Our Team

Dr 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. 

Dr 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.

Dr 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.

Dr Paul Underwood BVSc

Paul, his partner (a Zoo Veterinarian) and their two beautiful young children settled in Kyneton in 2013.  Since graduating from the University of Melbourne in 1999 Paul has gained a vast array of small animal clinical experience overseas and in metro, regional and remote Australia including emergency and reproductive work.  Having a particular fondness for cats, Paul also undertook post graduate studies in feline medicine through the University of Sydney.    Paul loves nothing more than the challenge of a complex case when at work.  When not at work Paul enjoys spending time with his family, cycling, bushwalking, paragliding, gardening, cooking and cheesmaking just to name a few.

Dr Courtney Simmons BVBio/BVSc

Courtney grew up on a small hobby farm near Kinglake riding horses and showing stud cattle before completing her studies at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga NSW. She has spent the last 6 years practicing in the Goulburn Valley before moving to Castlemaine. She enjoys all aspects of small animal practice but is particularly keen on diagnostic imaging.

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…to name a few.

Lisa Tancredi

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

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 a Grooming appointment with Lisa please phone 0405 020 797

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.

Amanda Penrose

Amanda started her Certificate IV in Vet Nursing while living in Newcastle, but completed it when she came back home to Victoria in 2019 to spend more time with her family and their 16 year old Border Collie Saff. Over the years Amanda has dabbled in a few different career paths, but  found her true calling as a vet nurse and can’t see herself doing anything else. She has always had a strong affinity with animals and wanted to help in some way. Volunteering with rescued farm animals and wildlife over the years, but one day would really love to work with rescued pangolins and sun bears in Asia. When Amanda is not at work she loves getting out and about in nature, especially to go hiking and camping.

Support staff (animal attendants)

Sarah Lynch

Sarah recently moved to castlemaine from the mornington peninsula. She has a passion for wildlife, and documentary photography , working as a photographer before coming to Castlemaine vet. Sarah has been a wildlife rescuer for 3 years and runs her own photography business. Sarah is currently studying cert 2 in animal studies at Bendigo Tafe and will then begin her certificate in Veterinary Nursing.

Merinda Kuckhahn

Merinda lives on a block just outside Castlemaine with her hubby, two Shepherds Besch and Polly and her little old guy Pan, the blind Maltese x Shihtzu.
She has spent the last 6 years working at Hilltop Boarding kennels and is currently studying with the National Dog Trainers Federation.
She loves gardening, op shopping and spending time with her fur family.