Vets, nurses and support staff who share one goal — exceptional care for every pet in the Whitsundays.
Dr Tess, Dr Nat, Dr Mark & Dr Macauley
Every team member chose this for love of animals
Decades of expertise in the Whitsundays
Available on call 24/7 for urgent care
Veterinarian
Growing up next door to the veterinary practice her father owned in Clermont, Central Queensland, Dr Tess has lived and breathed the veterinary profession her entire life. After graduating with First Class Honours from the University of Queensland in 2004, she dedicated her career to caring for the animals of North Queensland.
Tess has a long association with Orchid Valley Veterinary Surgery, completing her first locum there in 2006. Dr Mark Williams first worked alongside her father when Tess was a young girl, and Mark and Kath have remained close family friends ever since. It made becoming one of the co-owners of Airlie Beach Veterinary Surgery in 2026 particularly special, as they passed the baton after more than 30 years of caring for the Whitsunday community.
Before relocating to the beautiful Whitsundays in early 2024, Tess co-owned a mixed veterinary practice with her father in Clermont. She is incredibly proud of the team she works alongside every day. Tess has fallen in love with the Whitsundays, its wonderful community and the incredible clients and their much loved pets she has the privilege of caring for each day.
Her greatest passion is building lifelong relationships with families and being the trusted family veterinarian they can rely on through every stage of their pet's life, celebrating the happy moments and supporting them through the difficult ones.
When she's not at work, you'll usually find Tess with her husband, John, their two children, Alana and Peter, and their miniature dachshund, Jelly Bean, either working on their family cattle property, Mt McConnel, or making the most of everything the Whitsundays has to offer.
Veterinarian
Born and raised in Mildura and Far West NSW, Dr Nat was exposed to a wide range of animals and had tunnel vision to become a Veterinarian from a young age. Finishing school in 2012, he was accepted into the newly established Adelaide Veterinary program at Roseworthy. Taking a gap year in 2015 and working in agriculture in both North West Victoria and the Northern Territory helped further drive his passion to fulfill a career in Veterinary Medicine.
Graduating in 2019, Nat returned to his hometown of Mildura and worked in a busy Mixed practice. Thanks to a global pandemic and distancing restrictions, it was 6 months before he was able to connect an owner's face to their pet. Additionally, due to the pandemic travel restrictions, referral for more complex issues wasn't an easy option, and this quickly developed his surgical and medicine skills.
In 2024, Nat first started locuming for Dr Mark Williams at Orchid Valley Vets. Like many, he quickly fell in love with the region and came back as often as he could. Given the option to buy into the clinic in 2026, Nat took the opportunity with both hands and is incredibly thankful to have such a talented team to work alongside.
Inside Veterinary Medicine, Nat has a strong interest in Internal Medicine and is currently undertaking further study in this area. He also has a passion for avian medicine and has done further research in both nutrition and respiratory diseases in birds. Outside of work, Nat enjoys spending time outdoors and exploring all the Whitsundays has to offer.
Veterinarian
Growing up on the Capricorn Coast, Dr Macauley was surrounded by animals and the outdoors from an early age. Whether exploring the bush or spending time on the water, animals were always a big part of his life. Attending an agriculturally focused high school further developed his passion for animal health and set him on the path to becoming a veterinarian.
After graduating from James Cook University in 2025, Macauley developed a strong interest in North Queensland veterinary medicine, particularly tropical disease management and clinical pathology. He enjoys working through challenging cases, understanding what is happening beneath the surface, and using this knowledge to provide the best possible care for his patients.
He is passionate about continuing to learn and providing thoughtful, evidence-based veterinary care to the North Queensland community.
Outside of work, Macauley enjoys fishing, boating and exploring the outdoors. At home, he has a crazy dog named Jimmy, and a pet barramundi named Walter.
Veterinarian
Dr Mark Williams graduated from the University of Queensland a few moons ago now and has dedicated his career to caring for the pets and people of the Whitsundays. As the owner of Orchid Valley Veterinary Surgery for more than 30 years, Mark has selflessly served the local community with unwavering compassion, kindness and an extraordinary commitment to his patients. For countless families, he has been their trusted veterinarian across generations.
Now, as Airlie Beach Veterinary Surgery begins its next chapter, Mark has handed over the reins but thankfully hasn't gone too far. He continues to work part time in the clinic, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience while gradually transitioning into a well deserved new chapter of life.
Outside of the clinic, Mark is married to his much better half, Kath, and together they have raised four wonderful children and are now incredibly proud grandparents. At home, he happily answers to the real boss of the household, Edith, his much adored Australian Bulldog, who keeps him firmly in his place.
When he's not caring for animals or spoiling the grandchildren, you'll often find Mark planning his next travel adventure or tending to his ever growing herd of goats, proving that retirement is really just another excuse to collect more animals.
We feel incredibly fortunate that Mark continues to be part of the Airlie Beach Veterinary Surgery family, where his wisdom, gentle nature and genuine love for both animals and people remain an invaluable part of our team.
Our nurses and practice manager are the backbone of Airlie Beach Veterinary Surgery — ensuring every patient receives the warmth, care and attention they deserve.
Practice Manager
Katie has worked in the veterinary industry for several years after completing her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. In 2026, she proudly became a co-owner of Airlie Beach Veterinary Surgery, where she combines her passion for animal care with creating a welcoming and supportive experience for every client and pet.
As Practice Manager, Katie loves working alongside the team to ensure the clinic runs smoothly while helping families feel confident that their pets are receiving the very best care. She is passionate about building lasting relationships with clients and creating a positive environment for both the team and the community.
Outside of work, Katie enjoys spending time with her partner, Callum, keeping active, exploring the Whitsundays, and making memories with her Border Collie, Cash, and her cheeky cat, Grey Goose.
Veterinary Nurse
International swimsuit model turned veterinary practice co-owner, Lara has swapped bikinis for scrubs and wouldn't have it any other way.
Lara is a long time local. Born and bred in the Whitsundays, she moved south for a few years and travelled before returning to Airlie Beach and deciding that this would always be home.
A familiar face to many local families, Lara has a long association with Orchid Valley Veterinary Surgery. She first walked through the clinic doors as a child, and has since spent the past 13 years working as part of the team. Becoming a co-owner of Airlie Beach Veterinary Surgery is a natural next chapter in a place that has always felt like home.
While she may be known for turning heads, she's far more than just a pretty face. Lara is the organisational powerhouse behind the scenes, keeping the wheels turning, solving problems before anyone else notices them, and making sure the clinic runs like a well oiled machine. She's also quite possibly the world's friendliest person. If you've met Lara, you'll know that her smile is genuine, her laugh is contagious and she'll happily chat to absolutely anyone.
When she's not at the practice, Lara is married to the world's luckiest man, Anton. Together they have two beautiful children, who keep life wonderfully busy. Their family is completed by Rudy, an oversized Irish Wolfhound X who is completely convinced he's a lap dog, and Bandit, Lara's beloved retired heart horse (who also believes he is a lap dog).
Whether she's welcoming clients, supporting the team behind the scenes or making everyone around her feel at home, Lara brings warmth, positivity and an infectious energy to Airlie Beach Veterinary Surgery every single day.
Veterinary Nurse
Grace joined the team after accidentally treating a wild kangaroo on the side of the road and somehow being thanked by it. Since then, she's become internationally recognised by absolutely nobody for her ability to identify dog breeds from 500 metres away and convince every clinic patient that she's carrying treats.
Outside of work, Grace spends her time negotiating peace treaties between alpacas and sheep, hand-feeding ducks that definitely don't need feeding, and apologising to spiders before relocating them. She firmly believes every animal is a "good boy" or "good girl", including the ones that could probably outrun or eat her.
Her long-term career goal is to own enough animals that Google Maps labels her property as a wildlife park. Until then, she'll happily settle for giving your pets plenty of cuddles and pretending not to notice when they steal her stethoscope.
Veterinary Nurse
Karli has been a veterinary nurse for the past two years and is very passionate about caring for animals. She recently made the move from the Gold Coast to Airlie Beach for a fresh start and to be closer to family. Known for her can-do attitude and caring nature, Karli strives to make every pet and their owner feel comfortable, supported, and well cared for. She has a special soft spot for Jack Russells, whose big personalities and endless energy never fail to make her smile.
Veterinary Nurse
Gemma grew up in the beautiful countryside of the north of England. While studying animal care she volunteered with the RSPCA, discovering a passion for caring for animals that would shape her future. Leaving England at just 18 to travel the world didn't change that passion. From working in animal shelters in New Zealand to pet sitting in Canada, animals have always been at the heart of her journey.
After moving to Airlie Beach, Gemma's veterinary career really began to flourish. Her warm personality and dedication earned her a position at Orchid Valley Vets. Although she spent a short time living in Western Australia, she missed both her team and the community too much so returned home to Airlie Beach Vets. Her compassion and genuine love for animals help both pets and their owners feel comfortable and cared for.
Outside of work, Gemma cares for her rescue dog and her boyfriend who is also kept on a tight leash. When she's not caring for animals, she's expressing her creativity through painting and cooking.
A few glimpses into the joy our team brings to work every single day.
We're always keen to hear from passionate vets and nurses who share our love of animals.
Our team is here for your pet — open 6 days a week, with 24/7 on-call availability.
