Wombats and joeys are all in a bonzer day’s work for Chris

Star of new Aussie wildlifeTV series

From Bridgehaugh to Bendigo, Chris Allison’s career has seen him tackle flying wingers sporting rugby shirts - and eagle feathers!

Stirling-born Chris and his best friend and colleague Mike Whiteford from Fife are the stars of a new BBC Scotland documentary series Scottish Vets Down Under which started on Monday.

The 35-year-old moved to Bendigo, north of Melbourne, Australia around six years ago after qualifying from Glasgow Vet School and working at Broadleys, Struthers and Scott in Doune, and Riding for the Disabled at Sauchieburn.

He went to St Ninians Primary School and Dollar Academy and before moving Down Under and played rugby at Stirling County for a number of years.

His mother Elaine, who still lives in the city, said Chris had always loved animals.

“He kept pets all his life and our house was always like a zoo - from hamsters and rabbits to lizards and snakes plus firebelly toads and frogs,” said Elaine.

“He worked for five years at Golf Veterinarian Practice in Montrose before going to Australia and meeting up with Mike who was established as an equine vet before Chris arrived.”

The friends both run businesses with Mike looking after horses – the town has a race track and is famous for breeding winners - while Chris looks after smaller animals, although in the opening episode, Chris had to deal with a wedge-tailed eagle - Australia’s largest bird of prey, which was found flightless in a field - and an echidna, which he spotted at the side of the road - a far cry from the animals he treated back home in Scotland.

Mike moved to Bendigo first and Chris followed on around six years ago.

Now settled, he works alongside fiancee Clare Montgomery and they are due to be married in Australia in November.

Once they got used to the cameras, both vets enjoyed filming the series and hope that it will be well received at home.

Chris said: “When I first came over here, seeing a kangaroo or a crocodile or a possum was so unusual and exciting. Now I’ve been here long enough, I wonder why anyone would want to see me deal with a ringtail possum? But most Scots have never seen a ringtail possum.”

■Scottish Vets Down Under screens on Mondays, BBC Scotland, at 8pm.