"Quality compassionate care for your best friend"

Our aspiration is to cater to the total small animal care needs of the people of the Gawler area, providing an excellent level of service. We place a high emphasis on preventative medicine and the development of the strength of the human-animal bond.

We aim to maximise the quality of life and longetivity of your pet so that you both can enjoy a long happy relationship together.

All our Veterinary Surgeons are Members of the Australian Veterinarian Association (AVA)

Dr Rob Auricht

Rob graduated from Melbourne University in 1983. His first employment was working in a referral orthopaedic practice with Dr Pat McCormack. After marrying Mandy in 1986 they went to WA where Rob worked in a mixed practice. In 1988, on returning to Gawler, he worked with the Harbison practice. After locuming in the Adelaide area, he became an equal partner at the Gawler South Small Animal Hospital, where he was for 10 years. On Jan 1st 2003 Rob and Mandy opened Riverside. Rob’s main interests are orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery and reproduction.

Dr Mandy Auricht

Mandy graduated from Murdoch University in 1982. Her first employment was a series of locum positions in Hobart. In 1983 she began working in a small animal practice in Para Hills. After several years she moved to Gawler and worked in what is now Gawler South Small Animal Hospital until 1986, when she married Rob. Following this she did locums and enjoyed a part-time job in a large, small animal practice in Perth. On returning to Adelaide Mandy worked for Julia Nicholls in Prospect, and Phil Reeve in Tea Tree Gully until Michael was born. Rob and Mandy then started their partnership at Gawler South Small Animal Hospital, before opening Riverside. Mandy’s main interests are feline medicine, behaviour and dermatology.

Dr Kate van Staveren

Kate graduated from Sydney University in 2001. She has worked in several states in Australia in mixed practices, where she maintained a love for equine medicine. Kate settled in South Australia where she worked for Harbison’s equine clinic for about 4 years, before coming to Riverside. She enjoys all aspects of canine medicine.
In her spare time Kate enjoys spending time with her horses and dogs, and travelling past Leigh Creek to visit her partner Adam and help on his cattle property.

Dr Scott Mersch

Scott graduated from the University of Queensland and returned home to SA to practice as a small animal veterinarian. He has an interest in Canine medicine. Scott currently lives with two Rhodesian Ridgebacks and a Jack Russel. He enjoys sticky rice, red wine and catching live acts in his free time. Favourite bands are Interpol, Bright eyes, the Cure, Favourite TV show is Arrested Development. Favourite fruit is the mandarin.

 

Katie Preston

Katie started her veterinary nursing career in a large mixed practice in Suffolk, England. She qualified in 1996 and moved to The Animal Health Trust, a large referral centre where she became Senior Surgical Nurse, Deputy Head Nurse and then Nursing Co-ordinator. During this time Katie ran a Nurses club which provided continuing Education for Veterinary Nurses and did the Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (surgical) course.

Katie left The Animal Health Trust and the UK in 2001 to travel to Australia and returned to a full time Veterinary Nursing position at the Adelaide Veterinary Specialist and Refferal centre in early 2002, Katie stayed there until September 2004 when she returned back to nursing in general practice and now works at Riverside Veterinary Surgery in Gawler. Katie has also received her award as an accredited veterinary nurse.

Katie has a keen interest in continuing education and training for Veterinary Nurses and is currently a committee member of the Veterinary Nurse Council of Australia - South Australian Division.

Jo-Ann Hatcher

Jo-Ann has been a veterinary nurse for 7 1/2 years. She completed her certificate 4 in qualification in 2002 and then the Diploma of Veterinary Nursing (management) in 2004. She previously worked as the Nursing Manager of a four clinic practice in the northern suburbs until moving to the Riverside in December 2006.

Jo-Ann is the Vice President of the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia - South Australia division and is very interested in continued education and training. She enjoys all aspects of veterinary nursing but especially caring for our hospitalised patients and nursing them back to health. She also has a keen interest in Puppy Pre-School and behaviour.

Jo-Ann has three cats, Thingy, Bert & Ernie. Bert & Ernie were previously the resident cats at the clinic where she worked but were a little too cheeky to stay there and now like to cause trouble at home! She also has a labrador X Rottweiler called Simba, a Jack Russell called Holly and a Jack Russel X called Sweetie.

Gay Ammerlaan

Gay has been veterinary nursing for over 20 years and holds the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. She started work at a surgery in Newton and then at a clinic in Queensland following a move there. After a few years she moved back to South Australia and worked at the Animal Welfare League and Gawler South Small Animal Hospital before finally moving to Riverside in 2003.

Gay's vast amount of experience and knowledge is a great asset to Riverside and the staff and she has a special interest in orthopedic and soft tissue surgery. Gay is a familiar face to a lot of clients and very popular with them.

Gay is an avid Crows Supporter and is quite fond of a glass of Champagne and spends her free time with her 2 children. She has two Devon Rex cats called Wilbur and Gizmo as well as Jaffa, a very fun loving Hungarian Vizsla.

Michelle Gardner

Michelle has been a valued member of the Riverside team since 2005. Originally a valued client and breeder of Border Collies, Michelle started helping out with grooming and then progressed to veterinary nursing. She started studying the Veterinary Nursing course through the AIRC in Queensland.

Michelle is very concerned about animal welfare, especially Riverside patients and brings a great sense of humour to the Riverside team and is in charge of filing and the "word of the week". She is very interested in all aspects of veterinary nursing but has a keen interest in dog breeding and genetic diseases. Michelle was the first Border Collie breeder in Australia to advocate for the testing of all Border Collies to determine the genetic transmission of Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS).

Michelle has two teenage sons and is an avid Port Power supporter and in her spare time enjoys fishing, music, socialising and sharing a drink with friends.

Brigita Daniel

Brigita joined the Riverside team in March 2007 and has been veterinary nursing for 5 years. She previously worked in Harbison's Equine Surgery and has a great passion for the care and welfare of animals. She has completed Certificate 2 and is currently studying for her Certificate 4 in veterinary nursing.

Brigita is a keen horse enthusiast and competes regularly in showjumping competitions locally. She keeps herself busy caring for agistment horses on her property near Gawler. She has a keen interest in preventative medicine and the general healthcare of animals.

At home Brigita has a Whippet called Cooper and an English Springer Spaniel called Buddy who was rescued after an unfortunate start to life. She also has four cats who roam her property in addition to her horses.

Andrew Lobb

Andrews grew up on an equine based Artificial Insemination Stud in Dublin, SA. He has an interest in horses and has completed equine semen freezing and AI courses. Andrew came to Riverside in 2003 after doing a weeks work experience through High School. He started as an Animal Attendant and moved onto Veterinary Nursing in 2005 after the completion of his Year 12 education.

Andrew is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Medical Science at Flinders University. He has aspirations of Studying Veterinary Science and becoming a Veterinarian. He enjoys spending time with animals, and has a special interest in farm animals, aquarium fish, dogs and horses.

Andrew's veterinary interests include anaesthesia, soft tissue surgery, behavioural and labratory work. In his spare time, Andrew looks after pets for owners whilst they are on holiday and enjoys spending time with friends plus driving his loud well lit car.

Gay Ammerlaan	Level 4
Kate Preston	Level 4
Jo-Ann Hatcher	Level 4
Brigita Daniel	Level 2
Michelle Gardner	Level 1
Andrew Lobb	Level 1
Louise Crossman	Professional Groomer
Maggie	Hospital Cat