Dr Max Kadel – Veterinarian/Owner

Dr Max has been a Vet at Hammett Street since 2004 and is now the sole owner of the clinic. He completed his Veterinary qualification in 1994 at the University of Queensland before moving to Townsville in 2000. 

Dr Max enjoys doing soft tissue surgery and has a special interest in reptiles but is also known around town for his work with birds. Max is passionate about his relationships with his long-term regular clients and their beloved pets and is well known around Townsville.

Max has a passion for travel and adventure and in his spare time, can often be found in the great outdoors hiking, kayaking or on his mountain bike. He has been on adventures in Australia, New Zealand, The Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, PNG and Europe. But don’t ask him about it or he’ll talk your ear off.

Max has a property in the Atherton Tablelands where he enjoys spending time in nature with his partner and their abundance of wildlife. 

Dr Rachel Greenhill – Veterinarian 

Dr Rachel joined the Hammett Street team at the start of 2018. She graduated from Massey University in New Zealand in 2010. She has worked in general practice and as an emergency vet in Queensland. She enjoys working with all different types of dogs and cats but particularly cats and brachycephalics. 

Rachel is our head vet and is an absolute rock star when it comes to complex small animal medicine cases. She also has a special interest in complex skin cases. Rachel has completed some basic training in reptile medicine in 2024 and is keen to grow her skills in that area too.

When she is not crazy busy at work, she will probably be crazy busy at home with her husband and three little boys. In her down time Rach enjoys going away on camping trips to see her farm and cows with her family. Rachel has five dogs named Jerry, Min, Nova, Nero and Roger, and three cats named Squishy, Foofoo and Maverick.

Dr Lauren Franey – Veterinarian

Lauren started with us in early 2020. She studied at JCU and graduated in 2018. Since then, Lauren has worked in the Hunter Valley in mixed animal practice, working mainly with horses but also with cows, sheep, alpacas and goats. She has done some volunteer work in India too, desexing street dogs.

Lauren is originally from Port Macquarie in NSW and she has worked in the Koala Hospital they have there. Growing up on the coast, Lauren never likes to stay away from the beach for too long. She likes going camping and enjoying the great outdoors with partner, son and friends. Lauren has a staffy named Sadie and a labrador named Tucker who always keeps her on her toes and keeps her bank account low 😆. 

Lauren enjoys working with dogs and cats of all shapes and sizes. She is an amazing surgeon and emergency vet and is highly skilled when it comes to complicated medicine cases. Lauren has a passion and talent for behavioural medicine and is dedicated to staying up to date with the latest behavioural information and brings this knowledge to our clinic.

Lauren is a calming presence in the clinic and never loses her cool. You know that your beloved pets will receive the most compassionate care with Lauren as their Dr.

Dr Rebekah Gale – Veterinarian

We first met Bek when she was a student doing placement with us. When we heard she was graduating at the end of 2019, we knew we had to snatch her up before someone else did.

Now we know she may seem young and sweet, but we can assure you that Bek is more than just a pretty face. Since starting with us in December 2019, Dr Bek has proven time and again that she can handle even the toughest medicine cases and long, difficult and complicated surgeries, without losing her cool. She has quickly established herself as a crucial member of the Hammett Street Team and already has a loyal client base.

Bek has two doggo’s named Korra and Koda (pictured) and two snakes, a water python and a spotted python. Bek is happy to see pets of all breeds and species.  While the majority of our patients at Hammett Street are dogs and cats, Bek is also very knowledgeable when it comes to bird, reptile and pocket pet medicine and has developed a reputation as one of the most skilled exotic vets in Townsville.

Dr Ashur Sutton-Baker  – Veterinarian

Dr. Ashur is the newest vet on the Hammett Street Vets team!

A proud Townsville local, Ashur graduated from JCU in 2023 and brings with her a fresh passion for small animal medicine with a particular interest in soft tissue surgery and feline medicine. She thrives on the diverse range of cases that come her way and cherishes the opportunity to meet new people and their beloved pets.

In her free time, Ashur enjoys taking road trips to visit waterfalls, completing DIY projects, or trying out new types of crafts. At home, Ashur has a geriatric Persian x Ragdoll kitty named Magela and a curious Spotted Python named Pandora.

With her dedication and love for animals, Ashur is committed to providing the highest quality care to every pet that walks through our doors. If you see Ashur around the clinic, please make her feel welcome.

Amber Blank – Practice Manager/Cert. IV Veterinary Nurse

Amber joined the Hammett Street Vets team in 2014. She started vet nursing in 2009 and completed her Certificate IV in 2012. After completing her studies in Townsville, she worked in Darwin for a year before returning to Townsville. She has three cross breed dogs, two “brownies” named Sora and Jacky Bobby and a brindle staffy x named Peach Potato Pupperino Pupperchino who was a clinic surrender. She also has six chookies and a large black headed python. 

Amber has a strong interest in birds and snakes and her favourite part of the job is dental nursing and also spending Max’s money on nice new equipment for everyone to play with. Amber enjoys the challenges that come with looking after the clinic and the people that she loves, she is very passionate about staff wellbeing and empowering staff to become the best they can be through training and hands on experience.

In her downtime, Amber enjoys gardening, camping and relaxing at home with her husband, daughter and friends.

Rhiannan Beaven – Head Veterinary Nurse/Cert. IV Veterinary Nurse

Rhiannan is our Head Nurse at Hammett Street Vets and has been working here since 2014. She has always wanted to work with animals and before starting here has previously volunteered at the RSPCA and worked at Beaches Pet Resort. Rhiannan has completed a Certificate II and III in Animal Studies and her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. 

Rhiannan’s nursing style can be described as very “hands on”. She is always super keen to jump in and get her hands dirty, the grosser the procedure the better. If there’s pus or maggots, she will elbow you out of the way to get in there. She loves surgical and dental nursing and is also very skilled at pathology. Rhiannan is often doing continued education and has a strong drive to improve her skills and knowledge. 

At home Rhi has a Bull terrier/Shih tzu/American staffy cross called Crumpet, a bull arab called Archie, a French bulldog named Bugs, three cats called Walter, Bonnie and Clyde. A red collared lorikeet named Taj, two blue tongue lizards called Tank and Tiny and a rescue spotted python named Skettie. Her main hobby would have to be adopting abandoned animals, can you tell?

In her spare time Rhiannan likes to relax with friends and enjoys being in the great outdoors. Rhiannan is a constant source of laughter in the clinic with her crazy antics and terrible dancing and singing skills that are often on display. While she will probably never be our most “professional” nurse, she definitely has the biggest heart.

Courtney Schutt- Cert. IV Veterinary nurse

Courtney joined the Hammett Street Vets team in late 2017, after completing a placement with us. We were so impressed with her work that we hired her as soon as we could. She was previously in the Defence Force as a medic, but her love of animals was too strong, so she chose to become a Veterinary Nurse instead. Courtney has since completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and is an experienced and highly skilled vet nurse. 

Courtney excels in surgical nursing where she is highly organised and can be relied upon to give the highest level of care to her surgical and hospital patients. Her background in human nursing means she’s also very handy to have around when one of the humans hurt themselves. Courtney is a sensitive and caring nurse and has been described as a calming presence during difficult times of loss for clients and their families. 

Courtney has a deaf Border Collie x Cattle Dog named Winter, two Rottweilers called George and Russell, a blue tongue lizard called Badger, Linguini the water python, two chookies and fish. Courtney enjoys playing soccer, fishing and generally enjoying the great outdoors with her husband, toddler Lincoln, and friends.

Emma Abel – Veterinary Nurse

Emma started at Hammett Street Vets in early 2019. She grew up in Mount Isa and before this job she was working in the underground gold mining industry for about five years. This significant change in career came from her lifelong passion for animals and their welfare.

On first impression Emma is one tough cookie, but we can assure you, when it comes to animals, she is soft and gooey on the inside. She is definitely a joker in the clinic and is always good for a laugh and for keeping everyone in good spirits. Even though she likes a joke at times, Emma takes animal welfare very seriously. She has a keen interest in hospitalised and intensive care patient management and is in her element when charged with the care of critically ill patients. 

Emma enjoys outdoor activities such as camping and fishing with her friends, partner and daughter. At home Emma has two dog a King Charles cavalier x corgi named Odie, a bull arab x named Jack, and two cats called Jasper and Luna that are failed fosters.

Rebecca Faulks – Veterinary Nurse

We first met Bec when she completed a placement with us in 2021. She fit in so smoothly with our team that we had to hire her before someone else did. She is now completing the remainder of her Cert IV with us and learning her skills on the job.

In the clinic you’ll often find Bec working hard but somehow still looking cool and calm, even under pressure. Although she can seem quiet and sweet, she definitely has a cheeky side and is always good for a laugh. Bec is a fast learner and a careful and compassionate nurse. She has the ability to make the most frightened or anxious patient her best friend. Bec has developed a strong passion for mental health and is the clinic’s Mental health champion. She is always finding ways to bring us closer together and make us a more compassionate, understanding and resilient team.

At home Bec has four beautiful fur babies. She loves them so much she has them immortalised in ink on her arm. She has a German shepherd x named Lexi, a staffy x named Beef, Mika who is the most nonchalant Husky you’ll ever meet and Bean, a crazy rescue kitty. They all spend most of their time lounging in the air-con, living their best life. Bec loves gaming and is also very crafty and talented at crochet.

Dakota Deguara, Veterinary Nurse

Dakota starting her nursing journey with us as a student on placement in July of 2022 and is currently studying her Cert IV in Veterinary nursing. We are grateful that Dakota chose us for her placement because we could see the potential in her immediately.

Dakota grew up in Townsville and has always wanted to work in a job where she can help animals. She has found that she has a strong passion for caring for our hospital patients and making sure that they get plenty of love and attention when they are here, away from their loved ones. She also enjoys and excels in surgical nursing and has proven herself as a levelheaded, calm and highly organised veterinary nurse.

In her down time, Dakota is very crafty and artistic. She also enjoys watching horror films and relaxing with her two cats, a Russian blue named Zabuza and a domestic long hair named Ripley.

Leonie King, Veterinary Nurse

Leonie is the youngest nurse in our clinic and graduated year 12 in 2022. She started working with us every weekend and school holidays while completing her last year of high school and her Cert. II in vet nursing. Leonie is now a full-time nurse at Hammett Street and has gained so much experience since she first started, and it really shows in the confident and highly skilled vet nurse that she has become.

Leonie was born in England but grew up in Adelaide before moving to Townsville when she was 11. At home, Leonie has three dogs, two mini dachshunds named Bruno and Toula, an American bulldog named Roxy, two cats named Mitzi and Astro and a sheep named Sou Baa-baa. Leonie’s dream is to own her own horse one day.

Leonie enjoys going to rodeo’s, travelling out west, relaxing at creeks and water holes with her partner and looks forward to travelling the world in her future.

Beverley Watson – Veterinary Receptionist 

Bev became a member of the Hammett St Vets team in November 2020. Bev’s experience comes from a wide range of roles, including retail, administration, customer service, managerial and even electrical meter reading. This role however, is her first in the veterinary industry.

Bev has always had a natural love of animals and after five years of reading electrical meters in the 90’s, has developed a confidence when interacting with dogs and an understanding of their behavior.

Bev is a mother of two grown children, a grandmother of two, and our most mature team member (we’re not sure about that though 😉). She is the official team grandma, and “serious Person”. Bev’s favourite pastimes are spending time with her grand-children, working in her garden and spending too much time and money at Bunnings. At home Bev has three Australian Cattle Dogs named Bunny-loveheart, Patsy and Reba. 

Apart from her maturity and easy-going nature, Bev also brings a wealth of experience and organization to her role as Receptionist.

Kristyn Metcalfe, Veterinary receptionist

Kristyn started with Hammett Street Vets in November of 2021 as the other half of our ridiculously busy reception team. 

Kristyn grew up in Brisbane’s North side working in the Insurance industry but later moved to Townsville in 2015.  Kristyn has a background in customer service which is obvious with her high level of care and attention to detail when helping our clients. She is an absolute force of nature with her bright and bubbly personality and is running on overdrive at all times. Kristyn is always good for making us laugh and has a knack for cheering us all up, even on the bad days. She is the first smiling face you see as soon as you enter our clinic, and we are proud to have her on our frontline. Your pet will also love her as she is always handing out treats to our patients, some have learned to make a beeline directly to her for their snacks.

When she’s not at the clinic, you’ll find Kristyn running around after her baby boy, little girl and partner, planning awesome trips or fun activities. At home, Kristyn has two beautiful large breed dogs named Kalibre, an American Staffy, and Banjo, a staffy x and two guinea pigs named Paulie D and Vinnie. Kristyn has always had a great love for all the fur babies, especially the misunderstood bully breeds.

While Kristyn has not had a background in the veterinary industry before Hammett Street, she has quickly learned all the ins and outs of our clinic and developed so much experience and knowledge in the time that she’s been here. 

Sandra Evans – Administration Officer

Sandra started working at Hammett Street Vets in 1998. She was a veterinary nurse for seven years before becoming the surgery's practice manager. Prior to working at Hammett Street Vets, Sandra worked at the Townsville Animal Refuge (formerly the RSPCA Animal Shelter). Outside of work, Sandra dedicates her time to her grandchildren, her animals and her beautiful garden. 

Sandra has just recently taken a step back from the position of practice manager and is now working from home to spend more time with family. You may still catch Sandra around the clinic from time to time though.

Dr Dhanushka (Dhash) Jayakody-Perera- Veterinarian

Dr Dhash started with our team in November of 2024. We were very excited to have him as he brings a wealth of experience, especially in small animal, wildlife and exotic medicine. Dhash is passionate about the human/animal bond and has a keen interest in One Health, conservation medicine and learning and teaching others.

Dhash was born in Australia but grew up in Sri Lanka. He is multilingual, fluent in English and Sinhalese and knows basic Tamil and Spanish and has worked in vet clinics all around Australia.

In his spare time Dhash is a keen gardener who also enjoys painting and drawing. Dhash lives with his partner and 2 dogs, both Townsville specials named Archie and Effie, and a cat named Kiri.