Gary Ashton B.V.Sc. Dip. Appl. Sc.
Gary is the Principal Veterinarian. Born on a dairy farm at Dayboro, a one pub town 60km northwest of Brisbane. Loved life on the farm and was always a keen observer of animals, including the platypus in Terrors Creek. Moved to the outskirts of Brisbane for a high school education, but still kept returning to Dayboro, again on a dairy farm and working on the pineapples for some extra dollars. He has a broad love of agriculture in general. His thoughts were if you want to eat, have clothes on your back, then you have an interest in agriculture.
After high school took a scholarship to the Queensland Agricultural College (now part of University of Queensland) to study a general agriculture course. Learnt to study effectively there. Three years into the course (leaning towards animal production) realized would have to compete with veterinarians. Decided to apply and was accepted into Veterinary Science at University of Queensland. Gary graduated at the end of 1979 and took his first job at Numurkah near Shepparton Victoria in a dairy practice. Tough diagnosing diseases that don’t exist in Queensland first on clinical exposure.
Then worked at Kerang in mixed practice before taking up full time position at Mt. Gambier, South Australia in a dairy mixed practice. Gary did some goat embryo transfer work before taking up a position as a locum at Campbelltown Veterinary Hospital. He has not managed to make it back to Queensland yet.
Gary enjoys small animal medicine and surgery but loves farm animal work as he understands both the medical and financial sides of animal production.
Work is mostly fun, it is great to be able to help both the animals and their owners with their problems. Gary is still learning.
Current pets- ‘Lizard’ a Kelpie/Border Collie x working dog, plus Lizard's grandaughter 'Spider', also a grey mare ‘Katie’ & her gelding foal ‘Kabbie’.
Jorid Nordaker
My name is Jorid Nordaker and I am originally from Norway but now I have three Australian children with my Australian partner. At home we have many fur and feather pets; a housecat ‘Makrell’, a Jack Russel ‘Áskepott’, a Shetland pony, ‘Sabre’ and two laying hens ‘Spottý and ‘Flighty. After working casually in the Campbelltown area for some time I am grateful and very excited to join Campbelltown Veterinary Hospital’s team.