The Team at East West Vets
Dr Kamani Dissanayake
Kamani graduated in Vet Science in Sri Lanka 15 years ago. After 10 years of practice in Sri Lanka, Kamani, with her husband and their two children, took the big step of emigrating to Australia. There is a world-wide vet shortage and Australia welcomed her with open arms!
Kamani has since successfully completed her Australian veterinary qualification and had experience in both country and suburban vet clinics.
Since joining East West Vets full time in 2021, she has added herbal and acupuncture qualifications to her science degree. Kamani has a calm and loving approach which complements our gentle natural alternatives. She is also an excellent surgeon!
In 2023 Kamani became the owner and manager of East West Vets.
Dr Ann Nevill
Dr. Ann Nevill graduated from Melbourne University in 1973. Over the next 20 years she practiced as a vet, married and raised three boys.
Her growing disenchantment with conventional western medicine led her to investigate alternative approaches, and she studied and graduated in acupuncture with IVAS in 1991. Subsequently she explored a variety of energy modalities including kinesiology, Qi Gong, flower essences, reiki and nutrition.
With several years studying herbs and some time working in a hospital in China, these form the basis for most of the alternatives offered at East West Vets, which she founded in 1994.
In 2023, having run the clinic for almost 30 years, Ann stepped aside from her principal role, passing management of the clinic to Kamani. Ann continues to provide her expertise as a consultant to the clinic, specialising in complex cases and difficult surgeries.
Dr Peter Anderson
Peter has been a small animal vet for over 40 years. He started out as a government vet right out of vet school. He then moved on to open his own small animal practice in Parkdale from which he has now retired to work part time at East West Vets.
Apart from being a vet, he is passionate about Land Rovers, drinking chai and shopping online for Land Rover parts. Peter has a calming presence around both animals and people.
Dr Murray Clarke
Murray worked as a country vet before moving to Melbourne to set up his own small animal practice. He became the vet of choice for the Rottweiler fraternity, managing with ease not only their unpredictable temperament but also their notoriously difficult cruciate ruptures.
Murray has now retired from his own practice, but keeps his hand in by working at East West Vets on Fridays, mainly doing surgeries and advising on complex cases. We are lucky to have the benefit of his experience and skill.
Dr Brendan Atkin - Osteopathy Consultant
We are saddened that our treasured & talented osteopath Brendan Atkin has passed away after a long battle with cancer.
We all wish him peace and are truly very grateful for the knowledge and care he brought into our clinic.
Our condolences go out to his beautiful family and friends
❤️
After graduating from Victoria University with a Masters of Osteopathy, Brendan worked in Melbourne as a clinician treating humans and here at East West Vets treating animals, with a spell in the United Kingdom to complete a further Master's level study program at the University of Wales, specialising in Animal Osteopathy applied to the dog.
Justine Garnes - Animal Osteopath
Justine Garnes M.Ost is a Human and Animal Osteopath and has been working with animals since qualifying at the Osteopathic Centre for Animals in 2012, working for Colne Valley Vets Practice and carrying out her own home and farm visits in the UK.
In 2014 she volunteered at the Animal Aid Shelter in Rajasthan in India treating severely injured street dogs, donkeys, goats and cows.
She loves treating animals to help them function at their best using osteopathy, joint articulation, massage and stretching. Justine regularly treats dogs for arthritis, nerve issues, limping and lameness, as well as objective symptoms such as difficulty jumping in and out of the car, a change in character and the natural musculoskeletal symptoms of ageing.
Justine works on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2-6pm.
Raya Moloney - Animal Osteopath
Raissa (Raya) Moloney is an Osteopath trained in treating musculoskeletal ailments of both humans and animals. Since graduating with a Masters of Osteopathy from RMIT in 2006, she has worked in her own human business and after having helped in a wildlife rescue in Bendigo, recently formalised her interest in animals by completing a Graduate Diploma in Animal Biomechanical Medicine at Box Hill Institute.
Passionate about her craft and sharing knowledge with students, Raya is on the teaching team of the Animal Biomechanical Medicine course and also a Clinical Educator for the Osteopathy course at Victoria University. In her spare time, Raya loves reading, enjoys an active lifestyle with her 2 kids and husband and loves cuddles with her cat Audrey.
Penny Fitzgerald - Kinesiology Consultant
Penny Fitzgerald is the Kinesiologist and Emotional Practitioner at East West Vets . She has been practicing Kinesiology for 7 years and has recently extended her practice to include 'The Emotion Code'.
An Emotion Code kinesiology treatment for your pet will relieve anxiety; fear and calm over-emotional animals. It can stop anti-social and/or aggressive behaviour and leave your pet relaxed, calm and happy.
It works by relieving blockages in your pet’s qi (chi) or life energy, caused by trapped emotions – emotional baggage. Once the blockage has gone, qi can flow around the body smoothly and uninterrupted, allowing the body to restore itself naturally.
Charlie has stopped biting his brother’s tail and barking when his owner comes home from work. Louis is not the anxious dog he was, Rascal is standing up for himself and not hiding away, and Aston no longer screams when his owner leaves him.
Penny is available for consultation on Tuesdays between 1.00pm and 5.00pm.
Dr Harold Pook - Ultrasound Consultant
Dr Harold Pook graduated from Melbourne University in 1979. He undertook an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Saskatoon from 1983-1986.
During the next 9 years Harold held a clinical and teaching position as Assistant Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at the Guelph University, Canada.
He has been teaching and performing diagnostic ultrasound across Melbourne for 14 years.
Sally Dickenson - Bowen Therapist
Sally is an accredited Bowen Therapist for both humans and animals. She has been working with companion animals since 2000.
Through her own personal journey, Sally has learned how emotions and beliefs influence the bodies physical well-being, Sally lives with her cat Lucinda and in her spare time sings in a Kirtan band
Jacki
With experience in wildlife and reptile husbandry, rescue and rehabilitation, Jacki joined the team in 2007 to expand her knowledge to companion animals.
In addition to her role as a Veterinary Nurse, Jackie makes all the products in our food therapy range. Jacki has 3 children and many fur, feathered and scaled babies
Emily
Emily joined the team in 2020 and has since completed her certificate IV in veterinary nursing. She has a particular passion for chihuahuas, guinea pigs and loves to collect teacups.
Joey
Joey joined the team in 2020. She came to Australia from Malaysia 4 years ago. After completing a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Monash University, she is currently enrolled at the University of Melbourne as a second year veterinary student. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, horse riding and martial arts. Joey has 2 dogs, a conure and a mini pony.
Helena
Helena joined the team in 2019, and has now completed her certificate IV in veterinary nursing. When she’s not working she enjoys hanging out with her two beautiful horses and dog!
Kyla
Kyla joined the team in early 2022. When she isn’t at the clinic she is working with racehorses. In her downtime she loves to ride her own horses and spend time at home with her 2 dogs, 1 bird and a cat.
Dominique
Dominique is currently studying her Certificate IV in vet nursing. In her spare time she likes to take long walks on the beach with her two dogs, Toby and Jax, as well as her cat Chickpea.
Bella
Bella has always had a passion for the health and welfare of all animals, and began to peruse her passion in 2020. She completed her Certificate II in Animal Studies in 2021 and has started her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. She loves cats, playing video games and watching movies.
Ebony
Ebony joined the team early 2022, ever since she was little she has always had a passion for animals so in her spare time she likes to hang out with her 3 cats Gingi, Princess and Garfield.
Michelle
Hello I’m Michelle. I was a vet nurse at Parkdale Vet Clinic for 29 years. During that time as well as my vet nursing I fostered and rehomed 100’s of dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, etc. and was able to give them a second chance in loving, forever homes. I also learned a lot about animal behaviour through fostering and retraining the animals which greatly assists in my vet nursing. I joined the wonderful East West team in September 2021 and have so enjoyed working here. I am married and have two gorgeous children and we share our home with our dogs, cats, fish, birds and our yabbie and often foster animals as well. In my spare time I enjoy gardening, drawing, doing mosaics, walking my dogs and spending time with my family.