We are here for you & your pet

At the Tallangatta & Kiewa Veterinary Clinics, we have your pet's best interest at heart - because we care and have a desire to make a difference. We are all animal lovers and own pets ourselves, so we understand that it can be a daunting and stressful time when your pet needs to visit the vet. But rest assured, you are in great hands. 

 

All of our veterinarians and nurses are compassionate, caring, knowledgeable and skilled. The team has grown quickly over the last few years, but we are all committed to providing high standards of care to our patients and are all good mates. Feel free to check out our team below.

  

Meika Skuse

Senior Veterinarian and Director (BVSc BVBio)

Meika graduated from Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, and has worked in mixed practice before moving here in 2015. Meika enjoys all aspects of her job - mixed practice means that each day is different and the variety keeps you on your toes!

Meika grew up on a sheep and cattle farm in NSW, with stock horses and kelpies too. She spends more time nowadays on the overall running of the practice, but can still be found at either clinic or out on farm - her interests are in mare breeding, surgery in dogs and cats, and obstetric emergencies in cattle. Meika has done further veterinary training in equine reproduction, dentistry and lameness. She is also a PregCHECK accredited cattle pregnancy tester, recognised with the Australian Cattle Veterinarians.

Meika, her husband Joe, their 3 kids and "Pickle" the Jack Russell Terrier enjoy camping, bike riding, and all the culinary delights that the North East has to offer. Meika is also a very accomplished cook!


Joe Skuse

Senior Veterinarian and Director (BVSc BVBio)

Joe Skuse hails from Queensland originally and has worked in northern and north-west NSW, before moving here in 2015. Joe has a particular interest in cattle medicine and is mostly found out on farm these days. However his experience in rural mixed practice means he is involved in a bit of everything!

Joe has done further training in equine dentistry and lameness, is a skilled examiner in bull fertility and is an accredited cattle pregnancy tester with the Australian Cattle Veterinarians. Joe is a Countdown Mastitis advisor and has completed further training in Repro Right which investigates dairy herd fertility. Joe is passionate about sharing his knowledge with local farms, often facilitating information days on calf management, herd health, and disease prevention. 

Joe has settled into Victorian life, spending plenty of spare time on mountain bike tracks and more recently road bikes with his mates. He is a keen footballer, with history in almost all codes, though feels he has hit retirement age for playing, so watches instead! Joe enjoys all sports including squash and tennis, and loves kayaking during summer and going on camping adventures with Meika and their 3 children.


Jack Killalea

Senior Veterinarian and Director (BVSc BVBio)

Jack can be classed as "semi-local" to the area, growing up with his family in Wagga Wagga and also graduating from Charles Sturt University. His strong interests in cattle medicine and surgery mean Jack can be found more commonly on-farm, however he does enjoy greeting the small animals at the clinic which help keep the days very interesting. Jack has completed further training in Repro Right, allowing investigations in dairy herd fertility and reproduction.

Jack and his wife Dani spent some time locuming in James Herriot's territory in North Yorkshire, UK before settling down in Tallangatta in 2021. Jack enjoys bush walking and camping in our picturesque countryside, as well as bike riding with friends. He enjoys both playing and watching football (go the Blues!), but has now hung up his boots. 


Dani Killalea

Senior Veterinarian and Director (BVSc BVBio)

Dani hails originally from Western Sydney growing up on a horse stud with a couple of dogs and a bird. It was here that her passion for caring for animals grew, fast-forward to completing her veterinary studies at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. After working at several mixed animal, small animal and emergency hospitals over the years in Australia and the UK, Dani followed Jack and settled into the pretty town of Tallangatta. You will find Dani based at the clinic most days, as her interests are in small animal medicine, surgery and ultrasonography. However, she loves getting out for emergency ambulatory work (e.g. colics, calving) to keep things interesting!

Dani enjoys spending time exploring our region with her family, Jack and daughter Eliza, including bush walks, gardening and tasting local produce. Their two dogs, Pip and Reggie are also keen to get in on the action!


Lauren Turner

Veterinarian (BVSc BVBio)

Lauren graduated from Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga in August 2016, joining us from East Gippsland where she grew up on the family farm running beef cattle and sheep. She has a passion for horses, working dogs and farm life in general. Lauren enjoys following a pet's journey from a youngster into old age, as well as the variety that comes with being a mixed-animal veterinarian! Her interests are in mare reproduction, and working with cattle producers in individual health and medicine. 

Outside of work, Lauren has been involved with the Tallangatta Netball Club, having played numerous grand finals over the years, being awarded the Best and Fairest Player 2022 (C grade) and co-captaining in previous years. Lauren can also been found paddleboarding on the beautiful Hume Weir with her friends, horse riding on her steed "Danny" the Stock Horse, and chasing waterfalls in our area.

 


Chelsea Crake

Veterinarian (BVSc)

After graduating in 2018 from James Cook University in Townsville, Chelsea made the trip down south and hasn't left since! She particularly enjoys driving around our region for farm animal visits, enjoying the countryside and getting to know the locals while on farm. Chelsea's interests are in emergency medicine and surgery, and she has undertaken further training in abdominal ultrasonography which has allowed further investigation of complex cases.

Chelsea's best friend and side-kick "Poppy", a well-behaved and funny Groodle, often accompanies her on camping adventures in the Victorian High Country, out swimming and paddleboarding on the Hume Weir, and taking advantage of the plethora of wineries in the Rutherglen & King Valleys.


Verity Bennett

Veterinarian (BVSc)

Many of you may recognise Verity's face as she has returned from maternity leave after giving birth to her son in July 2023, and we are glad to have her back! After graduating in 2009, Verity began working with us in early 2010 but caught the travel bug in 2015 and enjoyed many adventures over the next 3 years. In that time, she set off to the Northern Territory, India and Mongolia to do voluntary vet work and spent more time in Mongolia working with a veterinary NGO training local veterinarians. After this, Verity spent 12 months travelling and locuming around Australia at a variety of clinics including mixed animal, small animal, equine and dairy practices. In 2017 Verity set off to New Zealand to work in a dairy practice on the South Island. Verity rejoined our practice after this, bringing a vast amount of knowledge and experience to the team. Verity's interests are in dairy and cattle medicine, herd health and small animal surgeries.

Outside of work, Verity knows her way around the dance floor with rock n roll dancing, but particularly enjoys travelling and camping with her family, including big hiking trips. Verity also is an avid gardener and a great cook!


  

Vivienne

Senior Vet Nurse (Cert IV Veterinary Nursing)

Viv joined us early in 2017, coming to us from a busy small animal clinic in Wagga NSW. Her passion for country life is what drew her to the Tallangatta and Kiewa Veterinary Clinics, and we welcome her experience and enthusiasm. Viv is originially from a farm at Burrumbuttock, and so has fit in well with our rural workplace. She has a Golden Retriever "Nimble" who keeps her busy.

Viv enjoys the challenges of mixed practice, and does a stella job organising the clinics for smooth day-to-day running. She is a wealth of knowledge and a very dedicated vet nurse. She loves making a difference to very sick animals and nursing them back to health so they are able to be reunited with their family.

 


Stacie

Senior Vet Nurse (BSc (Agriculture))

Stacie joined the Tallangatta and Kiewa Veterinary Clinics in October 2016. A local girl from Tangambalanga, she is enjoying working with plenty of familiar faces in our clientele, including dairy farmers she has previously worked for. 

Stacie has completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree, a Diploma in Business, Certificate 3 in Animal Studies and is currently undertaking her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. She has become a key team member here, working hard at both clinics with a genuine love and empathy for animals. Her previous experience in a pet store gives her a wealth of knowledge on product range too, so ask her for advice when next looking for pet food, shampoos or flea products. Her own dog "Dash" and cats "Ginny" and "Luna" enjoy living on small acreage where they help Stacie and her daughter Gracie out in the vege patch, feeding the cows or collecting the eggs.


  
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