The Western Plains has welcomed two new Local Land Services vets, servicing landholders with stock problems. 

Kirsty Cordon and Danielle Plummer will cover the Condobolin and Nyngan areas, respectively, and bring with them a wealth of experience that they accumulated through their work throughout Australia. 

Ms Cordon says she’s eager to learn the nuances of the Western Plains, her most recent role being in rural Victoria. 

“You need to take time to learn a new area. I’m often ringing colleagues in the ag industry if I find something like a plant species I’m not sure about. There’s plenty for me to learn,” Ms Cordon said.

“I am looking forward to getting out on farm and meeting the locals of Condo, to learn what challenges they face and to work with them to solve problems,” Ms Cordon said. 

Her role will cover the Condobolin region, including Lake Cargelligo and Euabalong to the west, Tullamore, Fifield and Derriwong to the east, Burcher and Tullibigeal to the south and as far as Tottenham to the north.

Based in Nyngan, Ms Plummer’s work will see her cover Girilambone, Hermidale, The Marra, Nevertire and Warren. 

“Being a Tottenham local I’m looking forward to immersing myself back in the local community and meeting landholder,” Ms Plummer said. 

Prior to this work, she was servicing Dalby in Queensland, working with livestock including pre-quarantine work for export cattle to Japan.

“We serviced a two-hour radius, often the work felt more like being a bush mechanic,” Ms Plummer said of her time in Queensland. 

While private vets service the needs of residents around the region, ranging from pets at home to livestock, Local Land Services vets can focus their eyes on stock issues that may signify a wider issue at hand. 

Since the rain fell across the plains this week, Ms Plummer has kept busy with work on cases of footrot and worms on multiple properties in their respective areas. 

“Sheep really don’t like the wet for long extended periods of time,” said Ms Plummer. 

“We do a lot of disease investigation and surveillance of livestock, as well as assisting producers with their animal health issues,” Ms Cordon said. 

Ms Plummer added that information days for district landholders and frequent updates on biosecurity issues was also a big part of the job. 

Landholders with herd or flock animal health concerns can contact their LLS district vet to seek assistance.