Bianca Betros

Veterinarian

Bianca graduated from The University of Queensland in 1999.  She grew up on a farm in Tenterfield, in northern NSW where she was constantly surrounded by goats, sheep, horses, cattle, cats, dogs, rabbits and various wildlife from a very early age…it was here that her dream of becoming a vet was established.

Since graduation, Bianca has worked at a number of practices in Sydney and in the UK. She understands completely the value of the human-animal bond, the value that our pets add to our lives and the part they play as members of our family.  Bianca has special interests in small animal medicine, soft tissue surgery and dentistry.

Bianca also owns a veterinary practice in Balmain named Darling Street Vets and commutes between the Highlands and the city to provide veterinary care where needed!

Bianca has a partner and two children – William and Amelia. The other members of her immediate family include a miniature Schnauzer Winston, and a rescue cat named Peppa.   When time permits, Bianca loves travelling, reading, cooking (and eating!) good food, netball, yoga, pilates and gardening.

Fiona Crago

Veterinarian

Fiona graduated from the University of Sydney in 2017. She enjoys all aspects of veterinary practice, mainly practicing small animal medicine but with an ongoing interest in equine medicine. She has previously worked for Silver Pines Equine Clinic in Mittagong, is a licensed racehorse vet and has completed additional training in equine dentistry. 

Fiona is a local Bundanoon resident and loves this part of the world. Her menagerie includes a partner, two children, two English Cocker spaniels called Olive and Bee and an oriental cat Honey, all of whom keep her very busy.

Spare time is pretty limited these days, but Fiona enjoys playing the bagpipes in the local Bundanoon Pipe Band, riding, travelling, skiing, reading and a good red!

Chris Watson

Veterinarian

Chris is a highly experienced veterinarian who has been living and working in the Southern Highlands community for the past 15 years, and many of you will already know him from his longstanding commitment to local animal care.

Chris enjoys all aspects of veterinary practice, with a professional focus that spans both farm animals and companion animals. He has developed a strong interest in small animal surgery, including lameness diagnosis and orthopaedic surgery, and is passionate about providing the highest standard of care for his patients. His broad skill set and extensive experience make him a valuable addition to our hospital, ensuring we can continue to meet the diverse needs of our clients and their animals.

Beyond his professional life, Chris is an enthusiastic animal lover at home as well. He shares his life with three much-loved dogs – French Bulldogs Harper and Charli, and a Border Terrier named Remi – along with his cheeky Burmese cat, Wilbur, who keeps the household on its toes.

Alexandra Carleton

Veterinarian

Dr Alexandra has been a veterinarian for five years, after a fascinating career change from law. She brings with her a special interest in feline medicine and is currently undertaking advanced studies in this field as well as a Masters degree in Veterinary Science.

Outside of work, Alexandra is passionate about the value of life, enjoys painting in her spare time, and is looking forward to exploring ceramics. She lives locally in Bundanoon with her three beloved cats – Grey, Daisy, and Max – who keep her on her toes and bring her endless joy.

Erica Steppat

Veterinarian

Erica graduated from Sydney University in 1995. After graduation, Erica worked in Narromine and Port Macquarie, where she did a lot of work for RSPCA and was the Vet at Port Macquarie races. As many vets do- UK then lured her for over 3 years. She worked in a variety of mixed and small animal practices there, in between an awful lot of travel! Erica even had the opportunity to volunteer on the Spanish islands of Menorca and Tenerife to spey feral cats for feral cat population control.

Erica began teaching Veterinary Nursing at Ultimo TAFE, Sydney over 10 years ago. She has always stayed current in practice through emergency and locum work in Sydney.

Her life-long dream was to always own cattle and live on some land and she accomplished this last year. She is now the proud owner of two Highland ‘Cows’; Hamish and Shaggy with a heifer set to join them this year. Her fur family also includes Timmy a Poodle-cross who has discovered the wonders of chasing rabbits.

Erica is loving the Southern Highlands lifestyle. She joins us as a weekend and casual Veterinarian to assist when needed, whilst continuing to teach Vet Nursing full time at TAFE.

Rachael Zveglic

Head Nurse

Rachael joined our team at Bundanoon Veterinary Hospital in July 2022, bringing with her several years of experience nursing in the Southern Highlands. She completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2020 through Yallah TAFE and has been dedicated to animal care ever since.

Animals have always been at the centre of Rachael’s life. She grew up surrounded by a menagerie of pets and went on to spend six years working at her local animal shelter, where her passion for animal welfare, dog training, and canine behaviour truly flourished. She continues to expand her knowledge by studying additional animal-related courses, with a particular focus on behaviour and training.

Outside of the clinic, Rachael devotes her time to volunteering with Greyhound Rescue, helping to rehabilitate and rehome dogs in need. At home, she and her fiancée, Reece, are busy raising their young son, Eli, alongside their much-loved animal family. This includes Penny, a rescue Boxer, Ally, a rescue Staffy, and three adopted cats – Eddy, Herbie, and Ivy – who Rachael bottle-raised from tiny kittens.

Rachael’s knowledge, compassion, and leadership make her an invaluable part of our team and an advocate for the wellbeing of every animal she cares for.

Phoebe Knight

Veterinary Nurse

Phoebe grew up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, spending much of her weekends and holidays on her family’s farm in the Hunter Valley. It was there that her love for the outdoors and animals first flourished.

After finishing school, Phoebe pursued her creative passions, enrolling in a design course and later completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) at the Australian National University. Her love for sculptural art even took her abroad on an exchange program to China. Following her studies, Phoebe worked at the National Gallery of Australia for two and a half years before setting off to travel the world. On her return, she eventually settled in Bundanoon, where she has called home for the past several years.

Phoebe joined the Bundanoon Veterinary Hospital team as our groomer and, in 2024, proudly graduated with her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. She brings creativity, patience, and compassion to her work, helping pets look and feel their best.

At home, Phoebe shares life with her much-loved Staffie X, Frankie, her husband (originally from Yorkshire), and their 2 energetic children. Outside of work, she enjoys swimming and unwinding with a good mystery novel.

Kate Prestney

Veterinary Nurse

Kate has been part of our team since July last year while completing her veterinary nursing studies, and this year she proudly graduated as a qualified Vet Nurse.  After starting her career as a nurse for people, her lifelong passion for animals led her back to pursue veterinary nursing.

She brings extensive experience in large animal care, especially horses – having worked as a large animal nurse in the Wollondilly Shire and running her own competition, coaching, and breeding program. Kate’s passion for horses began in childhood with her uncle and grew stronger when she landed her first job at just 12 years old as a trail riding guide at a local riding school – a place that became her second home for many years.

Encouraged by her parents, who surrounded her with all kinds of animals – horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish, and birds – Kate’s love for animals only deepened. She also had the chance to travel widely with her family, gaining experiences that shaped her outlook from a young age. By 14, she was volunteering at a local vet clinic on weekends and even completed a grooming course, adding to her early hands-on skills. Kate is also active in the equine and dog sport communities, involved in dressage, Pony Club events, agility, obedience, and scentwork with her own dogs. At home, she’s kept busy by her much-loved companions – five dogs, five cats, a team of horses, and her cheeky chickens Edith, Edna, and Elsie

Susie Watson

Veterinary Nurse

Susie is a compassionate and dedicated veterinary nurse with over 20 years of experience in the profession. Growing up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, she later moved to the Southern Highlands 16 years ago, where she has worked in local practices ever since. In 2025, she joined the Bundanoon Veterinary Hospital team, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and a genuine passion for animal care.

Susie loves all aspects of her role, but particularly enjoys meeting clients and building lasting relationships with both owners and their pets. Her warm and approachable nature ensures that every animal – and their family – feels supported and cared for.

Outside of work, Susie enjoys cooking and spending time outdoors, especially bushwalking with her much-loved French Bulldogs, Harper and Charli, and her Border Terrier, Remi. At home, she also shares life with Wilbur, her cheeky Burmese cat, who always keeps her entertained.

Laura Pethers

Veterinary Technician

Our resident “Canuck,” Laura, joined the Bundanoon Veterinary Hospital team in 2024 and brings with her more than 10 years of experience in the veterinary industry. Alongside her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, Laura also holds a Veterinary Technician’s License with the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association in Canada, reflecting her high level of training and expertise.

Originally from Southern Ontario, Laura has embraced life in the Southern Highlands, where she now calls home with her husband, Sam, their two young children, and Guinness, their energetic black Labrador who is lovingly referred to as the “middle child” of the family.

Professionally, Laura has a strong interest in radiography, ultrasound, and surgery. She is passionate about the fact that veterinary medicine is a career of continuous learning, and she enjoys sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with both her colleagues and clients.

Outside of work, Laura is equally energetic. She loves spending time in the kitchen, whether wielding a pizza peel at her outdoor oven or rolling fresh homemade pasta for her family. Sitting still, she admits, is probably her biggest challenge

Myfanwyn-Ellen Hill-Marsh (Myf)

Trainee Veterinary Nurse

Myf first joined Bundanoon Veterinary Hospital in August 2024 as part of her work placement while completing her Certificate III in Animal Studies. After successfully finishing this qualification, she went on to enrol in her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, which she is due to complete in 2025/2026.

Throughout her studies, Myf has gained valuable hands-on experience across a variety of animal care settings. She has worked in doggy day care, the Goulburn Animal Shelter, and Taralga Wildlife Park, where she cared for a range of native and non-native species, including dingoes. Alongside her nursing studies, she also works in a grooming salon in Goulburn, where she is learning to groom and has been practising full body grooms on her own pets.

At home, Myf’s animal family keeps her busy and gives her plenty of opportunities to develop her skills. She shares her life with her two dogs, Izzy and Arthur, five cats – Puck, Freya, Aries, Floki, and Apollo – and a central bearded dragon named Brooch.

Myf has a deep passion for animals and a strong desire to keep learning. Once she completes her Certificate IV, she plans to continue studying to expand her knowledge, particularly in the care of native wildlife, reptiles, and pocket pets. She is excited to build her career as a veterinary nurse and to continue gaining experience across all aspects of animal care