John’s pawsome service awarded

A LONG-SERVING Riverland veterinarian has been awarded as the best practitioner in Australia.

Recognising close to 50 years of animal care, and 40 years of service to the local pet population, Riverland Veterinary Practice (RVP) principal vet John Hammond received the 2025 Australian Small Animal Veterinarians (ASAV) Roger Clarke Practitioner of the Year Award in August.

Presented to one individual, who in the eyes of their colleagues, demonstrates outstanding service to the profession and the public through academic pursuits, standard of practice, professional profile, altruism, or a combination of these components, the (ASAV) Roger Clarke Practitioner of the Year Award is one of the most prestigious recognitions in the industry.

Mr Hammond said he was still “trying to process the honour”.

“I was nominated by one of my previous staff members Georgina Hiller, which meant a lot,” he said.

“To be named the best vet in Australia, it’s just really something.”

Hailing from Warradale, Mr Hammond graduated from the University of Queensland in 1975, before moving to the Riverland in 1984 to begin his full-service mixed animal practice, and emergency centre, which now includes five clinics across the Riverland, in Berri, Renmark, Loxton, and Waikerie.

“My family were in the saddlery business, and to them, important people were good horse vets — so I guess, that was a big influence (into becoming a vet),” he said.

“I am actually surprised how much I love it and how much I am interested in it — I am always studying and learning.”

Over the past couple of years Mr Hammond, and a team of staff, have also begun to extend their services to the remote Australian outback, including along Queensland’s Birdsville Track, and South Australia’s Coober Pedy, the town of Oodnadatta.

“We found in a lot of these places, they hadn’t had a veterinary visit in up to seven years,” he said.

“Whenever we have gone up, it has been a lot of work, and are often doing animals back-to-back, (performing care such as) desexing, vaccinations, surgeries, and floating teeth in horses.

“It’s always a very unique experience.”

Though awarded for the care of small animals, Mr Hammond said his highlight of regional and rural veterinary care is the diversity of the role.

“As country practitioner, it’s all mixed animal practice, so not only am I doing cats, bird or dogs, but I have also done calving, post-mortem on a sheep, I had to give a goat a blood transfusion, or a caesarean, and we also get to work with horses,” he said.

“I don’t think I knew what I was getting into when I first moved, but as there were no specialists when I began, I have gotten to do everything in my career as a rural vet — it’s been very interesting.”

However, due to the remote location, and lack of additional emergency services in the Riverland, Mr Hammond said to work as a rural veterinarian also means incredible dedication, and sudden after work calls.

“Sometimes, you and the nurses will be working all night — it’s a major part of the role,” he said.

“I am very thankful to my wife and family who have supported me to work so much.”

Mr Hammond hopes to continue the high-quality service of RVP, improve on facilities, and continue to train rural vets for the region, of which there has been 30 who have learned from his guidance so far.

“I am very thankful for the recognition, because there are hardworking vets everywhere,” he said.

“I feel very lucky.”