Dr Bob Doneley BVSc FACVSc (Avian Health)       
                                                                                                                                                            

Bob Doneley graduated from the University of Queensland in 1982. He gained intensive experience in small animal practice through working in Bundaberg, the United Kingdom, Brisbane and Toowoomba before opening the West Toowoomba Vet Surgery in 1988. Since then he has constantly strived to increase his knowledge and experience in all aspects of companion animal medicine and surgery. This has required discussions with other specialists, attendance at conferences, reading of journals, and participation in on-line forums between veterinarians around the globe. Continuing education is important to Bob; each year he chalks about 300 hours of training and continuing education - well in excess of the 30 hours required by the Queensland Government.

His love of exotic pet medicine began in 1983 when he was asked to talk to a budgie club in Bundaberg - and realised that Uni hadn't taught him anything about birds. He began an intensive studying and training program that saw him qualify in 2003 as Queensland's first registered specialist in bird medicine. In the same year he was invited to become the Adjunct Associate Professor in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine at the University of Queensland Veterinary School. 

His reputation is such that he consults in Avian Medicine on the Veterinary Information Network, an international forum for veterinarians where difficult cases are discussed and advice given by specialists to practitioners throughout the world. Veterinary students and veterinarians from around Australia and the world (including the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the USA and South East Asia) are frequent visitors to the West Toowoomba Vet Surgery, where they come to learn new and advanced techniques in avian and exotic pet medicine.

Bob has made significant contributions to bird medicine, with over a dozen scientific papers published in veterinary journals, two textbooks, and chapters in three other texts to his credit. His work was recognised in 2003 when he was awarded the College Prize by the Australasian College of Veterinary Scientists to a younger veterinarian who makes an outstanding practical contribution to veterinary science or practice in Australia or New Zealand, preferably during the preceding five years, without the support of an academic environment, and to whom finance and facilities are very limited. The successful candidate will have worked mainly in practice as a clinician, as an official veterinarian or in the area of applied research, rather than as an academic or in basic research.

In the last 10 years Bob has lectured at veterinary conferences in every capital city in Australia, as well as twice in the United States. He was one of a handful of Australian exotic vets invited to lecture at the World Small Animal Veterinary Asociation conference in Sydney in 2007. In 2007 he was awarded the Toady Award by the Unusual and Exotic Pet Veterinarians as the most entertaining and informative speaker at their annual conference, delivering one lecture on avian orthopaedics and another on desexing guinea pigs. In 2009 Bob will be teaching Avian Medicine to 4th Year veterinary students at the James Cook University in Townsville, as well as lecturing veterinary students at the University of Queensland at St. Lucia. He is also an invited speaker at the Australian Veterinary Association conference in Darwin.

Bob is a member of the:

• Australian Veterinary Association & the Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association
• Association of Avian Veterinarians
• Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians
• Association of Exotic Mammals Veterinarians
• The Unusual and Exotic Pets Special Interest Group of the Australian Veterinary Association

Bob also writes a regular column for the Australian Birdkeeper Magazine, and has written the veterinary chapters for several of the books in ABK's acclaimed "Guide to ..." series.   He has lectured to numerous avicultural clubs in Toowoomba, Brisbane, Grafton, Canberra and Hobart, to name just a few.

Bob married Maree in 1985 and they share their home with 2 teenage children, 2 dogs, 2 cats, a snake and numerous birds. They believe in giving back to the community. Before they had their own children they spent two years as house parents in a home for abused children. Maree afterwards worked in child protection for several years, owned a gift shop for 10 years, and is now working for a child care centre. Bob served as an Army Reserve infantryman and infantry officer for 18 years, retiring in 1996 as a major. He also coached a local basketball team for 5 years - despite never having played a game in his life! In 2006 the Toowoomba City Council recognised their contributions when they awarded the West Toowoomba Veterinary Surgery its annual Corporate Citizen Award. 

Bob's magnificent beard resulted from his retirement from the Army Reserve in 1996 - after shaving nearly every day for 18 years, he vowed "Never again!" However, since then he has shaved every few years for the Leukaemia Foundation's 'Shave For A Cure', raising over $15,000 in four shaves.


                                          Shave For A Cure 2006 - before, during and after! Bob's daughter, Liz, is doing the deed.