Our Staff

Dr Alistair Webb

Bachelor of Veterinary Science (First Class Honours), University of Queensland, 1987

Member of the Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, by examination in Feline Medicine 1994

Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

National Past-President of both the Australian Veterinary Association and the Australian Small Animal Veterinarians

Former Deputy Chair, of the Animal Ethics Committee at University of Southern Queensland from 2011 to 2023

“My decision to pursue a career as a Vet was actually as the result of an unplanned detour (I wanted to be a pilot but was not accepted into the air force on medical grounds). I loved animals and science, so my mother suggested I study Vet science while I figured out what I really wanted to do. Pretty much as soon as I started my course, I realised her wisdom was spot on!

“Initially, I wanted to work in mixed practice and work with cattle. But in 1990 in I attended a conference in Sydney on feline medicine, and that’s when I really knew that small animal practice was for me. 

“For the first 17 years of my career, I worked for various other Vets here and overseas, and it was a very good experience in terms of figuring out exactly how I wanted to practice my profession, and how to manage a clinic. 

“As well, it is so important to allow clients to get a sense of the people they are leaving their precious pet with. It is not the case for everyone, but we certainly seem to have built a clientele of people for whom their pets ARE family. We treat this trust with the utmost respect. 

“There have been many stories over the years of situations when we did not think an animal was going to survive. I distinctly remember one patient (a small dog called ‘Joe’ that had been all but ripped to pieces by two big dogs). It was a relatively young dog, and the owner was absolutely devastated, so attempting to save the dog was not an unreasonable decision. I rang the owner twice during the surgery to let them know that I did not hold out a lot of hope. When the surgery was successful and the dog survived, it was incredibly rewarding. And it has forged a lifetime relationship with the dog’s owner that is impossible to fully describe. 

“It is these connections with our clients and their animals that make a sometimes very difficult job unbelievably rewarding.

“In 2004, I bought a small practice from Dr Peter McAuliffe and then in 2008 I merged it with a practice established by Dr Carol Smith at this present location. Since then, I have gathered around me a stable and tight knit team who share my values around animal care. We have become like a family to our clients, their pets, and each other.”

Alistair is an active member of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) and has held many committee and leadership positions over the last 29 years.

Alistair also enjoys devoting his spare time to community and service organisations. He is a committed member of The Rotary Club of Toowoomba East. 

He is married to Marea, has two adult sons and in his spare time Alistair also enjoys gardening, raising clivias, playing cricket and appreciating good red wine.

Dr Ame Lawrence

Bachelor of Veterinary Science (First Class Honours)
University of Queensland, 1998

“I enjoyed biology and the sciences at school, and have always loved animals. Following my high school work experience with a Vet, I decided it was a career path I wanted to pursue. 

“After graduation I worked at a mixed practice in Pittsworth for 5 years. Working with large animals was extremely enjoyable, but as I started my family, I found the hours were not a good fit for family life, and certainly having children made me more aware of the risks involved in working with larger animals.  

“I have worked at a number of other clinics in Toowoomba, and have been part time with Alistair since 2009. 

“Everyone is on the same page in terms of best practice for animals, relationships with our clients, and how we all work together. It is a very special work environment.”

“The problem solving aspect of my work is something I find both challenging and rewarding. Working to find the best solutions for animals within the context of what their family can manage can be complex, but it also creates strong and long term relationships with our clients. There is nothing more gratifying than being able to treat unwell animals and fix a whole range of problems for their owners.

“The interactions I have experienced during my time at this practice have been wonderful, not just with our clients and their pets, but with my colleagues as well.

Dr Jane Gilmore

Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)
University of Queensland, 1992

“When I was in primary school, All Creatures Great and Small was my favourite TV show, and I’d say it was what inspired me to become a Vet. I completed my degree at UQ, and throughout my years of study, I was fortunate to have been able to work at and assist with surgeries at the West Chermside Veterinary Clinic. This was a place where some of the best Vets in the State were practicing leading edge veterinary surgery, and it only served to dial up my love of what I do.

“I moved to Allora where I worked in a mixed practice. I really enjoyed it although working with larger animals was not as rewarding for me as working with cats and dogs. Aside from the fact that I absolutely love cats and dogs (I have 7 dogs and 3 cats!), and they tend not to lash out and kick (like horses do).

“Eventually, I bought the practice in Allora and I owned it for 11 years. When my children were born my priorities shifted quite dramatically. It was a two person practice and we were on call 24/7. This is not particularly conducive to raising little children so I made the decision to sell the practice. I started working part-time with Alistair in 2014.

“It has been a wonderful transition for me because I love working with small animals so much. My particular interest is in dogs, and breeding and reproduction. I very much enjoy surgery, and being able to focus such intense attention on each animal. 

“The entire team here is so good to get along with; we have shared values around patient care, and I think this is extremely important in our industry.

“We also have an incredible group of regular clients, who first and foremost are prepared to do what needs to be done in the best interests of the animal."

Kara Morris

Vet Nurse, Cert 4 Vet Nursing

“I grew up on a property in regional NSW and our family always had heaps of animals. So I guess my interest in and love of animals started when I was a child. Working with animals was the only career I had a strong interest in and I started Vet nursing in 2004. 

“Over the years I have had a lot of mixed animal experience, which I have really enjoyed. I started working with Alistair in 2012 and then in 2014 I took time off to have my children. It is so good to be back.”

“Helping animals aside, I love to make connections with and help people. Often when people bring their animals in to see us, they are worried or stressed about their pet. Fortunately, for many of our clients, their pets are their family. They have a similar degree of concern as if it was their child. I think that I can empathise with clients and hopefully reassure them that whatever the outcome of the consultation, their pet is in good, safe and caring hands, and that we will always put their welfare first.”

Catherine Pascoe

Veterinary Nurse, Cert 4 Vet Nursing
Bachelor of Science (Animal Biology) University of Southern Queensland, 1997

“I was always interested in microbiology and animal biology, but to be honest, I got into Vet nursing a bit by default after a friend told me about a Vet nurse job that was going in a big practice in Toowoomba. I also went on to work at Indooroopilly Vets in Brisbane for a time and then moved back to Toowoomba, where I worked for Dr Peter McAuliffe for 2 years. When Alistair bought Peter’s practice in 2004, I stayed on and have been working with Alistair ever since.

“I knew immediately that I wanted to remain at Alistair’s practice because he is all about best practice. He never cuts corners and gives clients a range of options wherever possible, that are always in the best interests of the animal. I also loved the atmosphere of the smaller clinic. It is so open and family oriented, plus there is never a day that goes by that I don’t learn something new. This is incredibly important to me because ultimately, I love working with animals and helping them when they are sick and in pain. They can’t tell us what is wrong, or help themselves, so I (and my colleagues here), take our responsibility very seriously.

“We all consider every pet as if it were our own, and our clients as though they are family. This is the only way I would ever want to do this kind of work.”

Chloe Love

Cert 3 Companion Animal Services, Vet Nurse Trainee

“Pets were an important part of my childhood and I have always loved animals of all types. We had a dog who unfortunately had some chronic health issues and taking care of him sparked my interest in pursuing this career,” Chloe said. “In my teens, I did work experience at a Vet clinic, and although I enjoyed it very much, at that age I found it quite overwhelming. I think I was probably a bit young to handle some of the emotional aspects of the job because as well as attending to young animals, we also take care of animals at the end of their lives.

“So I spent a few years working as a groomer, which I really love. It is incredibly creative. But then Alistair gave me the opportunity in 2020 to come and join the team here and now I honestly couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else.

“I love making animals feel safe and taking their pain away. We have to be their voice because they can’t tell us what is wrong. I especially enjoy the surgical side of the role and emergency work as well.”