. The background shows ocean waves and a pink and blue sky.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    I joined the Alstonville team in 2023 while completing my studies in Veterinary Nursing. I’ve always had a deep passion for animals of all shapes and sizes. Gaining experience and confidence with all our furry friends, in our homes and on our beautiful planet. I enjoy all the finer things in life, crocheting, painting, playing guitar and getting out into nature in my spare time. I’m an old soul at heart. Vet nursing is my dream job, and couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

Our veterinary nurses

Woman in a floral dress sitting on grass, holding a black and gray dog, with a wooden fence in the background.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    Elise is a Northern Rivers local, moving to the area at a very young age and growing up here, she holds a wealth of knowledge and a love for the area and people. Elise's passion for animals also became evident at a young age, in particular, horses. Her free time was always spent either drawing or reading something revolving around horses, primarily Pony Pal and Saddle Club. Her dream when she grew up was to have a large property where she lived with all kinds of animals. Growing up, Elise had a large variety of animals such as a border collie cross cocker spaniel dog, a ginger cat, a budgie, cockatiels, rabbits, Guinea pigs... then her dream came true in her teenage years where she finally owned her very own horses.

    Elise was the ‘O.G original’ Tafe student of Alstonville Vet Hospital. She completed her Animal Studies Certificate whilst volunteering at our hospital and then became part of the team while completing her certification of veterinary nursing. Elise fell in love with hospital and team who she now calls her ‘work family’ and has never left.

Person kneeling in grass with two dogs, one black and tan, the other brown, surrounded by greenery.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    Yasmin joined Alstonville Veterinary Hospital team in 2011 while completing her Certificate II in Animal Studies and then completing her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (with 21 distinctions!)

    Yasmin loves all aspects of being a Vet Nurse, she especially loves how every day is different and is always learning new skills. Yasmin loves animals of all shapes and sizes, with her favourite animal being a horse!Veterinary industry. I am a true blue country gal. In my spare time I like to compete in camp drafts, stockhorse events and work the family farm.

X-ray of a bird showing skeletal structure with label "L".
Smiling woman sitting on a couch with two dogs, one on each side, in a covered outdoor area.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    Robyn completed her Veterinary Nursing studies when pen & paper were used, & information was gained from reading textbooks. She finds the most challenging part of the job navigating the computer program. Her passion is animal welfare, which has seen her volunteer with various animal charities locally, as well as Borneo, Costa Rica, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Laos & Thailand.  She shares her home with a rescue dog (currently looking for another one) & 2 rescue Burmese cats.

    Yasmin loves all aspects of being a Vet Nurse, she especially loves how every day is different and is always learning new skills. Yasmin loves animals of all shapes and sizes, with her favourite animal being a horse!Veterinary industry. I am a true blue country gal. In my spare time I like to compete in camp drafts, stockhorse events and work the family farm.

Woman in cowboy hat and pink shirt standing beside a black horse in a grassy area, with buildings and trees in the background.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    I started life in the northern beaches of Sydney doing my vet nursing studies at Ultimo tech, way, way back in the 80’s before computers or mobile phones existed !!  My young family and a beautiful boxer puppy moved to Alstonville 30 years ago we soon added 2 more kids and an assortment of pets to fill our home.  After the 2 legged kids went off to preschool and school I resumed my career and joined the family team at AVH in 2000. After 25 years on the job and being the second oldest and longest employee of AVH, that is a testament of what a great place it is!

    I currently share my life with my partner, 2 rescue cats one is a sweet moggy the other closely resembles scar faced claw🙀we also have 2 happy oodles and a big bunch of grandkids that visiting regularly! I’m also one of those crazy cat ladies as I look after other people’s cats at my cat boarding resort Catpackers well!!!😻

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    A born and bred Alstonville girl joined the team at Alstonville veterinary hospital back in 2019 after completing her Certificate IV in veterinary nursing. My love and passion for the agriculture and farming sector drew me towards a career within the Veterinary industry. I am a true blue country gal. In my spare time I like to compete in camp drafts, stockhorse events and work the family farm.

Person holding a Siamese cat indoors

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    An Alstonville local for over 20 years, I started my vet nursing journey pursuing work with wildlife. However, I quickly fell in love cats and dogs during his placement whilst study his Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, and later joined the Alstonville Veterinary Hospital team in 2022. I enjoy the pace and variety of experience vet nursing offers, and relish the opportunity for a challenge or chance to learn something new. When not working, I spend time volunteering and studying. I am also the happy owner of two small mischievous dogs, and am the willing slave to four feline overlords.

Woman holding a small dog in a veterinary clinic.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    Sasha completed her TAFE veterinary nursing and animal care qualifications in 1997, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from University of Technology in 2002 before moving from Sydney to the Northern Rivers. She began working with Dr Mike in 2007 and has been an integral part of the Alstonville Veterinary Hospital family ever since. Starting as a casual nurse, Sasha was instrumental in developing and running the clinic’s first Puppy Preschool program. This soon developed to a full-time nursing and office manager role, before stepping back to focus on raising her own family. After completing a Certificate IV in Bookkeeping she hung up her vet nursing boots and today works part-time managing the administration, bookkeeping and financial aspects of the business.

    She is a registered BAS agent with the Tax Practitioner’s Board and runs her own small bookkeeping business supporting other local organisations, but her true passion lies in animals and nature, so being part of the dedicated Alstonville Veterinary team allows her to stay deeply connected to both.

Veterinarian holding a wombat in a clinic setting.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

Woman smiling and holding a dog by a rocky beach at sunset

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    I joined the Alstonville team in 2023 while completing my studies in Veterinary Nursing. I’ve always had a deep passion for animals of all shapes and sizes. Gaining experience and confidence with all our furry friends, in our homes and on our beautiful planet. I enjoy all the finer things in life, crocheting, painting, playing guitar and getting out into nature in my spare time. I’m an old soul at heart. Vet nursing is my dream job, and couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

Our veterinary nurses

Woman sitting on grass holding a black and gray dog in front of a wooden fence, wearing a floral dress.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    Elise is a Northern Rivers local, moving to the area at a very young age and growing up here, she holds a wealth of knowledge and a love for the area and people. Elise's passion for animals also became evident at a young age, in particular, horses. Her free time was always spent either drawing or reading something revolving around horses, primarily Pony Pal and Saddle Club. Her dream when she grew up was to have a large property where she lived with all kinds of animals. Growing up, Elise had a large variety of animals such as a border collie cross cocker spaniel dog, a ginger cat, a budgie, cockatiels, rabbits, Guinea pigs... then her dream came true in her teenage years where she finally owned her very own horses.

    Elise was the ‘O.G original’ Tafe student of Alstonville Vet Hospital. She completed her Animal Studies Certificate whilst volunteering at our hospital and then became part of the team while completing her certification of veterinary nursing. Elise fell in love with hospital and team who she now calls her ‘work family’ and has never left.

Person kneeling with two dogs on a grassy field.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    Yasmin joined Alstonville Veterinary Hospital team in 2011 while completing her Certificate II in Animal Studies and then completing her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (with 21 distinctions!)

    Yasmin loves all aspects of being a Vet Nurse, she especially loves how every day is different and is always learning new skills. Yasmin loves animals of all shapes and sizes, with her favourite animal being a horse!Veterinary industry. I am a true blue country gal. In my spare time I like to compete in camp drafts, stockhorse events and work the family farm.

X-ray image of a bird's skeletal structure with extended legs and wings, featuring spine, ribs, and labeled with "L" on the side.
Woman in blue outfit sitting on a covered patio holding two dogs, with wooden furniture in the background.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    Robyn completed her Veterinary Nursing studies when pen & paper were used, & information was gained from reading textbooks. She finds the most challenging part of the job navigating the computer program. Her passion is animal welfare, which has seen her volunteer with various animal charities locally, as well as Borneo, Costa Rica, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Laos & Thailand.  She shares her home with a rescue dog (currently looking for another one) & 2 rescue Burmese cats.

    Yasmin loves all aspects of being a Vet Nurse, she especially loves how every day is different and is always learning new skills. Yasmin loves animals of all shapes and sizes, with her favourite animal being a horse!Veterinary industry. I am a true blue country gal. In my spare time I like to compete in camp drafts, stockhorse events and work the family farm.

Person in a pink shirt and cowboy hat standing next to a black horse on a grassy field, with buildings and trees in the background.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    I started life in the northern beaches of Sydney doing my vet nursing studies at Ultimo tech, way, way back in the 80’s before computers or mobile phones existed !!  My young family and a beautiful boxer puppy moved to Alstonville 30 years ago we soon added 2 more kids and an assortment of pets to fill our home.  After the 2 legged kids went off to preschool and school I resumed my career and joined the family team at AVH in 2000. After 25 years on the job and being the second oldest and longest employee of AVH, that is a testament of what a great place it is!

    I currently share my life with my partner, 2 rescue cats one is a sweet moggy the other closely resembles scar faced claw🙀we also have 2 happy oodles and a big bunch of grandkids that visiting regularly! I’m also one of those crazy cat ladies as I look after other people’s cats at my cat boarding resort Catpackers well!!!😻

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    A born and bred Alstonville girl joined the team at Alstonville veterinary hospital back in 2019 after completing her Certificate IV in veterinary nursing. My love and passion for the agriculture and farming sector drew me towards a career within the Veterinary industry. I am a true blue country gal. In my spare time I like to compete in camp drafts, stockhorse events and work the family farm.

Person holding a Siamese cat, both looking at camera, against a neutral background.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    An Alstonville local for over 20 years, I started my vet nursing journey pursuing work with wildlife. However, I quickly fell in love cats and dogs during his placement whilst study his Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, and later joined the Alstonville Veterinary Hospital team in 2022. I enjoy the pace and variety of experience vet nursing offers, and relish the opportunity for a challenge or chance to learn something new. When not working, I spend time volunteering and studying. I am also the happy owner of two small mischievous dogs, and am the willing slave to four feline overlords.

A woman holding a small dog with black and white fur, indoors.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    Sasha completed her TAFE veterinary nursing and animal care qualifications in 1997, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from University of Technology in 2002 before moving from Sydney to the Northern Rivers. She began working with Dr Mike in 2007 and has been an integral part of the Alstonville Veterinary Hospital family ever since. Starting as a casual nurse, Sasha was instrumental in developing and running the clinic’s first Puppy Preschool program. This soon developed to a full-time nursing and office manager role, before stepping back to focus on raising her own family. After completing a Certificate IV in Bookkeeping she hung up her vet nursing boots and today works part-time managing the administration, bookkeeping and financial aspects of the business.

    She is a registered BAS agent with the Tax Practitioner’s Board and runs her own small bookkeeping business supporting other local organisations, but her true passion lies in animals and nature, so being part of the dedicated Alstonville Veterinary team allows her to stay deeply connected to both.

A woman in a veterinary clinic holding a baby wombat

  • VETERINARY NURSE

Smiling person holding a dog near a rocky beach at sunset.

  • VETERINARY NURSE

    I joined the Alstonville team in 2023 while completing my studies in Veterinary Nursing. I’ve always had a deep passion for animals of all shapes and sizes. Gaining experience and confidence with all our furry friends, in our homes and on our beautiful planet. I enjoy all the finer things in life, crocheting, painting, playing guitar and getting out into nature in my spare time. I’m an old soul at heart. Vet nursing is my dream job, and couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

Our veterinary nurses

Person holding a small dog inside a veterinary clinic
Woman in floral dress sitting on grass holding a black and gray dog, wooden fence in background.
Smiling woman in blue scrubs sitting outdoors on a porch, holding two dogs on her lap.

  • I started life in the northern beaches of Sydney doing my vet nursing studies at Ultimo tech, way, way back in the 80’s before computers or mobile phones existed !!  My young family and a beautiful boxer puppy moved to Alstonville 30 years ago we soon added 2 more kids and an assortment of pets to fill our home.  After the 2 legged kids went off to preschool and school I resumed my career and joined the family team at AVH in 2000. After 25 years on the job and being the second oldest and longest employee of AVH, that is a testament of what a great place it is!

    I currently share my life with my partner, 2 rescue cats one is a sweet moggy the other closely resembles scar faced claw🙀we also have 2 happy oodles and a big bunch of grandkids that visiting regularly! I’m also one of those crazy cat ladies as I look after other people’s cats at my cat boarding resort Catpackers well!!!😻

  • Elise is a Northern Rivers local, moving to the area at a very young age and growing up here, she holds a wealth of knowledge and a love for the area and people. Elise's passion for animals also became evident at a young age, in particular, horses. Her free time was always spent either drawing or reading something revolving around horses, primarily Pony Pal and Saddle Club. Her dream when she grew up was to have a large property where she lived with all kinds of animals. Growing up, Elise had a large variety of animals such as a border collie cross cocker spaniel dog, a ginger cat, a budgie, cockatiels, rabbits, Guinea pigs... then her dream came true in her teenage years where she finally owned her very own horses.

    Elise was the ‘O.G original’ Tafe student of Alstonville Vet Hospital. She completed her Animal Studies Certificate whilst volunteering at our hospital and then became part of the team while completing her certification of veterinary nursing. Elise fell in love with hospital and team who she now calls her ‘work family’ and has never left.

  • Sasha completed her TAFE veterinary nursing and animal care qualifications in 1997, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from University of Technology in 2002 before moving from Sydney to the Northern Rivers. She began working with Dr Mike in 2007 and has been an integral part of the Alstonville Veterinary Hospital family ever since. Starting as a casual nurse, Sasha was instrumental in developing and running the clinic’s first Puppy Preschool program. This soon developed to a full-time nursing and office manager role, before stepping back to focus on raising her own family. After completing a Certificate IV in Bookkeeping she hung up her vet nursing boots and today works part-time managing the administration, bookkeeping and financial aspects of the business.

    She is a registered BAS agent with the Tax Practitioner’s Board and runs her own small bookkeeping business supporting other local organisations, but her true passion lies in animals and nature, so being part of the dedicated Alstonville Veterinary team allows her to stay deeply connected to both.

A person in a patterned shirt kneeling on grass with two dogs, one brown and one black, in a garden with green leafy plants.
Woman in scrubs holding a small animal, possibly a baby wombat, in a veterinary or medical facility.
X-ray of a bird showing skeletal structure with tag labeled 'L'

  • Yasmin joined Alstonville Veterinary Hospital team in 2011 while completing her Certificate II in Animal Studies and then completing her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (with 21 distinctions!)

    Yasmin loves all aspects of being a Vet Nurse, she especially loves how every day is different and is always learning new skills. Yasmin loves animals of all shapes and sizes, with her favourite animal being a horse!Veterinary industry. I am a true blue country gal. In my spare time I like to compete in camp drafts, stockhorse events and work the family farm.

  • Em Fitzgerald has been a member of the AVH since she could walk, and has been passionate about the work ever since.  She is now an experienced vet nurse specialising in wildlife care living in Hobart, where   she works at Bonerong Wildlife Sanctuary, Tasmania’s largest 24/7 Wildlife Rescue Service, and at Ten Lives, a dedicated cat shelter in Hobart. However, she continues to work at the clinic, travelling back to Alstonville to help out.  She is a beloved and valued presence by all the staff,  and she keeps Dr Mike in line.  In her spare time she is a keen mycologist, foster carer and musician. 

  • Robyn completed her Veterinary Nursing studies when pen & paper were used, & information was gained from reading textbooks. She finds the most challenging part of the job navigating the computer program. Her passion is animal welfare, which has seen her volunteer with various animal charities locally, as well as Borneo, Costa Rica, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Laos & Thailand.  She shares her home with a rescue dog (currently looking for another one) & 2 rescue Burmese cats.

Person holding a dog on a rocky coastal landscape during sunset.
Person holding a Siamese cat indoors.
Person in a cowboy hat and pink shirt standing next to a black horse on grass with buildings and trees in the background.

  • I joined the Alstonville team in 2023 while completing my studies in Veterinary Nursing. I’ve always had a deep passion for animals of all shapes and sizes. Gaining experience and confidence with all our furry friends, in our homes and on our beautiful planet. I enjoy all the finer things in life, crocheting, painting, playing guitar and getting out into nature in my spare time. I’m an old soul at heart. Vet nursing is my dream job, and couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

  • An Alstonville local for over 20 years, I started my vet nursing journey pursuing work with wildlife. However, I quickly fell in love cats and dogs during his placement whilst study his Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, and later joined the Alstonville Veterinary Hospital team in 2022. I enjoy the pace and variety of experience vet nursing offers, and relish the opportunity for a challenge or chance to learn something new. When not working, I spend time volunteering and studying. I am also the happy owner of two small mischievous dogs, and am the willing slave to four feline overlords.

  • A born and bred Alstonville girl joined the team at Alstonville veterinary hospital back in 2019 after completing her Certificate IV in veterinary nursing. My love and passion for the agriculture and farming sector drew me towards a career within the Veterinary industry. I am a true blue country gal. In my spare time I like to compete in camp drafts, stockhorse events and work the family farm.

Our nurses

  • A woman in blue scrubs sitting on a couch holding two dogs under a covered patio.

    Janice Lubrano

    VETERINARY NURSE

    I started life in the northern beaches of Sydney doing my vet nursing studies at Ultimo tech, way, way back in the 80’s before computers or mobile phones existed !!  My young family and a beautiful boxer puppy moved to Alstonville 30 years ago we soon added 2 more kids and an assortment of pets to fill our home.  After the 2 legged kids went off to preschool and school I resumed my career and joined the family team at AVH in 2000. After 25 years on the job and being the second oldest and longest employee of AVH, that is a testament of what a great place it is!

    I currently share my life with my partner, 2 rescue cats one is a sweet moggy the other closely resembles scar faced claw🙀we also have 2 happy oodles and a big bunch of grandkids that visiting regularly! I’m also one of those crazy cat ladies as I look after other people’s cats at my cat boarding resort Catpackers well!!!😻

  • A smiling woman in a floral dress sitting on grass, holding a black and gray dog, against a wooden fence.

    Elise Collins

    VETERINARY NURSE

    Elise is a Northern Rivers local, moving to the area at a very young age and growing up here, she holds a wealth of knowledge and a love for the area and people. Elise's passion for animals also became evident at a young age, in particular, horses. Her free time was always spent either drawing or reading something revolving around horses, primarily Pony Pal and Saddle Club. Her dream when she grew up was to have a large property where she lived with all kinds of animals. Growing up, Elise had a large variety of animals such as a border collie cross cocker spaniel dog, a ginger cat, a budgie, cockatiels, rabbits, Guinea pigs... then her dream came true in her teenage years where she finally owned her very own horses.

    Elise was the ‘O.G original’ Tafe student of Alstonville Vet Hospital. She completed her Animal Studies Certificate whilst volunteering at our hospital and then became part of the team while completing her certification of veterinary nursing. Elise fell in love with hospital and team who she now calls her ‘work family’ and has never left.

  • A woman holding a small dog with black, brown, and white fur and large ears in an indoor setting.

    Sasha Murchison

    VETERINARY NURSE

    Sasha completed her TAFE veterinary nursing and animal care qualifications in 1997, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from University of Technology in 2002 before moving from Sydney to the Northern Rivers. She began working with Dr Mike in 2007 and has been an integral part of the Alstonville Veterinary Hospital family ever since. Starting as a casual nurse, Sasha was instrumental in developing and running the clinic’s first Puppy Preschool program. This soon developed to a full-time nursing and office manager role, before stepping back to focus on raising her own family. After completing a Certificate IV in Bookkeeping she hung up her vet nursing boots and today works part-time managing the administration, bookkeeping and financial aspects of the business.

    She is a registered BAS agent with the Tax Practitioner’s Board and runs her own small bookkeeping business supporting other local organisations, but her true passion lies in animals and nature, so being part of the dedicated Alstonville Veterinary team allows her to stay deeply connected to both.

  • A person kneeling in the grass with two dogs, one black and one brown, surrounded by greenery.

    Yasmin Kranz

    VETERINARY NURSE

    Yasmin joined Alstonville Veterinary Hospital team in 2011 while completing her Certificate II in Animal Studies and then completing her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (with 21 distinctions!)

    Yasmin loves all aspects of being a Vet Nurse, she especially loves how every day is different and is always learning new skills. Yasmin loves animals of all shapes and sizes, with her favourite animal being a horse!

  • Woman in scrubs holding a small animal in a veterinary clinic.

    Emily Fitzgerald

    VETERINARY NURSE

  • Robyn Marshall-Jung

    VETERINARY NURSE

    Robyn completed her Veterinary Nursing studies when pen & paper were used, & information was gained from reading textbooks. She finds the most challenging part of the job navigating the computer program. Her passion is animal welfare, which has seen her volunteer with various animal charities locally, as well as Borneo, Costa Rica, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Laos & Thailand.  She shares her home with a rescue dog (currently looking for another one) & 2 rescue Burmese cats.

  • A person smiling and holding a dog on a rocky shoreline during sunset, with a colorful sky and trees in the background.

    Nikita

    VETERINARY NURSE

    I joined the Alstonville team in 2023 while completing my studies in Veterinary Nursing. I’ve always had a deep passion for animals of all shapes and sizes. Gaining experience and confidence with all our furry friends, in our homes and on our beautiful planet. I enjoy all the finer things in life, crocheting, painting, playing guitar and getting out into nature in my spare time. I’m an old soul at heart. Vet nursing is my dream job, and couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

  • Person holding a Siamese cat indoors.

    Josef Kohlemz

    VETERINARY NURSE

    An Alstonville local for over 20 years, I started my vet nursing journey pursuing work with wildlife. However, I quickly fell in love cats and dogs during his placement whilst study his Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, and later joined the Alstonville Veterinary Hospital team in 2022. I enjoy the pace and variety of experience vet nursing offers, and relish the opportunity for a challenge or chance to learn something new. When not working, I spend time volunteering and studying. I am also the happy owner of two small mischievous dogs, and am the willing slave to four feline overlords.

  • Person wearing a cowboy hat and pink shirt standing next to a black horse, outdoors with trees and buildings in the background.

    Mikayla Woods

    VETERINARY NURSE

    A born and bred Alstonville girl joined the team at Alstonville veterinary hospital back in 2019 after completing her Certificate IV in veterinary nursing. My love and passion for the agriculture and farming sector drew me towards a career within the Veterinary industry. I am a true blue country gal. In my spare time I like to compete in camp drafts, stockhorse events and work the family farm.