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Meet the Groodles Australia Team!
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Dr Jeannet Kessels is a creative entrepreneur and climate advocate based in Queensland, Australia. She is the founder/director of Greater Springfield Veterinary, founder/chair of Vets For Climate Action, and mother to four wonderful adult children.
Jeannet graduated from the University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science with First Class Honours in 1986 and embarked on an enjoyable 30 year veterinary career, with highlights including surgery and reproduction. She loved the deep connections formed with the community around her. Starting with a little two-room clinic at her home, allowing time with children, the practice grew into the Greater Springfield Veterinary Group, now with three hospitals, over 50 dedicated staff, and an excellent work culture epitomised by a staff retention rate of almost 90%.
Jeannet’s strategic, fun, creative and forward-thinking approach, together with strong leadership, has created a culture that promotes individual sustainability and professional satisfaction. Her motto ‘Excellence with Heart’ is reflected across both life and work. She is driven by kindness and surrounds herself with brilliant minds. Over the years, Jeannet’s entrepreneurial spirit has led to the creation of Groodles Australia, an incredible community enterprise which has raised over $640,000 to charity so far, whilst enriching many lives.
Samara is an experienced, Certificate IV qualified nurse who has been in the veterinary industry for 14 years. Samara has had a colourful career, with one of her fondest memories working alongside a wildlife rescue group to assist in releasing a Platypus on the Murray River!
Samara enjoys reproductive work including artificial insemination, caesareans and neonatal care. This interest, combined with her fantastic nursing skills has made her an integral part of our Groodles Australia. Samara has also complete a course in Breeding and Reproduction in Small Animals through VetPrac.
Her 5 year career with Groodles Australia started as an opportunity to try something new and has now grown into a passion. Samara most enjoys seeing how lives are changed through the ongoing donations made and the assistant and therapy dogs that are bred, as well as working along side our wonderful Champion families.
Samara recently moved to Albury Wodonga with her husband and 3 children to be closer to family. Although Samara is no longer located in QLD, Samara is still able to manage the program efficiently, and makes yearly trips back to QLD for our annual Groodles get together.
At home, Samara has a rescue dog who is a pointer x called Samba, a Standard Schnauzer called Bobbi and 2 cats called Meeko and Luna.
Rhiannon is a certificate IV qualified veterinarian nurse who has been in the industry for 3 years. Rhiannon started her nursing training with the team at Greater Springfield Veterinary and was offered a full-time position at the beginning of 2020. Before starting her nursing career Rhiannon worked as an Animal Attendant at the RSPCA. During this time Rhiannon was able to develop a love for enrichment and animal welfare.
Rhiannon has worked for Groodles Australia over the past two years but has recently become more hands on in the program. Rhiannon will be the face that you will most likely see at puppy visits ensuring our litters are healthy. Rhiannons favourite part about Groodles Australia is watching our puppies make life changing differences in our greater community.
In Rhiannon’s spare time, she enjoys taking her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Daisy out for walks and brunch dates at new spots over Brisbane.
Sue has always loved dogs, cats and all other animals. Sue volunteered at an animal shelter dedicating most of her spare time on the weekends to care, train and help look after the animals.
She gave up volunteering at the animal shelter to help look after a family member that was very ill. During this time, Sue had the opportunity to join the Groodles Australia program and become part of the breeding program as a Champion Family with her beautiful mini Groodle Kiara. Kiara was a great comfort to her family member during this difficult time.
Sue loved being a Champion family and thought the process was amazing. With the raising of puppies and watching the families joy and excitement when they received their puppy as either a family pet or assistant/therapy dog being a real highlight. She also loved how the puppies enriched so many lives while also raising money for various charities.
After Kiara retired from the program Sue wanted to volunteer to help more, specifically with the support of other Champion Families to ensure they would have the same amazing experience that she had. Sue loves meeting the Champion Families and is happy to help in anyway she can.
Sue has one of Kiaras puppies Mr Hobbs that was kept from one of Kiaras litters she had while in the program. In her spare time she loves to take her fur babies camping, to the beach for a swim as well as lots of regular walks.
Kiara and Hobbs also have an older brother Jaspa, but Jaspa these days just enjoys laying around.
