Meet the Team

Meet Our Staff

Your Experienced Pet Care Professionals

The staff at Golf Course Veterinary Hospital & Best Mates Pet Training in Taree are connected by a passionate commitment for the wellbeing of all animals. You can read about our team below.

Book an appointment on (02) 6552 6022.

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Paul Pitney BVSC

Veterinarian

After graduating from Sydney University in 1991, Paul initially worked in mixed practice in Illawarra. In 1996, he moved to the Mid North Coast and began working in this hospital with Colin Dry until 2000. Paul then moved to Tamworth with his wife Ngaia after purchasing a practice which they owned until 2011. Missing the coastal life, Paul and Ngaia returned to Taree with Paul resuming his working relationship with Colin and purchasing the business in 2020. Paul is devoted to the care and welfare of all animals and his special interests include pain management, anaesthesia and behaviour.

Paul has worked for TAFE teaching veterinary nurses and passionately promotes continuing education. He has volunteered as a veterinarian in the Cook Islands and Cambodia.

Paul shares his life with his wife Ngaia, a Great Dane called Wally, a crossbred named Zali, 2 cats Tuffy and Maddison, and assorted other pets.

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Ngaia Pitney

Certificate IV Veterinary Nurse |

Certificate IV in Dog Behavioural Training (Delta Canine Good Citizen Trainer and Assessor) | Certificate IV Training and Assessment

Ngaia has worked as a veterinary nurse for over 30 years and her desire to do the right thing by her patients has never wavered. Ngaia started working in hospitals in the Illawarra, followed by Taree, then Tamworth (which she owned with husband Paul) before making her way back to Taree via Forster. Ngaia has a long standing passion for excellence in nursing, anaesthesia and behavioural training of companion animals. Ngaia has also been a TAFE teacher since 2002, passing on experience and knowledge to veterinary nursing and animal care students. Ngaia also volunteered in Cambodia with Free the Bears and the Ester Honey Foundation in the Cook Islands in 2015.

Ngaia has owned and run Best Mates Pet Training since 2001, helping people build strong balanced understanding for their animals.

Ngaia lives at Pampoolah where she conducts Best Mates Training with husband Paul, 2 dogs, 2 cats, horses, parrots, chickens and a snake.

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Sabine Mentges-Carrol

Certificate IV Veterinary Nurse

Sabina is a familiar and friendly face to clients and pets having started at the hospital in 1996 (firstly as a volunteer then quickly gaining employment). Sabina has completed her certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. In 2000, Sabina moved to Tumut, then Canberra with husband Ben, where she worked as a veterinary nurse before returning to the Manning Valley in 2002. This move allowed her to be closer to family and resume employment with the hospital.

Caring and compassionate, Sabina has a deep love for all fur babies. Outside of work, her passions include horse riding, voluntary bible education and raising cattle with her husband on the farm.

Sabina's own fur babies include 1 dog, 2 cats, 2 horses and numerous cattle.

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Dianne Dunham

Certificate IV Veterinary Nurse

When you’re looking for skill, patience and care for your companion, look no further. Di started nursing in 1990 and completed her certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing with TAFE at Ultimo. Di started her vet nursing career in Gordon, then Terrigal but making Taree home since 2000. Di has worked locally in veterinary clinics in Forster and Taree ever since, gaining a wealth of experience.

Di has a cert III in Horticulture and enjoys cooking, gardening, music festivals and the beach life with her two children. Di shares her home by the water with her escape artist dog, Jack Russell terrier, Iggy.

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