BLAYNEY VETS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Qualified Veterinary Nurse
Chloe Tickner started working at Blayney Vets while at still school. With a smile that's infectious and a personality that a bonus in any work place Chloe did her Certificate 4 in veterinary nursing here and now, years later, Chloe is able to move to any section of the practice- resuscitating puppies, assisting with orthopaedic surgery or being receptionist. Her special interest areas include clinical pathology and surgery. Away from work Chloe is a mum, has lots of animals and really really loves travel… luckily, she loves working with our lovely clients too and finding Reception very fulfilling .
Raised in the Blayney District, Howard is a University of Sydney graduate completing a special research year in Parasitology . His first 5 years of clinical practice was intensive small animal practice in Perth where he developed his passion and expertise for surgery and in particular orthopaedics. Howard was admitted to the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in 1981.During the 1980s Howard turned his hand to the production of sheep and cattle on family farms back in the Blayney District while carrying out veterinary work. In 1987 he purchased the Blayney Veterinary Hospital and set about turning it from the quiet single vet practice to the vibrant multi vet practice it is today. Howard's areas of expertise range widely from cattle and horse reproduction to parasitology, however over the last decades Howard has been at the cutting edge of orthopaedics ..fractured legs, cruciate surgery and the procedure of TPLO etc .Howard is a wonderful teacher, assists vets from across the state and has mentored many young vets over the decades .These days Howard is farming sheep and cattle in the Neville area and puts his Foot and Mouth Eradication experience into several Australian government committees concerning exotic diseases. His lifetime passion for sport means cycling all around the district and parts of NSW and Victoria. Super proud dad of the amazing Julia and Robert …and now Grandpa to James.
Jo graduated from the University of Sydney in 1990. In 1993 moved to Blayney to marry local health professional Richard Cheney and joined Blayney Vets -which was at that time just 2 vets and one nurse. From the beginning Jo worked across the species -from the largest of horses and bulls to the smallest of exotics. Over many years Jo has done most of the soft tissue surgery while maintaining her interests in Feline Medicine, Pharmacology and the medicine related to the aging of our pets. Education has been both an interest and a talent - be it work experience students, veterinary nurses or veterinary students. It extends to education of clients to enable them to have the best relationship with their animals that can be had. Its no surprise to see this interest lead Jo into the area of Animal Behaviour .A years study in 2022 led to a certificate in Behaviour Medicine and Jo continues to build on this knowledge. . Jo is now offering in-depth behaviour consultations for dogs and cats. She is active in a variety of community groups, visiting her two now grown-up young men and tending a huge and glorious garden overlooking Blayney. True joy, cuddles and invaluable lessons are gained from rambunctious young dog Wes and aging cat Jorgie.
Dr Kate joined the BlayneyVets team in 2022 .A very experienced and passionate small animal veterinarian Kate is well known across the Central West. Running a magnificent warmbloods "Henbury Sports Horses" horse stud with her husband Bill, Kate manages to fit in some periods of time with us. Horses are clearly a passion rather than a hobby and the following of her 4 day eventer "Angelina Gold" takes Kate around the country. Still, there is always time for photography, gardening[esp roses] and camping.
Dr Mackenzie joined Blayney Veterinary Hospital in February 2024 after graduating from the University of Sydney. A family background in beef cattle meant despite growing up in Sydney, Macca knew he wanted to settle rurally. His rural training enabled him to see veterinary practice across the state and he quickly fell in love with the Central Tablelands and all it has to offer..
Macca has special interests in surgery, radiology/ultrasound work and large animal work particularly cattle. He is passionate about helping owners to make the best decisions for their pets, as well as assisting farmers to improve welfare and productivity.Some highlights of Macca's training included research into Theileriosis in cattle, desexing programs for street dogs in Thailand and being voted " best all-rounder" by his university colleagues.
Outside of work Macca's passions include soccer, rugby league and making music with a variety of instruments. Free weekends will see him out hiking or helping on the family small cattle property.
Dr Maddison Sparkes joined Blayney Vets in September 2021 following her graduation from Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga. When Maddi did some student practical work with Blayney Vets she showed she was very talented and despite being Sydney raised, was destined to stay rural. Her interests reflect mixed practice-Large animal medicine and surgery, small animal reproduction and small animal surgery.
Blayney Vets encourages all vets to pursue their interest areas and Maddi is now PennHIPP certification qualified- the first vet in the Central West to gain this qualification. Maddi lives locally with her partner, Mr Pickles the cat and two young Hungarian Vizslas-Marli and Hudson. Marli and Hudson have taken Maddi into the show ring, into scent trialling and agility work. Still there is time for DIY projects, some painting, bushwalking and sitting with a good coffee with family and friends.
Dr Olivia Archer joined the team of Blayney Vets in September 2023 following graduation from Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga. Liv is a familiar face in the Central West, having grown up and schooled in Orange and spending her study breaks working on a large-scale dairy, Moxey Farm, near Cowra. Like so many of our young vets, Liv did some of her final year practical work experience with us and loved our " mix" of material and our lovely clients. Since arriving she has been involved in difficult calvings, pregnancy testing, geldings, alpaca surgery as well as the medicine and surgery of cats and dogs.
During her final year of university, she received Class 1 honours for her research project in the field of optimising calf health through colostrum management and received Australia Day and Commonwealth Day Awards in 2023 on behalf of the CWA for her research and dedication to her rural community.
In her spare time she is often chasing the tail of her beagle Rosie, swimming, playing water polo, and making time for dinner and coffee dates with friends and family in this beautiful region.
Job Titles:
- Veterinarian and Practice Owner
Dr Penny Ovenstone joined the Blayney Veterinary Hospital team in 2015. Penny is very familiar face, having been born and educated in the Blayney District. Penny has always been active in the local community and was awarded Miss Blayney Showgirl in 2010. After school, Penny headed to the University of Sydney to study and on graduation Penny headed to a practice in Muswellbrook specializing in equine lameness and podiatry. Penny then looked for broader professional experience and moved to the Crookwell Veterinary Hospital where she threw herself into all the challenges a mixed practice has to offer; sheep, horses, cattle and alpacas making up the majority of large animal patients. Penny has very broad experience ,having conducted pregnancy tests on thousands of cows, bearing accreditations for APAV, is Ovine Brucellosis Accredited, is a member of the Equine Dentist Association, has completed her Artificial Insemination and Animal Breeding Management certificate as just a few. Penny and her family live on a farm in the Blayney district. When not caring for two small people and creating new gardens Penny and her husband continue to ride and compete on their horses. Penny together with Will Berry, took over ownership of Blayney Vets at the end of 2021 to take it into the decades ahead as a family based small business with the support of the whole Blayney Vets team
A University of Sydney graduate of Veterinary Science with a research year in Clinical Pathology, Ruth worked in small animal practice in Perth, then Perth's Murdoch University Veterinary School as a clinician. Ruth was admitted to the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in 1981.Returning to the Blayney district in 1982, she changed direction and worked for ABC Radio Orange as a broadcaster for five fun years before she joined Howard in the venture of building up the Blayney Veterinary Hospital from 2 employees to the great multifaceted practice Blayney boasts of now. Enjoying country living and veterinary practice it was an enormous pleasure to receive the University of Sydney award for the top rural teaching veterinary hospital in 2008.
Apart from full time clinical practice Ruth has held local and state positions within the Australian Veterinary Association , Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW, the NSW Administrative Tribunal and the national Australian Veterinary Boards Council . Ruth has been awarded the Sydney University Veterinary Science Faculty Practice Partner Award (2008) Award, Blayney Shire Council Australia Day Award (2008) and the Paul Harris Fellow Rotary Award for Community Service [2011] as well as the Belle Bruce Reid Medal for outstanding Female veterinarians[2006], the AVA Seddon Award and in June 2024 was awarded the NSW Veterinary Board's Centenary Medal for services to the profession. All those things come second to being a super proud mum of Julia and Rob and Grandma to James.
Job Titles:
- Veterinarian and Practice Owner
Dr Will Berry was raised in the Bathurst district and started university in Sydney before feeling the Charles Sturt University Veterinary Science degree was for him. When visiting Blayney for University student placement Will realised this district and this practice was where he could use his talents. What is mixed practice? Well for instance Will pregnancy tests cows, gelds horses, carries out caesareans in cows and dogs , does TPLO bone surgery and takes socks out of the intestine of labradors .Will always had a particular interest in surgery. He has been mentored by Howard Thompson since coming to Blayney as well as undertaking further training in Advanced Surgery. Rugby fanatic and water polo player and great Dad and occasional gardener. Will and Penny Ovenstone took over the ownership of Blayney Vets in 2021 to continue the personal "family" based business and to take it into the decades ahead.
Job Titles:
- Qualified Veterinary Nurse
Job Titles:
- Qualified Veterinary Nurse
Job Titles:
- Qualified Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Nurse
Renee Morley is a fully qualified veterinary nurse who has been at BlayneyVets all her career. For MANY she has been integral to the running of the surgical and hospitalised areas of the practice …with talents particularly in the areas of orthopaedics and dentistry. Renee is able to anticipate instruments needed, radiographs needed, surgical approach that will be used- basically she is the surgeon's third and fourth arm. She has great animal handling skills, can use and maintain all the equipment, takes blood, runs tests, keeps immaculate records and has the most amazing observation skills. Basically Renee has been a rock behind the vets. Moving out of town to a larger block means even more animals at home but one of her greatest roles is being mum to two little boys.
Sue Chapman joined our receptionist team in 2022 . Sue is from a local family and very well recognised having worked in several businesses in the Bathurst and Blayney community in areas as diverse as human health and museums. Moving back to the Barry district in recent years , there is still time for grandkids, gardening, keeping up with current affairs and motor sports. Learning the ins and outs of the veterinary work, Sue is a great happy co-worker and keen to help clients and their pets. We are very lucky to have her join us during these very busy days. Make sure you introduce yourself to Sue .