MEET THE
HEARTLAND VETS
DR TRACEY THORNTON
Tracey is passionate about providing excellent veterinary care for all creatures, both large and small. In 2008 she opened Heartlands Veterinary Hospital York and since then the practice has steadily grown, moving into a new purpose-built hospital in the centre of York in 2021.
Much to her husband’s horror Tracey has a veritable menagerie at home which is made up of cats, dogs, horses, donkeys and the odd stray animal that needs looking after!
DR NATALIE ULLRICH
Dr Natalie has called York home for most of her life, attending York District High School as a primary school student.
In the years since graduating as a veterinarian from Murdoch University in 2009 she has worked in various mixed and small animal practices in Western Australia.
Outside of work she is kept busy looking after her three children and enjoys gardening and riding her horse.
DR PAIGE LUDBEY
Paige grew up in Tasmania, before moving to WA’s beautiful Kimberley region to fulfil her dream of being a jillaroo. After falling in love with the lifestyle and the cattle, she was inspired to study at Murdoch University, so she could begin to help all creatures great and small. Paige’s main interests are cattle and horse medicine but she enjoys the variety that being a mixed animal practitioner offers.
In her spare time, Paige enjoys trips to the beach and riding out on her horse Baz with the company of her ever-faithful border collies, Jill and newest recruit Scruff.
DR OLIVIA FRUZYNSKI
Olivia is originally from Perth, having spent several years in both Canada and the UK.
She fell in love with treating both big and small animals whilst studying at Murdoch University and was inspired to move to the country to help both people and their animals.
Olivia loves all creatures but especially cows!
DR KIRSTI ADDISON
Kirsti was born in South Africa, in a small town called Nelspruit, very close to Kruger National Park. Kirsti studied Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria where she initially thought her passion lay with treating small animals (dogs and cats) but, after graduating and working for the government for a year, she has discovered a love for treating production animals.
Kirsti spends her down time in the dance studio and also hiking with her dog, Kaya. She has wanted to move to Australia since the age of 4 and is grateful she has now had the opportunity to fulfil this dream, along with having the opportunity to work rurally and see a huge variety of animals on a daily basis.
DR FARAH BARTON
Farah grew up in sunny Singapore for most of her life before moving to Perth a year before starting her studies at Murdoch University.
She fell in love with the charm of the country practice and has since joined us here at Heartlands.
In her spare time, Farah enjoys hiking, going to the beach, cooking and cuddling her cat, “Fin” who is looking less than impressed with her in this photo.
DR RIANNE VAN DER AAR
She is particularly interested in feline and wildlife medicine, enjoying the variety of mixed practice, especially in a country setting. Outside of work, you’ll find Rianne enjoying the best of WA at the beach or in her swag, lost in a good book with her dogs by her side.
DR SUE BENNETT
Sue graduated from Murdoch University a long time ago then worked in mainly equine practice in the Hunter Valley before realizing she was best suited to Small Animal Internal Medicine.
She underwent specialization training at University of Melbourne, attaining the qualification in 2009 while working in the medicine department at Murdoch University. Since then she has worked in academia and private referral practice in Perth while teaching remotely for University of Sydney. Sue moved to the region 3 years ago and recently joined the practice, currently redeveloping the broader skills required for general practice.
In her spare time, Sue cares for 2 pet sheep, 2 horses, 2 fish and a cat, and she is learning to sing.
DR MELINDA BELL
Melinda graduated from Murdoch University in 1993 and worked in small animal practice for seven years whilst completing Membership examinations in Feline Medicine. She then returned to Murdoch Uni to work in the General Practice department as a small animal clinician and teacher. Fast forward to 25 years later and she is still there but has transitioned to a purely academic and teaching role, having completed a PhD and is now Academic Chair and Associate Dean Students. She has missed clinical practice very much so has joined the Heartlands team and is loving working one day a week with them. Melinda finds great satisfaction in working with clients and honouring the client-animal bond and brings over 30 years of small animal clinical experience to the team.
When she is not working, Melinda runs a full house of one husband and four young adult children (and their partners) who seem very reluctant to leave home (the husband has been informed he is welcome to stay). There is also a geriatric dog and cat who rule the house, and one younger cat who does as he is told.
DR RACHEL LIM
Rachel grew up in Singapore and moved to Western Australia to pursue her passion for veterinary medicine.
She enjoys the variety and meaningful connections that come with the profession, as well as the privilege of caring for all creatures great and small.
Off the clock, Rachel is a committed ultimate frisbee player, a tea enthusiast, and loves a cuddle with her cat named Pixel.