Dr Max Kadel – Veterinarian/Owner

Dr Max has been a Vet at Hammett Street since 2004. 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 has one geriatric cat named Skiddy, who constantly tests his feline psychology skills!

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.

Dr Rachel Greenhill – Veterinarian 

Dr Rachel joined the Hammett Street team in January 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 has a special interest in cats and a love for pugs. 

You will often find Rachel somewhere in the clinic with her head buried in a textbook, researching some complicated medicine case that she is involved with. Rachel is our head vet and is an absolute rock star when it comes to medicine. 

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 with her family. Rachel has two dogs named Toby (pictured) and Thor, and a cat named Squishy.

Dr Lauren Franey – Veterinarian

Lauren started with us in early 2020. She studied here at JCU and graduated in 2018. Since then, Lauren has worked in the Hunter Valley in a 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. She has even 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 friends and family. Lauren has a Staffy X named Sadie who takes up most of her spare time.  

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. You know that your beloved pets are in safe hands with her as their doctor.

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 doggos named Gabe and Koda (pictured) and a naughty tortie cat named Mia. 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 highly talented and very knowledgeable when it comes to bird, reptile and pocket pet medicine.

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 mid 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 two “brown dogs” named Winnie (pictured) and Jacky Bobby, a calico cat called Martha (a Kelso stray who was dumped at a clinic where she worked), two cockatiels, four chookies and fish. Amber has a strong interest in birds and snakes and her favourite part of the job is dental nursing and spending the boss’s money on nice new equipment for everyone to play with. 

In her downtime, Amber enjoys gardening, camping or relaxing at home in her big back yard with her family and friends. 

Amber has just recently stepped into the position of practice manager and is enjoying the new challenges that come with looking after the clinic and the people that she loves.

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

Rhiannan is the Head Nurse at Hammett Street Vets and has been working here since early 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 also has 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 be there. She loves surgical and dental nursing and is also very skilled at pathology. Rhiannan is almost always studying and has a strong drive to improve her skill and knowledge. 

At home, Rhi has a Bull Terrier/Shih Tzu/American Staffy cross called Crumpet, a Bull Arab called Archie, four cats called Peg, Walter, Bonnie and Clyde. She also has a red collared lorikeet named Taj, three blue tongue lizards called Tank, Tiny and Rex and a rescue spotted python named Skettie. 

In her spare, time Rhiannan likes to relax with friends and enjoys being in the great outdoors. She also enjoys adopting abandoned animals. Can you tell?

Lisa Wood – Cert. IV Veterinary Nurse

Lisa has been a nurse at Hammett Street Vets since 2012 and is a familiar face for many of our long-term clients with whom she has developed a strong rapport over the years. Before that, Lisa worked at the RSPCA for three years as an animal attendant. Lisa has also done volunteer work in Africa in an animal refuge, caring for cheetahs, meerkats, foxes, donkeys, birds and other African wildlife. Lisa has always had a strong passion for animal welfare since working at the RSPCA and this is seen in the careful attention she gives to the patients in her care. At work she mostly enjoys assisting in surgery and the nursing of our hospitalised patients. 

At home, Lisa has a cat named Pepper who is a Maine Coon cross and a Boxer cross named Willow—both are rescues from the RSPCA. She also has a Bull Arab cross named Ace who was surrendered to the clinic (all pictured). 

Lisa finds great pleasure and relaxation in the great outdoors and loves to go camping with her husband and friends in some of the beautiful local forests and national parks or going swimming in a crystal-clear creek.

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 now completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. She has a special interest in macropods and has fostered many orphaned joeys. 

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. 

At home, Courtney has a deaf Border Collie x Cattle Dog named Winter, a Rottweiler called George, a surrender puppy named Lemon, a blue tongue lizard called Badger, four chookies and lots of fish. Courtney enjoys playing soccer, netball, fishing and generally enjoying the great outdoors with her husband 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. She is currently studying her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. 

Emma is one tough cookie on first impression, 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 hospital and intensive care and is in her element when charged with the care of critically ill patients. 

Emma enjoys outdoor activities such as camping and fishing with friends. At home Emma has three fur babies; a King Charles Cavalier X Corgi named Odie, (pictured) 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. 

At home, Bec has three beautiful fur babies. She loves them so much she has them immortalised in ink on her arm. Her oldest is an RSPCA rescue Husky named Echo. The middle child is a German Shepherd X named Lexi, and lastly there is Mika who is the most nonchalant Husky you’ll ever meet. These puppies spend most of their time lounging in the air-con watching Bec and her partner gaming.  

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.

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.

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 x named Zabuza and a domestic long hair named Ripley.

We are lucky that Dakota chose to apply for a placement with us and happy that she stayed.

Leonie King, Veterinary Nurse

Leonie is the youngest nurse in our clinic and has just graduated year 12 in 2022.

Leonie grew up in Townsville and has been working with us every weekend and school holidays while completing her last year of high school and studying Veterinary nursing. She has been gaining lots of experience and is developing into a confident vet nurse. Now that she has completed grade 12, you will see her in the clinic a lot more, practising and perfecting her nursing skills. 

Leonie was born in England but grew up in Adelaide before moving to Townsville when she was 11. At home Leonie has two dogs, a mini dachshund named Bruno and an American bulldog named Roxy. She also has two cats, Mitzi and Astro and she also keeps fish. 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 and she looks forward to travelling the world in the future.

Beverley Watson – Veterinary Receptionist 

Bev became a member of the Hammett St Vets team in November 2020. During her career, she has performed a wide range of roles, including retail, administration, customer service, managerial and electrical meter reading but this is her first foray into the veterinary world. She has a natural love of animals and after five years of reading electrical meters in the 90s, has developed a confidence when interacting with dogs and an understanding of their behaviour. 

As a mother of two grown children, a grandmother of one and being a mature woman (ancient!), she is the team grandma and official ‘serious person’. Bev’s favourite pastimes are spending time with her granddaughter, working in her garden and shopping at Bunnings. She has a pack of dogs, including a Rhodesian Ridgeback and two Australian Cattle Dogs. Apart from her maturity and easy-going nature, Bev brings a lifetime of customer service experience and support for our team and 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 reception team. Kristyn grew up in Brisbane North side working in the Insurance industry but later moved to Townsville in 2015.  Kristyn has a background in customer service which is plain to see with her high level of care and attention to detail when serving our amazing clients. She is an absolute force of nature with her bright and bubbly personality and is running on overdrive at all times. 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.

On the weekends, you’ll find Kristyn running around after her toddler and partner planning awesome trips or fun activities. At home, Kristyn has two beautiful large breed dogs named Kalibre, an American Staffy and Bandit, a Bully x. Kristyn has always had a great love for all the fur babies, especially those misunderstood bully breeds. 

This is the first time Kristyn has worked in the Veterinary industry and although she may not have all the answers, she is learning and gaining more experience every day, and she is keen to continue developing her knowledge on all thing’s animals. Kristyn is always good for making us laugh and has a knack for cheering us all up, even on the bad days.

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.