Dr. Barbara Pringle
BVSc (Dist.) MACVSc (Medicine)
Barbara Marris was born and raised in Kaiapoi, on a small dairy farm where all the cows had names; such as 'Tilly’ and ‘Bonnie’. She went to Kaiapoi Borough and then to Rangiora High School.
Barbara married Murray Pringle in 1976, the same year as graduating from Massey University with her Veterinary Science degree with Distinction, and as a Massey Scholar. She joined the busy Christchurch practice of Bailey & Marshall, and began her lifelong interest in small animal medicine. Two years were spent as an intern in Small Animal Medicine at the Melbourne University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Werribee, Melbourne, and she achieved her MACVSc exams in 1981. Barbara was also an examiner for this college for 5 years and made regular trips back to Massey to examine candidates.
In 1981 and 1984 daughters, Donna and Nikki were born, and they grew up in Clarkville, enjoying ponies, calf rearing, and chickens.
Barbara and Murray now live in Kaiapoi, within walking distance of the clinic, and walk their dogs Jack and Meg regularly along the many great tracks and beaches in the Waimak area.
Barbara’s areas of interest are cat and dog medicine, particularly skin diseases. She especially enjoys the psychology of the human-pet bond and the amazing stories and relationships that develop, which make sharing one’s life with a pet so enriching.
She also enjoys gardening, walking and biking, quiet times in the Sounds, and lots of fun with grandchildren Flynn, Olivia, Lachie and Sylvester.
Dr. Murray Pringle
BVSc, MACVSc (Surgery)
Murray graduated from Massey University in 1976 and has worked his entire career in Canterbury, except for a 2 year surgical residency at the University of Melbourne Veterinary School in 1979/81. He gained his postgraduate MAVCSc qualification in Small Animal Surgery in 1981 and was also an examiner for this qualification for 10 years. Murray's areas of veterinary interests and skills therefore revolve around things surgical (orthopedic and soft tissue). Together with Dave Marshall, Murray successfully performed the first canine prosthetic hip implantation (hip replacement) in New Zealand in 1983. Murray and Barbara established the Marshall & Pringle Petmed Kaiapoi clinic in 1993.
Murray has two daughters, Donna and Nikki, grandchildren Flynn, Olivia, Lachie and Sylvester, and dogs Jack and Meg. His interests include boating & fishing, vegetable gardening, walking the dogs, music and cooking.
Dr. Donna Pringle
BVSc (Dist.) PGDipBus (Dist.)
Donna graduated with distinction from Massey University in 2005, initially working in a busy Wellington practice. She moved south following the Christchurch earthquakes to volunteer with the Farmy Army and provide relief veterinary work cover for several practices around Christchurch. Returning to Marshall and Pringle Petmed in 2012, with staff and clients she grew up with, has truly felt like ‘coming home’.
In 2012 Donna also completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Business from Massey University, again with distinction (First Class Honours). This has helped her transition into practice ownership in 2021.
Donna loves her clients just as much as her patients. She understands pets are family and keeping them well contributes to the wellbeing of both the animal and their owners. She is passionate about pain management and end of life care but also loves days filled with puppy breath, the adolescent animals' joie de vivre plus the tales of those early periods, when owners are still discovering the “quirks”of their new four-legged friend’s personality.
Donna and her husband Dan are kept busy outside of work by their young son Sylvester plus several home renovation projects. Two ageing felines, Nelson and Fritzel, complete their household.
Dr. Gemma Waterfall
BVSc GP Cert FelP
Gemma graduated from Bristol University in the UK in 2006. She spent 4 years in mixed practice in rural Lincolnshire before embarking on her OE in New Zealand. Gemma locumed around the entire of New Zealand but fell in love with Christchurch and the people here. It was during this time in 2008-2009 that Gemma first worked here as a regular locum so you may remember her face. Gemma develped a strong bond and friendship with the Pringle's having spent some time looking after their dogs and property whilst they were away, so she jumped at the chance to come back and join us for good when she returned to New Zealand as a permanent resident.
Gemma's passion is feline medicine and she gained a further qualification in feline practice through the European School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies in 2014. "Cat's are just simply more challenging and require a calm and careful approach to earn their trust. Plus they have the biggest characters!" She is also our resident ultrasonographer, as she has a keen interest in ultrasonography and is currently studying with Dr Richard Lucy, Christchurch's referral expert in this field.
She has been back with us now for almost a year and is quickly developing strong bonds with our patients and clients alike as she will always go the extra mile to make sure your pets are very well looked after, and your stress is eased as much as possible.
At home Gemma is kept company by her smoochy tabby cat Goose.
Dr. Hannah Tolland
BVMS
Hannah grew up in the UK on a rural lifestyle block where she was involved with the family menagerie as soon as she could hold a plastic spade. She always knew she wanted to work with animals, starting out as a Veterinary Nurse and subsequently graduating from Glasgow University as a Vet in 2008. After a stint in an SPCA spay/neuter clinic on Grenada she spent a year in mixed practice and three years in companion animal practice in north east England.
New Zealand was always a place she wanted to visit, but following a holiday here in 2013 she decided to make the move more permanent; arriving with a 1 year working holiday visa in 2014 and never leaving! Christchurch now feels like home.
Hannah joined Marshall & Pringle in January 2020 and welcomes being part of such a supportive and caring team to serve the Kaiapoi community and their pets. She enjoys the daily variety of being a vet but her main interest would be all things surgical, especially soft tissue surgeries and anaesthesia.
Outside of work, Hannah enjoys tramping, baking, reading, travel and exploring this beautiful adopted home. She has 2 rescue kitties, Gus & Jelli, found as orphans in a campsite wood pile
Dr. Cathy Pollock
BVSc
Cathy qualified at Massey University in 1988 and attained further qualifications with the ANZVC's in 1998.
Cathy worked for Marshall and Pringle many years ago, so it is a joy to have her return to be part of our friendly compassionate and experienced team. She is constantly learning to keep her knowledge current and enjoy all aspects of veterinary medicine including complex medical conditions, cancer therapy, dentistry, soft tissue surgery and pain management.
Cathy's passion for animals started at a young age, so it was no surprise that she was determined to become a veterinarian. She is grateful for the amazing opportunity to be able to provide the health care to help her patients live their best lives and to support the strong bond we see between families and their much loved pets.
Outside of work, Cathy's two children have grown up and flown the nest, but she still has her two cats, Rosie and Pixie, to share the home with. Cathy likes to recharge by connecting with the natural environment or creating ceramic art.
Dr. Jess Boden
BVSc
Jess qualififed from Massey University in 2013 and worked in rural Taranaki before travelling overseas, then moving home to settle back in Christchurch.
Jess joined the Marshall and Pringle team part time in March 2020 just before lockdown 1.0. This was an interesting way to start a new job and she is now enjoying seeing clients face to face again!
Jess decided she would be a veterinarian at age 2 and convinced her parents to indulge her love of animals with a variety of pets over the next 16 years! Eventually getting to live on a lifestyle block and creating her own mini petting zoo.
She loves seeing the beautiful bond between families and their much loved pets and is always keen to hear about the mischief they have got up to.
Outside of work, Jess's two young sons - Hugo and Finlay- are not dissimilar to rowdy puppies and keep her endlessly busy!