Meet the Team

The Mt Helena Veterinary team is here to provide the “best local care” to pets in the Perth hills region. We genuinely care about the health, welfare and comfort of your pets and find that our personal approach has meant that many patients are keen to walk through the door.

We always have the best interests of the pet in mind… in fact every decision is made in the best interests for our patients. This in combination with spending the time with our clients to explain and recommend best practice care has helped create a loyal clientele that happily trust us with their valued family member.

We pride ourselves on providing the highest level of care and an elevated skill set ultimately benefiting the patient with the best possible outcome every time. For every surgery our patients are placed on intravenous fluids to maintain their blood pressure and protect their kidneys. We always have a dedicated nurse closely monitoring the patient during surgery and on recovery. We provide pain relief to every patient not to mention plenty of cuddles especially on recovery which absolutely always helps. 🙂

Our Veterinarians are experienced exclusively in small animal surgery and medicine and all our highly-skilled Nurses are registered with the Veterinary Surgeon’s Board. We make every effort to keep up to date with the best veterinary practice relevant to your pet’s needs.

Our team comes complete with a multitude of beloved furry, winged and scaly valued family members.

Dr Tanya Lovelock
BSc BVSc

Dr Tanya Lovelock is the full time senior veterinary surgeon and co-owner of Mt Helena Vet Clinic. Tanya grew up in the Perth Hills and studied Environmental Science at the University of W.A. She then moved to Melbourne to continue her studies completing her second degree being a Bachelor of Veterinary Medical Science at Melbourne University.

Tanya has extensive experience practicing in various clinics ranging from country clinics to the very busy inner-city Melbourne clinics.

Tanya moved back home in 2014 and has loved living and working back in the eastern hills of Perth since.

Although enjoying all aspects of medicine, Tanya has a special interest in soft tissue surgery and pocket pets and is delighted in the number of chickens and rabbits we see at Mt Helena Vet!

As often as she can, Tanya enjoys long walks with her fur baby Tilly the whippet.

Dr Marian Bunton-King
BSc BVMS

Dr Michelle Luckhurst
BSc BVMS

I was born in Melbourne and raised from my teens in Perth, graduating from Murdoch University in 1997 with my veterinary degree. I have worked for 5 years in London and south west England before a long term commitment to an inner city Perth  practice but am now very much enjoying working in the Perth hills. I love pretty much every aspect of being a vet but particularly enjoy soft tissue surgery and the opportunity to cherish and treat every pet as I would treat my own, and every client as if they are family. I live in a menagerie of kids and animals and thrive on growing things and cooking them.

Dr Stephan Nell

I grew up on a farm in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. From a young age, my dad taught me that
there is a fine balance between the conservation, care and economic value of animals.

I finished my degree at the University of Pretoria (Onderstepoort campus) after which I worked at, and later co-owned, a practice in Plettenberg Bay. It is there where I truly learned to appreciate the challenges involved in being a veterinarian, as we cared for everything from rats and hamsters to the big five African animals.

With my lovely wife Tanja, and our 2 sons, we moved to Perth in 2021. Since arriving, we have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the friendly and helpful people in Australia, as well as exploring this beautiful continent.

Cheers to many more amazing adventures and I look forward to the opportunity of working at Mount Helena Family Vet Clinic.

Jess Garrihy – Veterinary Lead Nurse (RVN)

I am New Zealand born and raised had had an array of various animals throughout my childhood and adulthood alike.

I have a great sense of humour an amazing outlook (If I don’t say so myself) and I have dedicated my life to my pets and children.

I studied at South metro Tafe, graduating in 1995 completing the certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.

I absolutely love my career choice as I get to guide, treat, care and support pets and their owners throughout their journey at Mt Helena Family Vet Clinic.

I take great pride in being able to help where needed. I especially love birds and ferrets however adore all creatures great and small. I am always willing to learn something new every day and there is always time for laughter. 🙂

Kaylee Brown – Veterinary Nurse (RVN)

I am originally from Busselton and moved to Perth four years ago. After exploring a number of career pathways it ultimately led me to the Veterinary Nursing course at South Metropolitan Tafe.

I have always loved being around animals whether big or small. I grew up with my many pets including Cats, Dogs, Sheep and Rats all playing around the house which often made my home feel like a Zoo, which I loved!

Being able to find a career where I can work with animals and meet new people everyday, I love! and I feel I have found my place at Mt Helena Veterinary Clinic.

I often love unique pets and have little fur babies of my own named Clifford and Rudy, though they are small they are the best little boys and provide the best snuggles.

Claire Blake – Veterinary Nurse (RVN)

A little bit about me. I grew up in the Perth hills and have spent many years traveling Australia and the world.

My favourite place to be is in Exmouth. Swimming with the whale sharks was such an incredible experience. 

In my spare time I’ll often be at my favourite yoga studio. 

I love animals and I have had an array of pets over the years. I feel incredibly lucky every day that I work in this industry.

Arusha Flood – Veterinary Nurse (RVN)

My name is Arusha, a Veterinary Nurse and friend to all animals, especially Australian Working breed dogs and native wildlife. I come from a large family of best mates, raised down near Fremantle. A lot of My earliest memories involve animals. I seemed to share some kind of language with them which I couldn’t (and still can’t) explain. I moved to the Perth Hills in my early twenties, drawn up here by the flora and fauna, especially our 3 endangered Black Cockatoos which I will continue to advocate for. I am an ambitious person, and have worked in and studied many different fields. I started my own Wedding and Funeral Celebrancy business at 25 which fed my love of storytelling, but still something was missing, animals! Covid hit and it felt like my world was opening up whilst the rest of the world was shutting down. I completed certificates in Animal Studies, Companion Animal Services and Veterinary Nursing back to back, and completed my prac with the intelligent, hilarious and dedicated team at Mt Helena Vet. I was thrilled when I was asked to stay and haven’t looked back. I have found that Surgery is my happy place. I am in awe of our Vets and Nurses at this practice, and my time in theatre with them is such a highlight. In my rare spare time, you will find me in the native garden my partner and I have slaved over, enjoying a good glass of wine, listening to vinyl, watching sport, going to the footy when we can, and burying my head in Vet Science books as I want to become a Veterinarian before my time is done! Our two dogs Django (11 year old Blue Heeler x Kelpie) and our newest addition Merl (18 week old Blue Heeler) are the lights of our life and the entire reason for everything I do. Cheers! 

Tiana Penketh – Animal Attendant 

I was born and raised in Mt Helena and graduated from our local high school in 2022.
In January 2020 I was lucky to be employed as a Kennel Attendant at MHFVC. I’ve been learning a lot from everyone and I can’t wait for the day when I can become a fully qualified member of the team.

I am about to commence my Animal Studies certificate as of February 2023 at AVT in Ascot.
I am ultimately a dog enthusiast, but each work day I am excited to see the interesting and new animals I might come across and be able to learn about.

I share my home with two beautiful German Shepherd boys Bear and Bandit, and an aviary of budgies.
If I can be a helping hand into making just one animal‘s life more comfortable, then it’s a good day :))

Bridie McEnroe – Animal Attendant

Sandee Tasou – Veterinary Nurse (RVN) 

Sandee has worked in pharmacy, (community and government) and book keeping to now following her dream job.

Sandee has a passion for ALL animals including exotics since she was young and is currently mumma bear to – Four birds – Larry, Dexter, Bruce and Shady – three which were rescued and one hand-raised from our clinic. Two dogs – Taizah and Diesel and Two rescue cats – Pauly and Rocket.

Michael Bennett – Practice Manager

Michael is co-owner of MHVC and comes with many years happily surrounding himself in the industry by being married to Dr Tanya.

Growing up in foot hills of Mt Baw Baw in a beautiful little Victorian country town of Willow Grove he was eager to travel and explore the world. Michael comes with a range of skills and experiences derived from his studies and careers in Hospitality/Marketing/Advertising/Public Relations/Sales and Small Business.

Michael has a genuine passion about providing an exceptional and elevated level of care to all our wonderful patients that enter through the door in company with providing the best possible customer experience for their owners. He loves meeting our clients when he can escape his lair – previously known as the office. 😉

Tilly Lovelock Bennett – owner of our lives 🙂 and we love it!

Tilly is the very much loved family member of the Lovelock Bennett family clan. One of Tillys chores each day is to decide which bed she will rest on depending on the weather, view point and generally how she is feeling at the time. She loves walks through the many tracks that Perth Hills provide and loves a cow ear from time to time… yum yum