In the Media 2005

For the Love of All Animals
News Source: Revive Magazine, Sunshine Coast Daily, November 12 2005
By: Caroline Tucker

Caring for the sick and injured is in the genes for veterinarian Che Phillips, as Caroline Tucker discovered.

VETERINARIAN Che Phillips was always destined to care for sick animals.

“My mother was a wildlife carer and my father worked for National Parks in New South Wales, so I think I inherited that gene,” she laughed.

“I’ve wanted to do this since I was a little girl.”

Che joined the staff at the Australian Wildlife Hospital soon after gaining her degree from the University of Queensland last year.

And while she says it is her dream job, treating animals with critical injuries can be demanding, and sometimes heart-breaking work.

“It’s challenging every day,” she said. “It can be very sad and sometimes it gets you down, but the motivation to help them get well keeps you going and seeing the animals released back into the wild is its own reward.

“That makes up for the heartache.”

Che said work at the hospital was very much a team effort where they conferred on how best to treat animals suffering from serious injury and trauma. “Everyone here is very compassionate,” she said.

“With difficult cases we decide what’s best for the animal as a team, and many heads are better than one.

“I’ve always wanted to do this.

“It’s my way of trying to help the environment and make a difference.”