Our Team

Yvette Berkeley BVSc (Hons), BA (Hons), Practice Principal

Yvette graduated from The University of Queensland in 2002, then  spent 5 years in mixed practice on the Isle of Man, Wales and England.  While there, Yvette’s holidays were spent volunteering for Nine Lives in Greece and SPANA in Morocco, providing vet care for work animals and neutering stray cats. Since returning to Australia she has concentrated on small animal practice with a keen interest in ophthalmology, medicine and surgery. Yvette lives with her family and animals on 10 acres in Mckenzie Hill. She has a passion for the cats in Greece and Greek food, and continues to support Nine lives in Athens and smaller welfare groups throughout the Greek islands to neuter strays. 

Belinda Gibbs BVSc, MACVS

Belinda has been a practicing vet for the past 14 years. Belinda Grew up on a dairy farm in Stanhope & focused her career in mixed practice, initially at Maffra Victoria, then onto the UK based in York. She then began a 4 year career path change in Emergency Medicine at the Essendon Animal Accident & Emergency Centre. During this time Belinda completed her memberships in Emergency Medicine & Critical care. November 2012 saw Belinda, husband Paul and their then baby Olive, move to Kyneton and in March 2013 start at Castlemaine Vet Clinic.

Michelle Williams BVSc

Michelle grew up on a hobby farm in the northwest of England. Her family emigrated to Western Australia once she finished high school. There she completed her veterinary degree and graduated from Murdoch University in 2002. Since graduation Michelle has lived and worked in central Victoria caring for pets and farm animals. Michelle has one cat called Spencer, one dog called Ellie and two small children. She is a keen mountain biker and loves riding Bailey the Quarter Horse.  Michelle enjoys all aspects of general practice but has specific interest in small animal medicine, anaesthesia, pain management and the care of elderly animals. Michelle is accredited to perform the pre-export preparation of cats and dogs travelling overseas.

Andrea Khong DVM, PhD

Andrea was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia. In 2008 she completed a PhD in Viral Immunology and went on to enjoy a fulfilling career in medical research. She then turned her sights to Veterinary medicine and graduated with a Doctorate of Veterniary Medicine from Murdoch University. In 2019 she moved to Melbourne with her husband and cat Remy to begin practising as a small animal vet. Andrea has a special interest in surgery and palliative care, and enjoys working with owners to achieve the best possible outcome for them and their pets.

Nurses and office staff

Reception

Jade Frost

Jade had been nursing for two years in Melbourne before moving to Castlemaine and starting at CVC in 2013.  She has a particular love and interest in birds after working with West Brunswick Avian Vets. At home Jade has many adopted animals, including Marty the sheep, her dogs Beau and Joe, and Stevie the cat… just to name a few.

Lisa Tancredi    

Lisa, our fabulous dog groomer, is also part of our reception team from Wednesday to Friday.

Kristy Dwyer

Kristy moved to Mandurang from Melbourne 6 years ago to enjoy a tree change with her husband and three children. She has recently completed her Cert 3 in Animal Studies. Kristy helps out on reception Monday and Tuesday.

Tegan Nicholl-Caddell

Tegan recently moved to Castlemaine with her partner, daughter and four rescued fur babies. On
retirement as a professional dancer Tegan decided to follow her passion for all things animal,
completing a short course in Animal Nursing at Box hill Institute, a Diploma of Science at Deakin
University and is currently completing a Bachelor’s degree in Animal and Veterinary Bioscience at La
Trobe University. Tegan works at the practice on Saturdays. She is enjoying getting to know the
locals and their pets

Nurses

Amanda Vlassis Cert IV Small animal, Cert IV Equine

Amanda has been nursing for 17 years. She has previously worked at the Lort Smith Animal Hospital and Werribee Equine Centre. Amanda has been at CVC for 4 years. She also volunteers for Animals Australia and has a keen interest in Animal Welfare. Amanda has three dogs, three cats and five horses.

Jess Sinclair

Jess has been nursing in the Castlemaine and Macedon area for the past 5 years. Her love of working with animals started while growing up on a farm in North West NSW. She currently owns 2 dogs, a rescue cat and chickens which are all great company for her animal loving daughter Gracie.

Eva Evans  VN BSc

Eva has been a Vet Nurse  for over 20 years spending most of that time at the University of Melbourne Vet hospital helping final year Vet students gain confidence and skills in anesthesia. Eva spends her time looking after both her two legged and four legged family on her mixed farm and eco tourism business. In her spare time, Eva enjoys trail riding, camping and reading.

Practice Manager

Alison Maclaren CA AGIA, B Comm

Alison is a Chartered Accountant and Governance specialist with a degree majoring in accounting, commercial law and economics.  After a corporate audit career involving lots of travel, Alison, her partner and daughter settled on Castlemaine as their home along with their substantial animal family.  From the United Kingdom originally, Alison has an interesting history pre her corporate career including volunteer work with reef protection organisations and animal welfare shelters in Asia and Australia.   Alison has a great love of all things equestrian stemming from her Grandfather who was a champion ploughman in Scotland with his teams of Shire and Clydesdale horses.

Grooming

 Lisa Tancredi

Lisa provides a wonderful professional grooming service at Castlemaine Vet Clinic. Her services include Summer & Winter Clips, Tidy-ups, & nail trims. Neat practical grooms are achieved with care and patience. To make an appointment with Lisa please phone 0405 020 797