PRACTICE MANAGER

What’s something outside of work that brings you joy?

My dogs bring me immense joy. I have dachshunds, and they are quirky, demanding, and loving little space invaders. Animals have always been a part of my life, including cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, sugar gliders, rats, mice, birds, fish, snakes, lizards, frogs, stick insects, spiders, giant cockroaches, and silkworms. However, dogs have always held a special place in my heart, and I can't imagine my life without at least one.

If you weren’t doing this job, what would you be doing instead?

I'd probably still be grooming dogs. About 10 years ago, I decided to retrain as a Veterinary Nurse and ended up studying Dog Grooming at GoTafe in Werribee. I've groomed dogs for a large pet chain store, a boarding kennel, and from my home. I semi-retired when Covid hit, but I still groom for family and friends, mostly for the love of it and to keep my skills current.

What’s a fun fact about you that might surprise people?

I'm not sure if it's considered a "fun" fact, but earlier in my career, I became the first female Fitter and Machinist in Victoria. This was back in the mid-1980s when women were encouraged to enter non-traditional trades. It was a challenging decision to take on an apprenticeship in this field, both physically and mentally, but I'm glad I persevered. It led me down quite a few different career paths, each bringing opportunities to learn new skills.

Coffee order or go-to comfort drink?

I couldn't skip this question! My go-to coffee order is a double shot, extra hot latte but I drink way too much coffee, so I recently changed my order to just a normal extra hot latte to cut down on my caffeine intake.  My other coffee order, although not coffee, is an extra hot Chai Latte, I prefer the infused chai but I'll also drink the powdered chai.