Public Holidays... Not for a Vet Nurse
Admin Team
Heidi is one of our longest standing staff members. Things started casually and progressed very quickly. She has become accustom to being called into work for emergencies in the middle of her days off. But it is obvious by her time with Yass Valley Veterinary that she loves her job and wouldn't change it for the world!
I remember my job interview at YVV very well.. I hobbled in on crutches and was immediately directed to the morning tea room and poured a cup of tea. It was a very informal chat to say the least but I knew straight away that I wanted to be part of the team.
Growing up with a mixture of pets and livestock, I always felt that helping animals was what I was meant to do and sure enough, a few days later I got the call that I was the successful applicant and was to start the following week. Which made my first official day at Yass Valley Veterinary the same day as my 18th birthday!
Being a vet nurse isn’t just a job-it’s a way of life. Many special occasions/ public holidays get interrupted by animals not realising it’s meant to be a day off for us!!
For example..
My birthday- got called in for a caesarean.
Easter- Dog badly hurt itself when it fell off the back of a truck.
Mother’s day dinner- had to assist with a horse transport truck fire on the high way.
Taking my father for surgery- had to help out with a horse that had fallen down on the float on the way over.
Christmas- Cat bitten by a snake.
And one time I was in the middle of a friend’s wedding rehearsal when I got the call to head in to work for an emergency.
The list goes on and on and it’s the same for all of our other dedicated staff. I guess my first official day on the job should have been a pretty good indicator of how my life was about to change!
I have met so many lovely clients and their pets over the years I feel privileged to be part of their lives. I have seen clients and their pets and their best and their worst, at all hours of the night and day whether it be for a simple stitch up of a wound, assisting with a caesarean or a late night calving.
People often ask why I have stayed at Yass Valley Veterinary for so long. Making a genuine difference in the lives of our clients and patients is an amazing experience.
Knowing that at the end of the day you have helped out a distressed patient, an anxious client, saved a life, helped with bringing new life into the world or just meeting a new puppy and its excited family is what gets me out of bed everyday. I also tell them it helps that I work in an amazing team, with lovely clients and their wonderful animals- and of course, it really is the best job in the world!
Sadly, we have had some staff changes recently at Yass Valley Veterinary. After 3 years, Dr Issy Card has taken a small animal position in Canberra. Our recently married Dr Anne Cusack is relocating to Wagga for her husband’s work, and Dr Natalie Flew is also leaving us to work in an emergency afterhours clinic in Canberra with more suitable hours for her new family. We will all miss these three amiable, dedicated and competent veterinarians and wish them well in their future pursuits. Dr Stuart Williams, after almost 33 years at Yass Valley Veterinary (15 years as a partner with Dr Peter Gibbs and 15 years as sole principal), is resigning from his full-time position at the end of February. He is looking forward to having a break away from afterhours on call and managing a large staff across two hospitals. Working as a volunteer veterinarian in Australia and overseas, travelling with his wife Cath and spending some much needed time at home and in the garden, is on the agenda for Stuart in the short term. Dr Tamara Butler, who has been with the business for 17 years, will be promoted to the Lead Vet role when Stuart resigns. Dr Nicole McKenzie will take on the Tamara’s Veterinary Manager role, while Ms Carrie Luckie will retain the Practice Manager role. We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and care that each of our departing veterinarians has given to our clients and patients, and their departures will mean a temporary change to our service availability. Be assured that we are actively and enthusiastically recruiting veterinarians to join our team. We’d like to introduce Dr Josh Tannen, a small animal veterinarian & surgeon, who will be with us until April. This experienced and easy-going locum will be very welcome by the team. However, in the short term, we will be operating with a smaller team, so there may be occasions where we are unable to provide the full range of services that are currently provided. What does this mean for you? • At times, we may need to rotate Saturday clinic closures. • There will be evenings or weekends when we do not have an after-hours veterinarian available. We will always do our best to keep you informed. Any changes to opening hours or services will be communicated via our social media pages and through notifications on the Yass Vet App. As always, if you require after-hours assistance when a veterinarian is not available, please call us on 6226 4444. Your call will be answered by a team of qualified nurses who will triage your situation and direct you to the closest appropriate emergency hospital if needed. We truly appreciate your understanding, patience, and ongoing support during this period of transition. Our commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality care for your animals remains at the heart of everything we do.
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