Our team, which consists of four veterinarians, supported by our four dedicated nurses, two veterinary receptionists, practice manager and hospital attendant, have your pet’s well-being foremost in our hearts and minds.
“You and your pet are our number one priority. If you are both happy, then so are we! Our mission is to provide you and your pet with the best possible care and service.”
We believe in working collaboratively, in alignment with our core values of Compassion, Respect, Enthusiasm and Education, to provide you and your pet with excellent care, customer service, and veterinary medicine. We are continually looking at ways to improve our standards of care through further education and constructive feedback.
Meet the team
Dr Robert McMahon
Director & Veterinary Surgeon BVSc
Read more about Rob
Role: Veterinarian / Superintendent
Started at Sweet Pea: At the start
Pets: 2 cats - Jackie & Sandy
4 dogs - Pete, Ollie, KD & Marley
Work Experience: Started as a vet in Uralla working with farm animals and pets, in 1996. Then moved to Port Stephens, working mostly with small animals. Moved to Forster in 2001 and have been working here ever since.
Favourite Food: Olives, Cheese & Ice-cream
Favourite Travel Destination: Venice
Favourite Species: I really don’t know. Least favourite are ticks.
Loved Ones: Lots. Partner - Sammy, two sons - Ash & Sam, Brother & Sister-in-Law, Parents, some very close friends.
If I had One Wish: More time with family, friends and our pets.
Samantha Blake
Director & Veterinary Nurse MSc
Read more about Sam
Role: To keep the hospital & rescue running as smoothly as possible (and to smooch & cuddle lots of critters!).
Started at Sweet Pea: 8th of January 2014 - the day we opened!
Pets: Petey Poop - one of our first rescue doggies through Sweet Pea - a handsome, sweet natured, mixed breed Bull Arab type goofball. KD - adopted pre-Sweet Pea - a mature but cheeky tomboy, who’s DNA test tells us she is a Yorkshire Terrier X Miniature Dachshund X Chihuahua. Marley - also adopted pre-Sweet Pea - a timid, toothless but reactive mature Maltese (sound familiar??) Oliver - an inherited happy-go-lucky, slightly hyperactive Hairless Chinese Crested. Jackie - another pre-Sweet Pea adoption - THE BEST cat in the world - a beautiful tabby boy, who still likes to suckle on my clothes. Sandy - a Sweet Pea rescue - a gorgeous female Ginger who I rescued but who ADORES Rob!(eye roll)
Work Experience: Prior to Vet Nursing, I have pretty much done it all! Advertising, Sales, Hospitality, Sound & Lighting. And the privilege of volunteering all over the world with companion animals, bears & primates.
Favourite Food: Middle Eastern!
Favourite Travel Destination: Turkey. Very closely followed by Romania. And anywhere I haven’t been yet!
Favourite Species: Dogs are pretty hard to beat but I do love my bears!
Loved Ones: Partner Bert. Stepsons, Ash & Sam. Beautiful Mum, Sandy & Stepdad, Gary. Brothers, Jono & Ben. My best friend, Mireille.
If I had One Wish: Equality for all living beings.
Tamika Franks
Receptionist
Bek Crawford
Veterinary Nurse
Read more about Bek
Role: Veterinary Nurse - Hospital, Surgery or Reception!
Started at Sweet Pea: February 2021
Pets: Jessie 12 year old Kelpie X
Work Experience: Have been a Vet Nurse for about 5 years, working on the Northern Beaches of Sydney before making the move to Forster.
Favourite Food: Mexican and Pasta
Favourite Travel Destination: New Zealand
Favourite Species: Otters
Loved Ones: Friends
If I had One Wish: That all humans loved and respected all animals
Read more about Tamika
Role: Receptionist
Started at Sweet Pea: December 2021
Pets: 3 doggies: 2 Golden Retrievers (Manny & Bella) and 1 Miniature Schnauzer (Honey)
Work Experience: Amcal Pharmacy, Forster
Favourite Food: Chocolate, Mangoes
Favourite Travel Destination: Hawaii, Switzerland and Thredbo Snow
Favourite Species: Miniature Schnauzer
Loved Ones: Mum - Kim, Dad - Tim, Partner - Jake, Brother - Shane, Sister- Charmaine
If I had One Wish: I wish that my fur babies could live forever
Lauren McGee
Casual Vet Nurse
Read more about Kellie
Role: Receptionist
Started at Sweet Pea:
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Richelle Dorney
Casual Vet Nurse
Read more about Richelle
Role:
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Barnabus Sweet Pea
Hospital Security
Read more about Barnabus
Role: Sit atop inappropriate spaces and oversee proceedings, lounge about the place looking regal, salutes to the sun.
Started at Sweet Pea: This dude is pre-Sweet Pea. I know all the ins and outs!
Pets: I have so many dogs, I have lost count of their names. They come in and out all day long, one after the other.
Work Experience: Oh, I know how to work it!
Favourite Food: Anything that is not mine eg. Krispy Kreme doughnuts gifted to the nurses, bread rolls or sandwiches in the staff room, meat pies cooling on the window sill, you get the picture!
Favourite Travel Destination: Consult Room 1
Favourite Species: Humans are okay, I guess.
Loved Ones: The Sweet Pea Team and Daisy <3 data-preserve-html-node="true"
If I had One Wish: That I could eat what I want, when I want!
Daisy Sweet Pea
Staff Supervisor
Read more about Daisy
Role: To find the highest, most inaccessible, and disruptive place to supervise everyone. I fulfil my role to the best of my ability.
Started at Sweet Pea: I arrived as a tiny lost kitten in February 2019 and decided to stay!
Pets: Barney
Work Experience: I have not worked a day in my life and don’t intend to start anytime soon.
Favourite Food: Bugs
Favourite Travel Destination: The Meeting Room - it used to be so easy to access and was so chilled out but that’s all changed now. They’ve closed the borders. It’s so hard to get in there!
Favourite Species: Bugs
Loved Ones: Barney is okay, I guess.
If I had One Wish: That I could visit The Meeting Room any time I like and destroy as many chairs as I want to.