Dr Maxwell.
Dr John Maxwell and his wife Julie first
settled in Katanning with their family and opened the
original Katanning veterinary center over 45 years ago.
A lot has changed in that time however In 1975 they
opened the present, purpose built 500 square meter facility,
located on 10 acres of land some 3km north west from the
center of Katanning.
Dr Maxwell opened Western Autstralia's first
purpose-built rural veterinary hospital. Its opening was
officiated by the then Agricultural Minister, Dick Old, in
conjunction with Murdoch University's foundation Dean, Professor
Robert Dunlop.This Regional Hospital operated in
conjuction with branch practices in Kojonup and Wagin
providing on-farm and hospital facilities for both large and
small animals throughout these regions.
Dr Maxwell's objective was the provision of
comprehensive veterinary services for all
creatures, great and small which include the household
dogs, cats and guinea pigs through to the primary producers
beef cattle, sheep and pigs as well as equine facilities
servicing thoroughbreds, standardbreds and pleasure horses.
This objective has effectively been met since the Katanning
Regional Veterinary Hospital began operation on its present site,
30 years ago.This facility is most unusual in that it has complete
hospital facilities for both small and large animals
- more like two hospitals in one!!
During his time working and managing the centre Dr Maxwell has
been continuously involved in post graduate education. He has
shared this knowledge with others through publishing in the
Australian veterinary literature - a listing of which can be found
below.