Meet The WOODGRANGE Team

BVMS, MRCVS, MANZCVS, DIPLOMAT ECVS, EBVS (Specialist Equine Surgeon) - Director

We are led by specialist equine surgeon Dr John Russell, who graduated from the University of Glasgow. Following graduation John spent many years practicing in some of the best equine hospitals in the world. John is a Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons and is considered an expert in  equine surgery. John also provides extensive knowledge and experience in the poor performance of sport horses and race horses. John is a licensed pilot and takes every opportunity he can to combine his work and hobby and flies his Cessna aeroplane around the state visiting patients.

BVSc - Associate Veterinarian

Charlie hails from the world famous heath of racing in Newmarket. He graduated from Bristol University in England. Charlie is our racetrack and sport horse veterinarian who services some of the best horses in the country. Charlie travels from Cranbourne, Pakenham, Fingal, Flemington, Ballarat and Werribee servicing his clients at the major racetracks. Charlie has an incredible skill set in optimising equine performance. Charlie is a keen golfer away from work and takes every opportunity to get out on the green. 

BVMBVS BVMedSci MRCVS - Associate Veterinarian

Ceri is our reproduction, foal medicine and poor performance veterinarian and is a graduate of The University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom. Ceri has been fortunate to work alongside some of the most experienced repro veterinarians in both the UK and Australia and has independently grown the repro services available at Woodgrange including all artificial insemination, embryo transfer and foaling down services. Ceri is an avid horse rider with a focus in the sport horse industry. Ceri also lives for adventure and can be found hiking as many mountains as she can in her free time with her dog Flo.

BVM&S MRCVS - Associate Veterinarian

Izzie is a 2022 Edinburgh University graduate and has completed an 18 month hospital internship at Hambleton Equine Clinic in North Yorkshire before joining the team at Woodgrange. Izzie's veterinary ambitions are in equine reproduction and equine anaesthesia as well as ambulatory practice. Izzie competes 2* eventing and plays hockey in Mornington away from work.

BVMS, MRCVS, MACVSc, DIPLOMAT ECVS, (Specialist Equine Surgeon) - Visiting Surgeon

We are fortunate to be frequented by visiting surgeon Dr Tom Russell who is a 1993 graduate of Glasgow University. Tom has worked in some of the biggest practices and Universities across the world.  Tom is now based in Bendigo and provides his surgical expertise at many equine hospitals across Australia. Tom attends all major Australian Thoroughbred Yearling Sales as well as servicing many of the largest Thoroughbred Studs in the country. Outside of work Tom is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu enthusiast.

BVSc, MS, Dipl.ACVIM, Dipl.ACVECC (Specialist Internal Medicine and Emergency Critical Care) Internal Medicine Consultant

Brett is our internal medicine consultant who is on call to assist with all of our critical care medicine cases. Brett graduated from Massey University in New Zealand. Brett completed a 3-year residency in large animal (equine) internal medicine at the University of Illinois followed by a 2-year fellowship in large animal emergency and critical care at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Centre. Brett has a masters in equine exercise physiology and is board certified with the American Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Veterinary Nurse (Anaesthesia)

Linda (left) is our head nurse with extensive experience in the equine sector. Linda has assisted some of the best surgeons in Australia and has  advanced her certification in Equine Anaesthesia. Linda is an established dressage rider regularly competing at HRCAV Level 1 competitions and is currently training Medium with her OTT Dash. Linda has recently taken up hiking some of Australia's most breathtaking hikes and can be found on her holidays in some of the most remote locations she can find.

DipBus BBus- Practice Manager and Director

Melissa began and built Woodgrange Specialist Equine Hospital (formerly The Horse Vet) alongside Dr John Russell in 2017. With many years experience in business management Melissa manages the practice and accounting. Melissa trains and competes professionally in the Show Horse industry and in particularly loves the retraining and competing of thoroughbreds off the track.However you are more likely to find her these days raising her 2 beautiful girls Ariella and Adeline whom she shares with Dr John. 

Veterinary Nurse

Carly (right) is our surgical veterinary nurse who comes from many years of experience in equine practice, particularly equine surgery. Carly is an incredibly hard worker and assists all of our vets in all departments with her amazing horse skills. Carly is a certified riding instructor and has a strong passion for her riding school and students. Carly has off the track thoroughbreds that she retrains to do dressage and jumping. In her free time you will find Carly spending time with her busy family and riding her horses every chance she gets.

Stable Manager

Aymee is our stable manager with experience in overseeing some very prominent equine centres. Aymee provides the highest level of care to all our patients with their dietary, grooming and medical care catered to individually. She keeps our Recipient Mare herd under control with all of their care managed daily. Aymee is also an established horse rider focusing on combined training and attending the week long trail in the high country every year. Aymee is very busy away from work raising her twin nieces.

Veterinary Nurse

Tina began as one of our stable and grounds staff whom takes the highest care of all the equines and has now transitioned to veterinary nursing where she is completing her studies with Gipps Tafe. Tinas particularly interested in small animal nursing and equine reproduction nursing .Tina has many years of experience with handling and competing horses from show horses to show jumpers. Away from the hospital Tina enjoys supporting her family in their sporting pursuits of swimming and dog showing.