Alistair joined EDVS as a new graduate in 1988. He left in 1991 for the Big OE and returned in 1993 after travelling and working in Britain and South Africa with a wife and hardly any hair.
Married to Tessa, his interests outside work include Golf, Fishing, watching too much TV, telling bad jokes (or telling good jokes badly), music, surfing and watching far too much cricket.
Now living at the beach at Oakura, Al commutes to Eltham each day and stays in town when on call. He finally did something of worth by catching a 30lb Snapper from his Kayak on Labour Day 2005 - and he won't shut up about it.
Our longest standing British import. Giles qualified in the UK in 1986 and worked in farm and companion animal practice for 9 years. From the Orkney Islands up by the Arctic Circle down to the Scottish Borders, Giles came to Eltham in 1995 and now specialises in farm animal and equine work.
An F.E.I international veterinary judge in Endurance riding, Giles took up the sport himself a few years ago with his part Arab "Grape" and is enjoying racing (when not falling off) distances over 80km with some success. Married to Linley, they have a son named Alex and a daughter, Emma
Jim joined our team in 2003 after running his own succesful practice in Stratford for 10 years. Jim amazes us each day with his enthusiasm, capacity for work and good humour.
A vet with vast experience in equine and dairy medicine, Jim is an invaluable addition to our team and always ready for a chat about racing, rugby and politics.
I have been here since December 2000.
I spent my first 6 years as a fulltime clinical vet working mostly with dairy cows but also companion animals, beef, sheep and horses as the opportunity came up.
Since 2005 I've been increasingly involved in dairy research. I completed a post graduate diploma in 2009 covering research and analysis skills (epidemiology) and started a doctorate looking at Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) in 2007, which is due to be completed in 2012. Since 2008 I've been working fulltime on various research projects including the BVD project, but still doing afterhours clinical work and the odd visit in spring.
Linley qualified from Massey in 1993. Since then she has worked in Taranaki, doing both farm animal and companion animal work, with a special interest in Deer medicine.
Outside of work she enjoys horse riding (hunting and endurance) and competing in Dog agility competitions with Kal, her German Shepherd.
Married to Giles, with a young son named Alex and a daughter named Emma, Linley works 2 days a week juggling part-time vet work and full-time motherhood.
Started at EDVS in March ’94. Teresa works for us part-time 3 days a week, juggling full-time farming and parenting to help us out.
Married to Shawn, Teresa has two boys called Jack & Liam, who keep her busy and will probably become All Blacks when they are older, or at least play for Kaponga like their Dad.
Given that Teresa & Shawn have recently bought their first farm, she is hoping the boys earn big money as All Blacks when they grow up to pay it off!
Polly graduated as a vet from Liverpool University more years ago than she cares to admit. She worked in general practice the UK for three years before studying for an M.Sc. in Tropical Animal Production and Health at Edinburgh University. After that she worked for a year in Somalia and fifteen in Zimbabwe before moving to Taranaki in 2001.
Polly is fascinated by dairy cows as metabolic athletes and the challenges of optimizing grass production and utilization. Her husband Geoff runs their small farm at Toko. He keeps her feet on the ground and makes sure she doesn’t get too carried away with exciting but impractical ideas.
Polly works for us full time. Instead of hobbies she has a husband, three children, a house, a garden and a farm.
This good looking fellow with a frightening resemblance to James Franklin of The Black Caps is Adrian.
I'll let him introduce himself:
"Hi there. I've been at Eltham since finishing at Massey 2006.
I am from Palmerston North (surely “Pukekura Park” has got to beat “The Square” for the new version of Monopoly), but I have extended family on dairy farms around Taranaki which I have spent a lot of holiday time on while growing up.
My interests cover all aspects of veterinary science. Outside of work I enjoy cycling, running, fishing, all water sports, tramping, hunting and small bore target shooting. I look forward to meeting you all as time goes on."
A welcome return to EDVS, Lindsay left the profession in the mid-nineties to become a Baptist minister, having worked at Eltham for 20 years prior.
He's now back and initially worked 3 days a week, re-learning the ropes as a vet. Having re-acquainted himself with veterinary medicine he is now fulltime again and loving it.
Other than being greyer than the last time we saw him (and recently became a Grandad), Lindsay hasn't changed a bit and we are thrilled to have him back.
Hi my name’s Leon. I hail from the small town of Paeroa in the Waikato and have been an avid supporter of Waikato Rugby and The Chiefs through thick and thin (Mainly thin).
I’m interested in all aspects of veterinary medicine including dairy, dry stock, equine and the odd small animal here and there. My interests outside of work include fishing, diving, hunting and most sports involving a ball of some description.
P.S. I'm the one in a stupid pink jacket annoying Scott Styris
Erika is our newest vet. I'll let her introduce herself:
Hi, my name is Erika. I hail from Waitaha, a small valley on the West Coast near Hokitika where I grew up on a dairy farm. I enjoy all kinds of veterinary work, including small animals, equine and getting out on farms for dairy and drystock work.
In my spare time I love being outdoors, and enjoy running, tramping, kayaking, cycling, netball and horse riding, (or relaxing in the sun with a good book when I’m tired after all that!)
I look forward to meeting you all, either through work or while out exploring the beautiful ‘naki.