Conversations Holiday Listening: The flying vet from Outback Queensland
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Dec 29, 2025 Dr. Campbell Costello is a veterinarian and adventurer who has journeyed from his family's cattle station in Queensland to remote areas across the globe. He shares gripping tales of his veterinary career, including acting as the official vet for intense races like the Mongol Derby. Campbell discusses his poignant reasons for becoming a pilot to service isolated communities and the profound impact of family loss on his life. With a heartwarming story about his co-pilot dog, Henry, he reflects on the camaraderie and resilience found in rural communities, both in Australia and Central Asia.
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Aviation Expands Rural Veterinary Reach
- Flying drastically expands the vet's reach across Australia’s vast, remote regions and shortens travel time from days to hours.
- Aerial perspective also reveals landscape scale and humbles practitioners to the outback's isolation.
Dog Co-Pilot Henry
- Campbell adopted a rescue dog, Henry, from an Indigenous community and now flies him on veterinary rounds.
- Henry eagerly responds to aircraft engines and enjoys accompanying Campbell on trips.
Surviving The Mongol Derby
- Campbell rode the Mongol Derby, a 600-mile race recreated from Genghis Khan's messenger route by using horse relays at checkpoints.
- The race has strict veterinary welfare checks and heavy attrition due to terrain and conditions.