Devoted. Caring. Passionate. The team at Midwest Vet Centre thinks of you and your pet like family. Because we are all united by the love we share for our faithful companions.
Directors
-
Natalie WoodsVeterinary Nurse & Client Care Representative
-
Tara Craft, BVScHead Veterinary Surgeon, Feline Doctor & Clinic Cat Advocate
Natalie Woods
Name: Natalie Woods
Role: Veterinary Nurse & Accounts Manager
Experience: Animals have always been Natalie’s passion and have played a big part in her life, so it is no surprise that she ended up as a veterinary nurse. Natalie is always bringing home fosters in all shapes and sizes to help out our local rescue organisations and is dubbed the clinic’s “Professional Puppy Cuddler”
Qualifications: Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing
Pets: The local residents at Nat’s are Yogi the Bulldog puppy, Miley the Maltese, The Sheep Clan, Chickens, Ducks, Geese and Luna the Turkey. They all help her out to make any foster family members feel at home before heading to their new forever homes.
Tara Craft, BVSc
Name: Dr. Tara Craft, BVSc
Role: Head Veterinary Surgeon, Feline Doctor & Clinic Cat Advocate
Experience: Tara graduated from the University of Sydney in 2008 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science. After working in Dubbo, she moved to Geraldton in 2012 with her Husband. Tara has a special interest in cats and has done further studies since graduating to hone these skills. She also has a high interest in surgery, with experience and further training in orthopaedic surgeries, but her passion lies in soft tissue surgery. She loves Geraldton and loves raising her family in our wonderful community.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc), Australian Government Accredited Veterinarian
Pets: Kelpie called Jazz and two Tonkinese cats called Kwazii and Smudge
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
-Anatole France
Veterinarians
-
Suellen Taylor, BSc BVMSVeterinary Surgeon
-
Kat Smith, BVScEquine Veterinarian
-
Stacey Russell BSc DVMVeterinary Surgeon
-
Lexi Burgemeestre, BSc BVetBioVeterinarian
-
Holly Carter, BSc DVMVeterinarian
-
Jordan McAlpine, BVSc, BVetBioVeterinarian
-
Mia Quinton, BSc DVMVeterinarian
Suellen Taylor, BSc BVMS
Name: Dr. Suellen Taylor, BSc BVMS
Role: Veterinary Surgeon
Experience: Suellen graduated from Murdoch University in 1993 and has worked with the Midwest Vet team since 2011. Suellen also works at our local TAFE as the Coordinating Lecturer of Animal Care. She has experience in large and small animal care, and is an active member of the board for Mid West Cat Shelter.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS)
Pets: Digby the Koolie, Murphy the Koolie, Abi the Tabby Domestic Shorthair and Blax the Quarter Horse.
Kat Smith, BVSc
Name: Dr. Kat Smith BVSc
Role: Equine Veterinarian
Experience: Dr. Kat has returned to Midwest Vets after a couple of years to raise her two children. Dr Kat’s special interest is in equine reproduction and stud medicine, but can attend to any of your equine needs. Dr Kat is excited to be back in the team!
Qualifications: Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc)
Pets: Maisie the West Highland Terrier, Wookie the Birman Cat and Blue the Standard Bred
Stacey Russell BSc DVM
Name: Dr. Stacey Russell (BSc DVM)
Role: Veterinary Surgeon
Experience: Stacey graduated from Murdoch University in 2019. Stacey is a Geraldton local, being born here and growing up on her family farm before heading to Perth for university. She returned to Geraldton to work as she loves the friendly people and the variety that mixed practice brings. She loves promoting fear-free veterinary visits and making your pet feel at home. She has an interest in both small and large animal surgery, however, her favourite animals to treat are cows!
Qualifications: Bachelor of Science (BSc), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Pets: Dusty the staffy
Lexi Burgemeestre, BSc BVetBio
Name: Dr. Lexi Burgemeestre (BSc BVetBio)
Qualifications: Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc), Bachelor of Veterinary Biology (BVetBio)
Holly Carter, BSc DVM
Name: Dr. Holly Carter (BSc DVM)
Qualifications: Bachelor of Science (BSc), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Jordan McAlpine, BVSc, BVetBio
Name: Jordan McAlpine (BVSc, BVetBio)
Experience: Jordan graduated from Charles Sturt University in 2019. Jordan is a Badgingarra local, growing up on the family prime-lamb production sheep and cereal cropping farm before heading to Wagga Wagga, NSW, for university. She has worked at multiple clinics prior to starting at Geraldton and has a strong passion for whole farm medicine and integration of animal and cropping productions. Coming to Geraldton to work was an obvious choice given family living in town, the welcoming and strong local community, and large mix of animals able to be seen. She has an interest in both small and large animal medicine, however, her favourite animals to treat are sheep and rats!
Qualifications: Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc), Bachelor of Veterinary Biology (BVetBio)
Pets: MBL the Australian Stockhorse x Thoroughbred and, Mika and Sebastian the Domestic Short Hairs
Mia Quinton, BSc DVM
Name: Mia Quinton, BSc DVM
Qualifications: Bachelor of Science (BSc), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
“Time spent with cats is never wasted.”
-Sigmund Freud
Nurses
-
Hannah GreysonHead Veterinary Nurse
-
Susan HogbinVeterinary Nurse
-
Roxanne YatesVeterinary Nurse
-
Shay CraineVeterinary Nurse
-
Leonie CukelaVeterinary Nurse
-
Bree GerlachVeterinary Nurse
-
Elise PearsonVeterinary Nurse
-
Sam BellVeterinary Nurse
-
Cheyenne DalyVeterinary Nurse
-
Hanna ShepherdVeterinary Nurse
Hannah Greyson
Name: Hannah Greyson
Role: Head Veterinary Nurse
Experience: Growing up on Christmas Island, Hannah has always had an affinity for unique animals and cases. Wanting to become a vet in the future, Hannah is with us to gain the experience she needs, and cuddle some puppies along the way.
Qualifications: Cert III Animal Studies and Cert IV Veterinary Nursing.
Pets: Callie the Kelpie
Susan Hogbin
Name: Susan Hogbin
Role: Veterinary Nurse
Experience: I have always wanted to work with animals since a very young age. My study was completed at Geraldton TAFE to qualify as a Vet Nurse in 2009. I started at Midwest Vet in April 2021 and am enjoying all aspects of the work. At home I have two dogs, a pug named Cocco and an Australian Bulldog named Ned. I also have a couple of horses and enjoy working with them and riding when time permits.
Qualifications: Certificate IV Veterinary Nursing
Pets: Cocco the Pug & Ned the Aussie Bulldog
Roxanne Yates
Name: Roxanne Yates
Role: Veterinary Nurse
Experience: Joined Midwest Vets in January 2014, after qualifying as a vet nurse in 2013 from our local TAFE. Roxanne grew up in Nelspruit – South Africa and moved to Australia in 2005. Roxanne has always been passionate about caring for animals and as a child wanted to work in a zoo. Roxanne has recently returned from maternity leave and is loving being back in the team.
Qualifications: Cert IV Veterinary Nursing.
Pets: Paris the Chihuahua Cross and Ash the Siamese cat.
Shay Craine
Name: Shay Craine
Qualifications: Cert IV Vet Nursing
Leonie Cukela
Name: Leonie Cukela
Qualifications: Cert IV Vet Nursing
Bree Gerlach
Name: Bree Gerlach
Qualifications: Cert IV Vet Nursing
Elise Pearson
Name: Elise Pearson
Qualifications: Cert IV Vet Nursing
Sam Bell
Name: Sam Bell
Qualifications: Cert IV Vet Nursing
Cheyenne Daly
Name: Cheyenne Daly
Qualifications: Cert IV Vet Nursing
Hanna Shepherd
Name: Hanna Shepherd
Qualifications: Cert IV Vet Nursing
“Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.”
-Albert Einstein
Support Staff
Dora the Clinic Cat
Name: Dora the Clinic Cat
Role: Chief Mischief Maker (and Dermcare’s WA Clinic Cat of the Year 2016 and 2019!)
Experience: Joined Midwest Vets in March 2013 after being brought in as a stray. The staff fell in love with her and managed to persuade Dr Peter to adopt Dora as the practice cat. Dora is at the practice every day, knows the daily routine well and is particularly enthusiastic about ward rounds feeding time! She likes to help herself to the teams’ lunches without asking. She’s very cheeky, but we love her all the same! Dora also took out the WA title for Dermcare’s Clinic Cat of the Year 2016 and 2019. We’re very proud. For your daily dose of Dora, check out her own Facebook page Dora the Clinic Cat
Qualifications: Catificate IV Veterinary Practice Management
Pets: Staff at Midwest Veterinary Centre
Mckenzee Jones
Name: Mckenzee Jones
Role: Kennel Hand
Experience: Cert II Animal Studies, Cert III Animal Studies
About: Always been passionate about animals. Started at Midwest Vet Centre in 2021. Am studying Cert IV in 2022. Aim to become a vet nurse at Midwest Vet Centre and am most excited to work with large/farm animals and dogs. In my free time I enjoy sports, camping, and going to the beach. Always lived in Geraldton.
Pets: Caesar & Meeka the dogs, and Wally the Weiro.