Our Team

Dr Rob Heath BVSc(Hons) MRCVS GPCert SAM.

Rob was born and raised in Africa, where he graduated top of his year and had the opportunity to operate on animals as diverse as lion, elephant and leopard cubs. He worked in the UK for 12 years where he gained wide-ranging experience in a variety of small animal practices. He has a special interest in feline and canine internal medicine, in which he has gained further postgraduate qualifications, as well as ophthalmology.

Rob and his family arrived in Australia in January 2007 and are now proud to be Australian citizens.

Dr Jenny Eades BVSc(Hons).

Jenny was raised in McDowall and attended McDowall Primary School and Clayfield Girls College. She graduated from the University of Queensland in 1999 with honours. She worked in Mackay before returning to McDowall to set up and run the practice in 2002. She has provided exceptional care to our clients throughout the last eight years and is well loved and respected by all.

Jenny has a special interest in preventative healthcare and is a skilled surgeon, as well as being one of the nicest people you will ever meet!

Dr Tara O'Connell BVSC(Hons).  

Tara was born and bred in Aspley and went to Clayfield Girls College and UQ where she graduated with a Bachelor Of Veterinary Science with first class honours in 2005. Over the past six years she has gained a wide range of experience working in small animal practice in the UK and Brisbane, where she has built up a strong following due to her clinical ability and her outgoing, friendly and empathic personality. We are thrilled to have her join the practice where she will complement our strong focus on exceptional veterinary care and client service.

Tara has a special interest in dog and cat internal medicine and ultrasonography, and is currently undergoing further postgraduate training in this field. She is currently (temporarily!) pet less, so is having to get her fix of dog and cat pats at work!

 Emma Brewster VN.

Emma qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1993 with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK. She and her family immigrated to Australia in 1998 and she has been working at McDowall Veterinary Practice since its inception in 2002.

Emma is a highly skilled veterinary nurse with a warm, outgoing personality which has ensured that she has become close friends with many of our clients over the past eight years. She can recognise most of our patients by sight as they walk the neighbourhood streets and what she doesn’t know about McDowall and its pet population isn’t worth knowing

Jessica Shelley BSc. (Widlife Biology) Graduate Diploma in Music.

Jessica is a UQ graduate in wildlife biology and is also an accomplished violinist with a Graduate diploma in Music. She has been fulfilling her passion for animals by nursing since 2006. She has been at McDowall Veterinary Practice since 2009 and has quickly become an intregral part of the team. Her efficiency and organisational skills are greatly valued and keep us all on our toes! She has a Maine Coon cross called "Ralph" and enjoys horseriding. Jess is also a skilled groomer.

Rachel Rainbird.

Rachel has recently joined us at McDowall Veterinary Practice. She started training as a veterinary nurse several years ago before taking time out to have a family. She has a very full life looking after three kids, 2 dogs (Scooby - a Border Collie and Maddy - a Beagle) , a cat (Zebedee - a black and white moggie) ,oh, and a husband too! She is excited to be realising her dream of working with pets and is looking forward to meeting our family of clients and friends.  

Suzanne Gray.

Suzanne immigrated from the United Kingdom in 2004 and is the newest addition to the McDowall Veterinary Practice team, joining us on a part time basis to finally pursue her life-long dream of veterinary nursing. She is currently enrolled in training for her Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing. She is a passionate animal lover with a special interest in all things feline, from big cats to the smaller kind , including two she is mum to - Poppy & Chester -  AKA Badie due to his mischievous nature.

Laura Ayson.

Laura started her veterinary career volunteering at various shelters and has recently completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. Whilst studying she began work experience at McDowall Veterinary Practice and is now a fully fledged member of the team. She lives with a little chihuahua called "Nilly" and would love to own a cat in the near future. In the mean time, she'll have to content herself with cuddling all the cats that visit the practice!