Ellen has worked at Southside Veterinary Surgery since 2009 after graduating from the University of Queensland in 2008.  In 2022 Ellen & Lee-Anne took over ownership of the clinic from Helen and Wade to forge a new future for Southside Vets. Ellen is an exceptional and experienced veterinarian and has a particular interest in feline medicine and soft tissue surgery. She has a strong passion for innovative and modern medicine and implementing these recommendations and practices into our clinic protocols. She is always looking for ways to ensure we are offering gold standard practice. Outside of work, Ellen enjoys horticulture/propagation, gardening in her amazing yard, cycling, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Much of her love for the outdoors comes from growing up on the Atherton Tablelands. When she does have a quiet moment, she spends it with her partner Dylan, her three cats Pickles, Banksy and Tabitha, and her dogs Saf and Sully. We think she sets the best example for our other vets.

Lee-Anne started working at Southside in February 2008 and has never looked back. After finishing up her certificate in veterinary nursing, she gradually took on more of the administrative side of things and is now our head nurse. In 2022 Lee-Anne took on an exciting new role as practice owner with Ellen. She has a special interest in wildlife and dedicates much of her spare time to rehabilitating wild birds. Lee-Anne loves continuing education, so you know your pets are always in safe hands with her. When she isn't working with animals, she focuses her attention on her husband, Kelvin, and their two children, Kayla and Liam. She enjoys anything outdoors including hiking and playing cricket. Her spare time is also consumed maintaining her many fish tanks and looking after her birds and pet guinea pig, Oreo. Lee-Anne brings a lot of experience to our team and is a great asset. 

Helen graduated from UQ with first class honours in 1993. She worked in Victoria for a few years and then travelled and worked around Australia for the following 3 years before buying the clinic with her now husband, Wade, back in May 2000. Together they have helped their little 3-man clinic grow to be the success it is today. Southside now has over 20 staff members and a very loyal following of wonderful clients and their furry companions. Helen has always ensured the clinic feels family orientated and is always looking for ways to ensure we are offering not only gold standard practices, but the best for 'your' pet. Helen has a particular interest in medicine, soft tissue surgery and dermatology. Outside of work, Helen enjoys spending time with her 3 (no so little) kids, Lucas, Emma and Tyler. She has a small menagerie of pets at home. Two dogs, Bizy and Tipsy; a cat, Monsoon; an eclectus parrot, Ruby Rose and a bearded dragon lizard, Mewah. She also enjoys reading and walking. . 

Wade graduated from UQ with honours in 1993. He worked as a dairy vet in Victoria for 3 years and then did some tuberculosis testing in the Kimberleys as he and Helen travelled around Australia. Wade and Helen eventually settled in Cairns and bought the clinic in 2000. He and Helen married and had 3 beautiful kids, Lucas, Emma and Tyler. Together they have helped their little 3-man clinic grow to be the success it is today. In recent years, Wade has been able to take a step back from the clinic and enjoy some of his personal hobbies including fishing, spearing and his newest hobby is breeding fish. Wade is still very much in the background helping run the clinic and particularly enjoys coming in for his orthopaedic surgeries and helping our other vets grow their surgical skills. 

Mikayla graduated from JCU in 2016. She spent her first year practicing as a veterinarian in Northern NSW but ultimately decided to move back up to warm Far North Queensland. Mikayla joined our team in October 2018 and has a particular interest in soft tissue surgery and internal medicine. She is also interested in developing her ultrasonography skills. She is great at educating clients and enjoys communicating with them about their pets health. Outside of work, Mikayla loves hiking, water-skiing, fishing and just generally spending time outdoors. Mikayla recently built her first home with partner, Adam and their accident-prone staffy, Miley. Mikayla is a very valuable team member!

 

Kayla graduated from JCU in 2019 and joined our team as a new-graduate in January 2020. We have loved watching Kayla grow and evolve as a vet over the past couple of years. Kayla has a genuine love for animals and is often caught talking to her patients in a sweet voice. Kayla has a particular passion for small dogs and birds. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her partner, Liam and their dogs Ruth and Walter and kitties Martha and Morris. Kayla is a wonderful asset to our team.

Anita is an experienced vet who graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2005. She worked as a new-graduate at a small animal practice in Melbourne and then went on to do some mixed animal practice in regional Victoria. Anita made the move to Cairns in 2012, working in both small animal practice and as an emergency veterinarian. She joined our team in June 2020 and has a particular interest in internal medicine, soft tissue surgery and guinea pigs. She is also interested in furthering her skills in ultrasonography and reproductive medicine. Outside of work, Anita is busy looking after four children! She is an avid runner and loves the mental challenge of competing in events such as the Great Pyramid Race and Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival. She enjoys camping, hiking and just spending time with her family and fur pets. Her menagerie of pets include three dogs, Emmy, Finn and Koda, two cats Tundra and Zahlia and many guinea pigs. Anita is passionate that pets constitute an important part of your family, and feels privileged to be trusted to look after your family members. She has been a wonderful asset to our team. 

We were pleased to welcome Brooke to our team in September 2021. Brooke graduated in the same year as Dr Kayla and has been living and working in Bowen. Originally from Babinda, Brooke enjoys fishing, camping and spending time with her rescue dog Gracie. Brooke has a special interest in orthopaedic surgery, ultrasound and radiology & has been a wonderful addition to our team here at Southside Vet Surgery. 

Tamasyn has been a qualified Veterinary Nurse since 2007, and her passion for animals is still as strong as ever. She has two cats named Pom Pom and and Lucy, two border collies called Ivy and Hugo, a chihuahua called Pretzel and a cheeky parrots Kibbles & Shark. Tamasyn takes care of the clinic stock and all your special orders. She recently finished a nutritional nurse course and runs a complimentary weight watchers’ clinic.  She also provides dental checks and physiotherapy instruction for our orthopaedic surgery patients. She is also one of our puppy preschool teachers. Outside of work, Tam loves spinning fairy floss, baking, reading, camping and spending time with her daughter Willow and partner, Matt. Tam brings a lot of experience and value to our team.

Zoe joined our team in November 2014. She broadened her love of animals throughout the years by taking in a variety of wildlife from razorback pigs to galahs. Zoe is our reminder nurse, helping keep your pets up to date with their healthcare and preventatives. Zoe maintains our strong relationship with multiple rescue groups and assists with any stray kittens that walk through the door. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her son, Jaxon, on their family farm. She has a menagerie of pets including dogs Bruce & Love, cat, Jemima and duck, Swazi just to name a few. Zoe is a great asset to our team.

Heather Ford has been a Veterinary Nurse since 2006 and joined our team in 2016, after 8 years of travel around Australia with her Husband, Phil. She is originally from Sydney but settled in Cairns. Heather particularly loves surgical nursing. Outside of work, Heather enjoys traveling and camping with her family including her children, Billy and Eden. They have a very well-loved cattle dog called Ella. We love having Heather on our team.

Asami joined our team in 2016. She fell in love with Australia's flora and fauna after moving from Japan in 2000. Asami has a few qualifications under her belt including a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and her certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. Asami has previously worked as a wildlife keeper as well. Aside from being one of our nurses, Asami is also our qualified groomer. She is very popular and often booked out a month or so in advance. She often shares photos of her furry clientele on our Facebook page. Outside of work, Asami enjoys spending time with her husband Rezan and beautiful little boy Kou. She also has a very cute toy poodle called Ume. Asami is a mad kite surfer and is at the beach, any chance she gets. She is such an asset to our team and we're sure all her grooming clients would agree.

Samm joined our team in September 2018 after a long career in early childcare. Samm is now a certificate IV qualified veterinary nurse. Outside of work, Samm is a competitive hockey player. Any spare time is spent with her gorgeous and very well-loved dachshund Millie and naughty but adorable cat Penny. She is a wonderful asset to our team. 

Helle is originally from The Netherlands and her first language is Dutch. She moved to Australia in 2006 and completed her certificate in veterinary nursing in 2018. Helle loves working with animals and had wanted to follow this career path since she was young. Helle particularly likes surgical nursing. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring Cairns. Helle is a great asset to the team. 

Nat has a decade of nursing experience under her belt and became fully qualified in 2015. Natalie has recently become a fully registered veterinary Nurse, which is a big deal! Nat decided to join our team in February 2021, and we are so pleased she did. We feel as though she has been a part of our team for much longer and is a great asset to Southside. Nat particularly enjoys surgery and emergency nursing. Outside of nursing, Nat enjoys the outdoors, camping and spending time with her family. Nat has two wonderful dogs called Captain and Gypsy that keep her busy on her days off. 

Ange joined the clinic in December 2020 after completing a few work placements with us. She is currently completing her certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. Ange lives on the tablelands, so has a long drive to work every day. If that isn't dedication, we aren't sure what is. She has a pet poodle called Jedi, a ridgeback cross called Zuko and a very protective parrot called Arno. Outside of work, Ange enjoys art, motorbike riding and camping. We are pleased to have Ange on our team. 

Megan lived on a farm in NSW where she enjoyed riding horses and nursing potty calves. She made the move to sunny Cairns in January 2021 before joining our team in February. Megan is currently studying her certificate IV in veterinary nursing, and she enjoys every aspect of the job. In her spare time, Megan enjoys camping, being outdoors and playing with her three sausage dogs, Sizzle, Sausage and Mini Dog. 

 

Sally moved to sunny Cairns from Adelaide in 2022 and decided Southside Veterinary Surgery would be a perfect fit for her. Sally is an experienced veterinary nurse and has a special interest in dentistry and surgery. Outside of work, Sally spends time with her dogs Lucy & Pippa and her partner Tim. Sally is also an avid professional photographer!