‘‘I love the connections and relationships I have been able to form in Deni,’’ Mr Anstee said.
‘‘As a vet you are granted instant connections to people; you are a part of people’s lives and sometimes in very emotional situations, which we don’t take for granted.
‘‘In a town like Deni, which is very community orientated, it is such a rewarding profession to have and I am excited to continue my commitment.’’
As well as being a local vet, Mr Anstee is also a star on the footy field having played for the Rams since he moved to town.
‘‘The club was so welcoming from the outset,’’ he said.
‘‘I loved the social aspect of it and being a part of a group of people that are ambitious, and goal orientated, it creates a really awesome culture.’’
Growing up in Melbourne, Mr Anstee was always around animals.
His cousin was a vet and his uncle lived on a farm.
He became intrigued by the rural space early on, which led him to studying veterinary science at Charles Sturt University in Wagga.
‘‘Coming from the city I loved the environment that smaller rural towns offered.
‘‘I was exposed to the Deni community through placement at uni and loved it, so when the opportunity for a graduate position in Deni came up, I couldn’t wait to get involved with the amazing team.’’
It was part way through last year when Mr Anstee started thinking about his next steps.
‘‘For so long my fiancé and I have kind of been nomads, without a solid base.
‘‘We were considering what kind of life we wanted long term and the things we loved about Deni really stuck out for us.
‘‘We are excited to put roots down here, start a family and life — we feel like we’ve found our home.”
Mr Anstee said while finding a work-life balance can be hard in his profession, he loves being known as one of the local vets and enjoys supporting the health and happiness of animals and people, whether it is in hours or out of hours.
‘‘It’s all part of it — it’s the community side of what we do, and I love it.
‘‘I like to think of it more as work-life integration.’’
Another factor for staying is the ‘‘amazing clinic’’ he works in.
The Deniliquin Veterinary Clinic is part of a larger national veterinary group, Apiam Animal Health, which includes a network of the top production and small animal clinics across Australia.
‘‘Under Apiam we have the ability to have an impact all over the region, not just in Deni by supporting a whole range of clinics and delivering a high standard of care.’’
Mr Anstee said Apiam has also played a crucial role in the support for vets and staff around the region, in what has been a difficult time for the veterinary industry.
‘‘The industry has been going through a mental health crisis due to the many stress factors and emotional ups and downs that come with the job.
‘‘Apiam is an amazing company to work for. We prioritise systems to support staff and clinics, allowing us to remain deeply connected to our local community but also working towards a happier and healthier profession as a whole. It is something I am really passionate about.
‘‘It (staying) is not only a commitment to the clinic, but also to the town, the footy club and the adventure Pip and I are sharing.
‘‘Deni provides an awesome base to really make a difference, and we are so fortunate to have such a great team at the Vet Clinic and I am grateful to be staying long term.’’
