Our Team

Dr Peter Launders

BVSc (Hons) BEc (Hons) LLB (Hons)

University of Queensland - 2008

Before becoming a veterinarian, Peter had a career in investment banking, working in Sydney, New York and Hong Kong. After seeing the error of his ways, Peter graduated from the University of Queensland (where he and Kellie met) with a Veterinary Science degree in 2008.  Peter started at Cowra Veterinary Centre in 2009 and purchased the practice in July 2011. Peter enjoys the variety of mixed practice and is happy working on any and all species but especially enjoys cattle work. Away from work, Peter is keen on playing and watching as many sports as possible.

Dr Kellie Launders

BVSc (Hons), BAnimSc

University of Queensland - 2008

After a stint as a jillaroo in outback Queensland and an Animal Science degree from James Cook University in Townsville, Kellie graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Queensland in 2008. Kellie spent 18 months at Young Veterinary Hospital before making the move to Cowra. She and Peter are the (often frazzled) parents of Sienna and twins Joshua and Samuel. Kellie is now back at work a couple of days a week (for a rest). Kellie has done additional training in eye and orthopaedic surgery and enjoys tricky medicine cases. Kellie is also keen on anything to do with horses and has started to learn dressage in her spare time.

Dr Emma Catlin

BVetBiol/BVSc, 

Charles Sturt University

Emma graduated from Charles Sturt University at Wagga Wagga in 2015 and started at Cowra Veterinary Centre shortly afterwards. You can see Emma at our branch practice in Canowindra on Mondays and at the surgery in Cowra on Wednesdays. Emma grew up on cattle and cropping farms around Cassilis and Mudgee. Similar to Kellie, Emma did a stint as a jillaroo in Queensland before starting her studies so she wonders why the cattle around here don’t have lumps on their backs. Emma is also very keen on horses and enjoys riding whenever possible. Emma and Scott welcomed baby Barnsley in 2022, so Emma had some well-earned time off while she mastered the art of being a mum.

Dr Kristen Fredericksen

BVet Biol/BVSc

Charles Sturt University – 2017

Kristen graduated from Charles Sturt University at Wagga Wagga in 2017 and was part of the Cowra Veterinary Centre team from 2017-2019. Kristen moved to Queensland for a couple of years and has rejoined the team at CVC part-time after returning to NSW. Kristen is a Kiwi by birth (but we try not to hold that against her) and grew up on a sheep and cattle property near Orange. Kristen’s passion is cattle, and she loves spending time on the farm doing bull testing, pregnancy testing, artificial insemination and other cattle work for her own mobile veterinary practice.

Dr Sunita Neville

BVSc; MACVSc (Surgery)

Sydney University 1995

Sunita joined the Cowra Veterinary Centre team in early 2022, commuting from Orange 3 days a week. Sunita is an experienced vet who has worked in clinics in the UK and Sydney before settling in Orange. Sunita completed additional qualifications in surgery in 2020 so she is happy to tackle tricky orthopaedic or soft tissue surgery. Sunita has also spent time teaching Animal Studies and Veterinary Nursing at TAFE as well as being the on-track vet at the races and the trots in Orange. Outside of work, Sunita has 3 busy teenagers to wrangle and also enjoys getting out into the garden – frosty Orange weather permitting!

Dr Alex-Kate Langfield 

BVetBiol/BVSc

Charles Sturt University 2018

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Alex-Kate did a number of practical placements at Cowra Veterinary Centre during her veterinary science degree, so it was like coming home when she joined us in August 2022. Alex-Kate’s family are poultry farmers, so it was no surprise that Alex-Kate became a poultry vet after graduating and spent a number of years working in that field before deciding it was time for a change and coming to Cowra Veterinary Centre. Alex-Kate and husband Grant welcomed baby Addison in 2022. You will find Alex-Kate here on Mondays and some Fridays when she finds time away from her poultry consulting business.

Dr Charlotte Duff-Clarke 

BVSc Hons

University of Queensland 2024

Charlotte joined the Cowra Vet team in February 2025. While she grew up in Sydney, she spent lots of time in the Central West and rural NSW when she was younger, visiting friends and family. Charlotte did her degree in Queensland and worked at dairy farms during her Uni holidays which fostered an interest in working with large animals. She did a practical placement with us in July 2024 and did so well that we invited her to come back here to work when she graduated – and she did! In her spare time she enjoys travelling and enjoying what the Cowra region has to offer. 

Tara Wallace

Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Tara joined Cowra Veterinary Centre in 2017 after moving from Sydney to Koorawatha for a tree change. She previously worked at the University of Sydney Vet Hospital in Camden and has experience in both equine and small animal nursing. In her spare time, Tara enjoys riding her horses. Her partner, Blake, is a professional farrier, so horses are a big part of their lives. Tara also has a cattle dog named Rory, a Jack Russell named Harvey, and a cat named Flea.

Sheena Dawson

Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Sheena joined our team in 2019 after moving from Newcastle to the Central West. Sheena lives in Eugowra with her husband, Josh and baby Casey. Sheena’s pets range from lorikeets to cats and cattle dogs. She also keeps busy playing multiple sports. Sheena has spent time on Reception and Nursing and now works for us on Saturday mornings.

Kate Stewart

Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Kate joined the Cowra Veterinary Centre team in March 2023. Coming from a farming background near Temora, Kate is comfortable with animals of all shapes and sizes. At home, Kate has a number of pets and often fosters rescue animals. She particularly enjoys surgical nursing but is always willing to help wherever needed. Be sure to say hello and make her feel welcome in Cowra!

Kristy Price

Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Kristy joined Cowra Veterinary Centre in 2018 with extensive emergency nursing experience, most recently at an after-hours hospital in Canberra. Kristy lives in the Bumbaldry bush and cares for a variety of wildlife, with wombats being a favourite. You’ll usually find her here on Thursdays or during after-hours emergencies.

Jacqui Langfield

B. Systems Ag (Equine)

Jacqui joined our team in late 2020 as a receptionist. She grew up in Murrumbateman and moved to Cowra 20 years ago to manage the Bamborough Pony Stud. With a strong equine background, she also runs her own pony-stock horse stud and has worked at Pepper Tree Equine Clinic and Cowra Meat Processors. Jacqui and her husband, Ted, have a daughter, Sarah, who keeps them very busy.

Tilly Porter

Trainee – Certificate II in Animal Care (studying)

Tilly loves animals of all kinds and began helping us on Saturday mornings. She is combining TAFE studies with high school through a school-based apprenticeship and now works with us Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays as well. Tilly hopes to continue her training and qualify as a veterinary nurse.

Ashleigh (Ash) Randall

Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Ash joined us in July 2023 as a surgical nurse but also works on reception. With experience in equine practice, she is active in the Grenfell Pony Club and the Weddin Muster. Alongside two busy children and a commute from Grenfell, Ash somehow manages to stay wonderfully calm and cheerful!

Chelsee White

Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Chelsee joined Cowra Vet Centre in late 2024 to finish off her Certificate IV, which she has now done – congratulations! Chelsee is now learning the vet nursing ropes from our experienced nurses while juggling her other jobs at Woolworths and PCYC and many sporting commitments.

Carissa Watt

Reception; Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Carissa used to work for us (from 2011 to 2013) and rejoined the Cowra Vet team in late 2024 after gaining experience at some very big and busy clinics (in Canberra and Orange). Now living in Canowindra and chasing 2 busy children and 1 hard-working husband, she comes to work to provide care and compassion to all our clients and their much-loved pets.

Jenise Besant 

Reception



Jenise joined the Cowra Vet team in late 2024 to help us out in the reception area. Outside of work, Jenise’s family are very involved in rodeos and other horse sports so she does a lot of travel. Thankfully all that hard work and travel is paying off as her girls have been very successful.

Janet Everingham

Reception

After moving to Cowra and being a client for several years, Janet joined our team in September 2022. You’ll see her on reception Mondays to Wednesdays and also at our Canowindra branch on Wednesdays. Janet and her husband, Shane, breed, show, and train stockhorses, as well as border collies — who somehow always stay spotless!

Sarah Knowles

Reception

Sarah joined Cowra Veterinary Centre in January 2022, commuting daily from Grenfell. Originally starting part-time, Sarah is now at reception most days, keeping our clinic running smoothly. She loves her horses and owns a basset hound named Peanut along with a few cats. Sarah is also known for her dedication to her daily coffee fix!

Tara Hayes

Trainee – Certificate II in Animal Care (studying)

Tara joined the team in June 2024. She works Saturday mornings and Monday and Tuesday afternoons while also studying at TAFE in her spare time.