Through fires, floods, animal abuse within the home, and urban encroachment on native habitat, Veterinarian Dr Elaine Ong AM (Wyvern 1983) has been there to help. Starting her charity, Vets for Compassion (VFC) in 2009, the pro bono CEO has been a first responder in Australia, and made a lasting difference further afield.

“I bought my practice in Box Hill in 1995, and later moved it to Balwyn. After establishing a stable practice and loyal staff, I felt I was able to give back which was important to me, having had the huge privilege of receiving subsidised education at Melbourne uni. I assisted with a major programme for stray dogs in Bali, that led to a project in China called ‘Train the Trainer’, where we train vets to work with stray animals – promoting de-sexing, and animal welfare. That became self-sustainable, and was endorsed by the World Veterinary Association. Now we are in India and Nepal as well. Everyone at VFC is a volunteer so we run a very tight ship. We are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Elaine was a founding member of the Australian Veterinary Association Emergency Taskforce, and through this role and VFC, has responded to every fire since Black Saturday (2009), inluding Mallacoota (2019), Ballarat (2024) and the Grampians this year. Not to forget the floods in Lismore, NSW (2022).  That year, Elaine sold her practice to focus on the charity. It’s little surprise Elaine received an AM in 2023 in recognition of her services to her pioneering animal rescue work in Victoria and New South Wales. But her job is far from over.

“Vets for Compassion has partnered with Forever Friends Animal Rescue in Gladysdale. We send vets and nurses to perform surgery and treatment for neglected or abused animals. The reason some women don’t leave their abusive partners is because they don’t want to leave behind their animals. These animals are quite traumatised and need antidepressants as they have been abused physically and/or have witnessed abuse. We put them in the shelter, get volunteers to sit with them and show them some kindness, then after a few months, most of them are ready to go to foster homes.” 

Another aspect of Elaine’s work that is quite heartbreaking is the encroachment on wildlife habitat in the city from building and development.

“Most days we get kangaroos, deer and other large animals on the freeway, in schools and suburban homes because they get pushed out and have nowhere else to go. We don’t provide green pathways for these animals to escape to when we develop. We are called by everyone – police, councils, SES, CFA, other wildlife organisations and the public. I am also a specialist darter for native animals, like kangaroos, koalas, wallabies that are displaced or injured in metropolitan Melbourne, but can’t be captured. We tranquilise them for their safety and the public’s safety. Some councils pay us which is nice but mostly we are supported by private donations.”

Support for Elaine’s work has also come, more than 40 years after her time in Queen’s, from Wyverns.

“John Altmann (Wyvern 1982) is a Godsend as our trusted pro bono lawyer. When we reconnected and I told him what we do he said he was happy to help. He helps worthy charities, disadvantaged people, migrants, he’s a really kind, compassionate man. He was instrumental in VFC obtaining our deductible gift recipient status.”

The reconnection has prompted many fond memories for Elaine.

“While at vet school, I thought I should try living in a College and Queen’s looked really interesting, I loved the building. I really enjoyed the sporting life, I was in volleyball – we won the premiership that year, table tennis and badminton. Even though I was terrible at badminton, it was good fun. It wasn’t easy trying to juggle sports and part time work with study, but I really enjoyed it. What it taught me later on was that some of the people who balanced social life with study actually did as well as those who studied all day long. Everyone found their own groups and connected. I made friends from different faculties. I wish I could have stayed longer, it was a really good place for me, had quite an effect on me even after one year. It was a good community.”

Elaine is happy to hear from Wyverns, and current students. Vets for Compassion particularly needs people who can help with administration, or have photography/videography skills.

Her best contact point is via email: elaine@vetsforcompassion.org

Elaine receiving an AM from then Governor of Victoria, The Hon. Linda Dessau AC in 2023 in recognition of her services to her pioneering animal rescue work in Victoria and New South Wales.