About Dr Matt
and his ' small friend ' Gerald

"Where have I been all your life?"

After 5 years of study I graduated from the University of Sydney in 1996, and accepted my first job as an anaesthetist at the University of Sydney Veterinary Centre. Three months later I was fortunate enough to be offered a scholarship to sail around the Canary Islands for a month with the British Sail Training Association – needless to say, I went. After sailing through the Canary Islands I decided to stay and work in the UK for a while. This turned into 4 years. During this time in the UK I worked as a small and large animal vet, both as a locum, in various practices all over England, and then I accepted a permanent job at Walker, Duffin and Daniel in Rugby, Warwickshire.

After two very happy years with Walker, Duffin and Daniel I decided to return to Australia, and concentrate solely on small animals. It was at this time that I went back to study, in further detail, the medicine of cats and dogs.

I accepted a position with the University of Sydney's Veterinary Centre and worked as a Small Animal Medical Registrar and later at St Ives Veterinary Hospital. It was here that I had many "celebrity clients" such as "The Black Cat" from the Matrix, and the Labrador puppies form the Sorbent advertisements.

In 2002 I moved to Canberra. The most exciting part of my move to Canberra was that I was able to get my own "small friend", Gerald.

Gerald is a black and silver miniature schnauzer that goes everywhere with me. Gerald loves ear and neck scratches, cuddles on the couch, walking for hours, and any time spent at his doggy-grandparents farm in Bungendore. He loves to be around people and is a very important part of my family and my extended family.

Gerald has been the inspiration for starting Small Friends Veterinary Hospital. I wanted to create the kind of veterinary hospital that I would be pleased to take Gerald. I intend to offer, to every small friend that visits Small Friends Veterinary Hospital, the same level of service I would give my Gerald.