Meet Our Team-Wandin Veterinary Clinic

Carl Hilford

Veterinarian & Practice Owner

Carl graduated as a Veterinarian from the University of Queensland in 1997. His interest in travel and veterinary medicine drew him to work in the UK in a country practice in rural Wales for 3 years. Carl met his future wife whom convinced him to move to the Yarra Valley which he instantly fell in love with. He has worked in mixed practice for over 20 years throughout the valley.

Carl has a special interest in small animal surgery and diagnostic ultrasound. However excitement of all aspects of veterinary medicine persist. He has completed a Masters in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery which focused on orthapaedic and cruciate repair surgery. Personally, Carl enjoys the great outdoors especially bushwalking, skiing, surfing and spending time with his family.

Julie Cureton

Veterinarian

Julie graduated in 1996 from the University of Melbourne with honours. After a couple of years working in mixed practice, Julie spent the next seven years working throughout the United Kingdom. Here she fell in love with Border Terriers, and has two of her own, Fern and Jiminy.

After returning to Australia, Julie was drawn to the beauty of the Yarra Valley and has been a part of Wandin Veterinary Clinic since 2007. She loves the locals of the Yarra Valley and the people she works with. Her special interest areas are diverse and include cardiology, behaviour, acupuncture, small animal medicine and the care of smaller patients such as rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens.

In her spare time Julie enjoys training her horses, garden design, landcare and sustainable farming.

Eloise Deen

Veterinarian & Practice Owner

Eloise graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2012, with honours. She worked in mixed practice in Mansfield for two years, then joined the Wandin Vet Clinic team in March 2015. Eloise enjoys working and living in the Yarra Valley, where she grew up.

Eloise's professional interests include anaesthesia and pain management, large animal medicine and surgery, and ophthalmology. She enjoys the diversity that mixed practice provides, working with both pets and farm animals.

During her spare time you will find Eloise riding her horse Tommy, cooking (and eating!), walking her dog Lincoln the German Shepherd, and running around after her son Lucas.

Haylee Catley

Veterinarian

Haylee graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2016 with honours, and has spent the past few years working as a mixed practice veterinarian around the Yarra Valley.

Her time spent at Wandin Veterinary Clinic as a student left a lasting impression, and she jumped at the opportunity to become an official part of the team in early 2021.

Haylee loves the challenge of working with a wide variety of animals of all shapes and sizes; her passions lie in large animal medicine, especially equines, as well as small animal surgery, behavioural medicine and dermatology.

Outside of work she can be found renovating her house, at the gym or yoga studio, or spending time with family and friends exploring all the Valley has to offer.

Rupert Baker

Veterinarian & Practice Owner

Rupert loves being a vet and helping animals and people. Since graduating in 1995, he has worked in dairy, mixed animal, bird and small animal practices in the UK and Australia. For the last twenty years, he has lived in the Yarra Valley and before joining the Wandin Team he was the Senior Vet at both Healesville Sanctuary and RSPCA Victoria.

Rupert is interested in diagnostic imaging, dermatology, behavioural medicine and surgery. Outside of work, he spends his time outdoors, walking his dogs, staying fit, catching up with friends and playing golf badly.

Naresh Jeganathan

Veterinarian

Naresh graduated in 1985 and on his wife's suggestion, in 1987 they decided to move to the Yarra Valley and run a veterinary practice. And so Wandin Vet Clinic began! Naomi nursed and Naresh vetted as a two-person team til the birth of their first child, Raewyn. Now the practice supports 22 staff members, and continues to grow.
Naresh is also responsible for the practice moving from the small house on Union Road, to the purpose-built facility where Wandin Vet Clinic currently resides.

After 40 years of commitment to improving the lives of animals and supporting their owners, Naresh decided to retire. He now spends his time whizzing through the stunning Yarra Valley countryside in his Mini, cooking, being Mr Fix-It at home, tinkering on his MG TC Roadster, playing golf, travelling with Naomi and spending time with his beloved children, Raewyn and Heath.

Luckily for the Wandin Vet team, Naresh generously offers his time as a locum, covering shifts when vets go on leave. So you may be lucky enough to catch an appointment with him! Naresh also continues to share his vast knowledge and skills with our vets regarding difficult surgical and medical cases.

The Wandin Vet team are forever grateful for the dedication, compassion, enthusiasm, support and expertise of our founding veterinarian, Dr Naresh Jeganathan.