BECOMING a vet was not something Lobke Buhrmann (pictured, right) really ever aspired to.
“When I was growing up, the thought never really entered my head,” she says. “I have always found medical things very interesting, and of course, I love animals. But there was no particular calling towards veterinary.”
Falling into such a job has nevertheless been an epic journey for the 28-year-old Dutch adventurer.
Lobke, like workmate and fellow foreigner Tom Gray, has been working as a vet in the Manning Valley after registering with recruitment agency Vetlink.
She has so far spent six months living in Wingham and working at John Dooley’s Wingham Vet Clinic in Isabella Street.
Lobke grew up in Dutch city of The Hague before moving to university in Utrecht, which is in the geographical centre of Holland.
She studied vet science for seven years before coming to Australia via the Vetlink program.
Lobke has, however, been Down Under before, backpacking around the country for 18 months as a 19-year-old.
Lobke arrived in Australia on her latest mission in August 2009. Though English is not her main language, she has no problem conversing. After all, it is just one of five tongues she can speak. She says language has been one of the more prominent differences between mainland Europe and our great southern nation.
“It is different to live in a place where there is only one language,” Lobke says. “At home you could be surrounded by 10 different nationalities at any one time.”
The vastness of our land is another thing she had to get used to.
“I never owned a car until I came to Australia,” she said. “The distances between the places you travel are huge. In Holland I didn’t need a vehicle. I usually just rode my bicycle everywhere.”
Lobke, who has mainly lived in the city most of her life, has found herself treating all kinds of farm animals and livestock throughout the Manning Valley.
She said she enjoys the easygoing nature of Australians and our laid-back attitude.
“Everyone is really friendly here,” she says. “I was amazed at the easiness people invite you over to their house. I think in Holland people take a bit longer to warm up to you, but once they do, the friendship is really strong.”
On spare weekends Lobke often heads out on expeditions to local national parks and beaches.
She has explored many of the Mid North Coast’s natural wonders in her short time here, and has also made numerous trips to Melbourne and Sydney.
Lobke’s stay in Australia is at the moment indefinite. While she prefers to focus on the present, she harbours dreams of working with the United Nations in the veterinary public health development sector.
“I don’t know,” she says. “We’ll see what happens.”
SINCE arriving in Wingham four months ago, Englishman Tom Gray has taken to the community like a duck to water.
The 24-year-old Brit is one of two overseas vets currently working at the Wingham Vet Clinic. From the tennis courts to the golden beaches – Tom is definitely enjoying his time Down Under.
Tom grew up on a farm in Winchester, Hampshire, and has helped his mum and dad out on the property since he was 13.
Daily dealings with cattle, sheep, horses and chickens proved to be great preparation for a career in veterinary.
“It has been really helpful coming from a farming background,” Tom says of his career choice.
“I’ve always been around animals, so I know a lot of the ‘dos and don’ts’ when it comes to treating them.”
Tom spent six years at the prestigious Cambridge University, where he studied veterinary medicine. Every school holidays he would head back to the family farm to help his dad out.
Tom finished his studies in June 2009. He worked with his dad for three months before applying to come over to Australia.
“I’ve always wanted to work abroad,” Tom says, “and I thought Australia would be a fantastic place to visit, so I decided to head over here.”
The process started when Tom registered with Australian-based employment agency Vetlink. Vetlink is a specialist recruitment company for the veterinary industry that has made more than 7600 permanent and locum placements throughout Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada and Asia since 1996.
Wingham Vet Clinic owner John Dooley has been associated with the Vetlink scheme since 1999. He estimates seven overseas vets have been at his practice in that time.
Tom arrived in Australia last October and has been living in Tinonee.
Outside of work, he has involved himself heavily in events around town.
Tom is a regular at the Wingham Tennis Club’s Wednesday and Tuesday night competitions, and can often be seen hitting up on the weekends with his mates.
He also is a mad soccer fan and plays futsal at Saxby’s Basketball Stadium in Taree.
What’s more, Tom has recently become a member of the Wingham Baptist Church and is also learning guitar with local musician, Craig Bourke.
Work has also provided him with a few interesting tales.
“I was at a friend’s house for Christmas dinner,” he says, “when I got a call to come in to the clinic and work on a cat with an abscess.
“When I got to the clinic, I found out the cat had escaped en route! So we ended up chasing the thing up Isabella Street and Bent Street on Christmas night.”
How long is Tom here for?
“I don’t really know the answer to that question yet,” he says.
“It’s pretty open-ended. My initial intent was to stay in Australia for 12 months. But this is such a nice place.
“My long-term goal is to take over the family farm from my dad, but for now I’m happy just where I am.”
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