ABOUT US
WARRAWONG VETS is a full-service Veterinary Hospital and has been proudly treating the animals in the Illawarra since 1980. Our busy Veterinary Hospital is staffed by a team of long-standing dedicated veterinary professionals who always give the best care for your pet.
See Who We Are
Dr Durga Kovvali
Veterinarian
Dr Kovvali completed her Bachelor in Veterinary Science from the University of Melbourne in 2008. She also completed her certificate in small animal veterinary practice in 2016 from Murdoch. She has been part of the Warrawong Vet family since 2009. She has also had the opportunity to work at a number of practices in and around Sydney. Durga enjoys all aspects of general practice, and thrives on the relationships she builds with her clients and their animals.
When she is not at work, she is kept busy by her 2 children and animals.
Dr Colin Pinney
Veterinarian
Dr. Pinney has a Bachelor in Veterinary Science from the University of Sydney and is the founder of Warrawong Veterinary Hospital. He has served the local community for over 4 decades. His dedication and passion coupled with his strong medical and surgical skills is the reason for low staff turnover and a loyal client base. Dr. Pinney also has a strong interest in Wildlife and exotic medicine and enjoys all aspects of his job. After 40 years of managing the practice and working full-time, Colin has now handed the reigns to Dr. Kovvali. He has transitioned to Part-time, so he can spend more time with his family and animals. There is always something to learn from Colin, not just from the vet, but from the person and we are lucky we still continue to have his insights
Dr Ed Bechara
Veterinarian
Ed has been a part of the Warrawong Family for the last 20 years. In this time, he has gained a lot of experience in surgery and emergency medicine. He completed his memberships in surgery in 2009. His drive for continued education makes him a very important asset to the practice. No two days are the same at the practice when Ed is in, and there is so much to learn from him. In his free time, Ed builds model aeroplanes and enjoys spending time with his family.
Dr Lisa Gwynne (photo to come!!!)
Veterinarian
Lisa has been in mixed animal practice on and off for more than 2 decades. Lisa graduated in 1991 from the University of Queensland. Having worked in Scotland for the last decade, she is finally back in Australia and hoping to make the Illawara her home. Lisa enjoys all aspects of general medicine , especially animal welfare. Her efficiency and can do attitude, makes her a perfect fit for our group. We are very lucky to have her.
Lauren Green
Head Nurse (Surgery,Medicine/Clinic operations)
Lauren finished her certificate 4 in veterinary nursing about 5 years ago. We are very lucky to have Lauren as a part of the team. She brings with her, the composure and efficiency you need when there are stressful cases. Her attention to detail and commitment to animal welfare makes her an invaluable member. In addition to being an excellent nurse who is always at work, she also wears the badge of 'super mom' with some amazing craft skills.
Brooke Ivanov
Head Nurse (Front Desk/Customer relations)
Brooke has been part of Warrawong Vets for 15 years. In addition to her exemplary skills as a veterinary nurse, she brings with her the knowledge of customer liaison. Her passion for customer relations makes working with her a treat. Brooke's commitment to her fellow colleagues and her willingness to always lend a helping hand makes coming to work very easy. Now that her 2 kids are all grown up, you might see her on her scooter with her husband having little adventures.
Brooke Pawalek
Veterinary Nurse
Brooke finished her certificate 4 in Veterinary Nursing in 2019. We have the privilege of having Brooke on our team. Always with a caring smile, she makes sure her patients get all the care they need. She enjoys the challenges of surgery and medicine and is very open to change. She also has an added ability to make all the tech in the clinic just work. When not at work she tries her hand at cooking and enjoys a relaxed night with family and friends.
Leonie Lopez
Senior Veterinary Nurse
Leonie finished her certificate 4 in Veterinary nursing. She has been a valued member of the group for almost 10 years. She brings with her a passion to provide quality nursing care with attention to detail. You will never meet a person with so much determination. When not at work, Leonie likes to challenge her fitness and never misses a day at the gym!
Allison Bonetig
Practice Manager
Allison has been a long-standing member of the Warrawong Veterinary Family. She has been in and out of the veterinary industry for the last 17 years. She also brings with her a wealth of managerial experience with her other jobs. Allison has always had a passion for animal welfare and loves her role as a nurse, be it consulting or surgery. In addition to being a nurse, a farmer, a mother, and an entrepreneur, she also is an active member of the GSP rescue group.
Ellie Price
Veterinary nurse
Ellie grew up in Wagga Wagga and relocated to Wollongong to complete her certificate in Vet Nursing at Yallah TAFE. She has a particular interest in canine behaviour and training. She currently owns two Border Collies, Arlo & Evie. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, competing in flyball and agility with her dogs, or attending concerts/live shows. Ellie currently runs our puppy pre-school classes every Wednesday.
Kailee Charlton
Kailee brings with her oodles of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Her customer service skills are exemplary and with that, she brings a lot of promise. She completed her certificate 4 in Veterinary Nursing this year. We are very excited to have Kailee as part of the team. In her spare time, she loves watching live country music.
Veterinary nurse
Paul Rowland
Veterinarian
Paul was a very big part of the Warrawong family. He is missed everyday by the staff and clients
Tanya Heycott
We miss Tanya every day. She will continue to be in our hearts.
Veterinary nurse
