CVA Country Councillor Profile – Dr Deb Kirton of New Zealand

Q1. Tell us about you, your family and where you live?

I live in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, with my husband and two boys aged 5 and 7 years old. I grew up in a remote farming community in the central north island on a high country sheep station. I was sent 2 hours away to boarding school and then I went onto university to study Veterinary Science in Palmerston North. I spent all my university holidays working on farms (piggery, ostrich, diary and sheep and beef) as well as at a horse racing stable.

Q2. What is your favourite food?

I’m flexible I like everything except mushrooms and I have an entire mouthful of sweet teeth!

Q3. Do you have any favourite music?

Broad range here from Frank Sinatra to the modern day songs my boys sing from the radio.

Q4. What is your favourite sport?

I played a lot of hockey at school and university but I now enjoy a really good walk around the Wellington hills.

Q5. Tell us in a paragraph what your current veterinary position is.

I am a senior small animal veterinarian at a practice in Wellington. My special interests are diagnostic ultrasound and internal medicine.

Q6. What influenced you to become a veterinarian?

Growing up on a farm and my father. I would try and nurse the ducks shot at duck shooting back to life with a doll’s bottle when I was 3!

Q7. What do you enjoy most about being a veterinarian?

Creating relationships and educating clients and helping to fix their pets. I especially enjoy ultrasound.

Q8. How do you communicate to your organisation about the CVA and its activities?

I write articles for the NZVA Vetscript journal, letters and I have spoken at the NZVA conference about the CVA and its activities.

Q9. How do you think the CVA can assist you in your Councillor Role?

I think it is really important that the CVA continues to fund small projects across the nations with the limited funds that we have. If we can create an awareness of such projects then we may be able to gain a sponsor which would help increase the size of the projects for the benefit of everyone. Partnerships with other animal organisations e.g. Vets beyond borders and World Small Animal Veterinary Association will help immensely to achieve this.