Outback Vets

by Annabelle Brayley

An in-depth look at the challenging lives of Australia's gutsy rural vets—smart, spirited men and women who care for animals, big and small, in remote communities all over the country. The stakes are high for the vets charged with caring for Australia's rural livestock, wildlife, and beloved family pets. Those who call the outback home often depend on animals for their wellbeing—and, in many cases, their livelihood. In far southwest Queensland, Rachel Wilson and Will Nason vet all the horses at the famous Birdsville Races; in the Victorian High Country, Dave Hall's own life-threatening car accident fired his ambition to make a difference; and in her mixed practice in northwest New South Wales, lone vet Mary-Jane Stutsel has had seven days off-call in 20 years. Among others, we also meet Jan Allen, who works with camp dogs in remote Indigenous communities in the Top End, and adventurous Rick Fenny in the vast Pilbara, who cared for the region's beloved nomad kelpie, Red Dog. Outback Vets is a walk on Australia's wild side, from the glistening coast to the dusty desert. Get to know these hard-working animal lovers as they ride, drive, and fly across some of the most remote regions of Australia, rescuing and treating creatures great and small.

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2015

Reviews

[Diane in Australia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This nonfiction book contains the stories of vets who live, and work, in Australia's outback. Each story is very well-rounded, usually telling a bit about how they came to be a vet, the challenges they may have faced, and the places they have worked. They also share memories of specific animals they have treated ... from quite serious to very humorous.

I felt the author did a good job of getting these stories onto paper. She gives just enough detail to keep you interested, but not so much that you begin to get weary of reading.

The folks in this book are involved in a wide range of vet work ... everything from pathology to camels! I'm going to include a list of the folks who are featured in this book, 'cause if you live near any of these communities you probably know them!

Dave Hall - Walwa VIC
Rachel Wilson and Will Nason - Birdsville QLD
Jim Taylor - Launceston TAS
Ellen Litchfield - Marree SA
Felicity Rutledge - Quilpie QLD
Jan Allen - Darwin NT
Nicole and David Swan - Esperance WA
Peter Letchford - Kununurra WA
Rick Fenny - Pilbara region WA
Vicki Dunstan and Terri Eckel - Charleville QLD
Jack Coffey - Burra SA
Candice Snell - Norfolk Island, Pacific Ocean
Hamish Brett - Darwin NT
Alan 'Guillie' and Carlie Guilfoyle - Clermont QLD
Charles Tilley - Warren NSW
Mary-Jane Stutsel - Bourke and Cobar NSW

If you are interested in vets, you'll enjoy this book. If you are interested in vets in Australia, you will really enjoy this book. If you are interested in vets in the Outback of Australia, you're going to be over the moon with this book!

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book truly lives up to its name focussing, in the main, on the background of each vet rather than on the animals and cases involved. This aspect disappointed me. It paints a glossy picture of 'country' people and their care of each other. A picture perhaps not always there in reality.

[Erica George · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. So many fun stories and great ideas for future jobs. A taster of what the life of a vet can be.

[Rowlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting reading about the experiences of the different vets and their families and how they live in remote areas.

[Dwayne Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just couldn’t get my head into some of these chapters… not good as the rest like these in the series