About Us
Dr Alex Rosenwax
Dr Alex Rosenwax is currently President of the Australian Avian Veterinary Medical Association (AAVMA) which is a special interest group for avian veterinarians.
Alex undertook his veterinary studies with the specific aim of working with birds. This desire stems from an early childhood love for and fascination with birds.
After graduating from Veterinary Science in 1991, Alex worked with birds in England, Hong Kong and Australia. He successfully completed the Membership Exams for the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Avian Health in January 1996.
Since establishing an all-bird veterinary service in Sydney in November 1996, Alex sees cases from other vets as well as those from pet owners. He is dedicated to providing quality care and treatment for all birds.
Rescued and re-homed Budgies and Cockatiels inhabit a large outdoor aviary, while two large "adopted" parrots (a Galah and a Major Mitchell x Corella) share his home.
Dr Lee Peacock
Dr Lee Peacock has been with us behind the scenes for several years, graduating in 2005 as a veterinarian.
Lee has always wanted to work as a bird and exotics veterinarian, and undertook study at Currumbin Bird Sanctuary and Adelaide Zoo. She also has a strong interest in Australian wildlife and in 2004 completed a state-wide research project on flying foxes.
Lee grew up on Queensland's Central Coast where she shared her home with a multitude of feathered and furred creatures. She is currently the proud friend of a 10 year old Rainbow Lorikeet called Banjo.
Dr Izidora Sladakovic
Izidora started with us in 2007 after completing electives in Avian and Exotic Medicine and graduating with First Class Honours in Veterinary Science.
She grew up on a hobby farm in Croatia with lots of animals but particularly enjoyed caring for the family layer chickens and has wanted to work with birds ever since.
She shares her current home with two cockatiels, Chiro and Lucky.
Dr Pat Macwhirter
Dr Pat Macwhirter graduated BVSc (Hons) from Sydney University in 1972, worked in small animal practice in Sydney while completing an MBA and then, moving overseas, developed an interest in birds while doing an Internship at the University of Pennsylvania. After returning to Australia she started Highbury Veterinary Clinic in Melbourne in 1981 which she still owns.
In 1992, Pat became the second veterinarian in Australia to be made Fellow of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists and a registered specialist in Bird Medicine. She is a very experienced clinician and over the years, as well as keeping birds herself, she has been a regular speaker at veterinary and other conferences, and has contributed many articles to textbooks, journals and proceedings.
Pat regularly commutes to Sydney to work with us.
Sandy Beynon, veterinary
technician
Sandy has a degree in Science (physiology, zoology) and a Graduate Diploma of Education, which saw her involved in human medical research for 12 years prior to working at a small animal practice for 2 years. She has also worked as a WIRES volunteer, rescuing and fostercaring for injured and orphaned native wildlife.
She has a particular love of and interest in birds and joined our practice in July 2002.
While Sandy has kept pet rats in the past, four Cockatiels, one Eclectus, one cat and a husband currently share her home.
Rebecca O'Connor, veterinary nurse
Rebecca
completed veterinary nursing studies
in 2006.
She has always wanted to be a vet
nurse and has previously worked in both large and
small animal practices.
She joined the team in 2006 and is interested in all aspects of animal care, especially bird behaviour.
Having a home full of birds and exotics (including fish, Budgies, Cockatiels and a particularly cheeky Rainbow Lorikeet names "Peaches") means Bec was destined to work for us!
Tyron de Kauwe, veterinary nurse
Tyron completed veterinary nursing studies in 2007. He has always had a love of animals, particularly birds, and is considering undertaking Veterinary Science studies in 2009.
He has kept cockatiels, finches, canaries and budgies in the past and is currently a member of Seabird Rescue, an organisation involved in the research, rehabilitation and release of our injured coastal wildlife.