MBBS (Monash), DRCOG, FACRRM
Thirty two years ago I began my GP career here at QSMC. In the early days I was a Visiting Medical Officer at Moruya Hospital - Obstetrician, Anaesthetist, rural GP, father of 4 and in some spare time a volunteer doc overseas. I love the longevity of all our team in our practice - its evolution of new people and the development of our new surgery. I am still surfing, kayaking, photographing, hiking, travelling - and happily married. I am a grandfather of 2 - fantastic!
MBBS (Syd), Dip. Obs (RACOG), DA (UK), FACRRM
Richard arrived in Moruya in 1991 following a year of anaesthetic training in the UK. Richard spent the next 24 years in various roles at Moruya Hospital - GP VMO, GP obstetrician and GP Anaesthetist. Whilst no longer a hospital VMO, Richard works full-time in General Practice.
MBBS (UNSW), MPH & TM (JCU), FRACGP
Dr Neil Starmer graduated in medicine from UNSW in 1989 and plotted his escape from Sydney soon after. Neil has worked in hospitals and general practice in Sydney, the Central Coast, the Gulf of Carpentaria, Townsville and Darwin as well as on Royal Australian Navy ships and bases. Neil completed his General Practice training and a Masters in Public Health and Tropical Medicine while serving with the Royal Australian Navy. Neil left full time service with the RAN in 1999 to join the Queen Street Medical Practice as a partner and remains in the Navy Reserves. Neil chose to be a General Practitioner to provide continuing, comprehensive and coordinated health care to people in their own community. Neil appreciates the completeness of care that can be provided through working in both the general practice and Moruya Hospital. Neil has an additional interest in drug and alcohol medicine and is an accredited methadone prescriber. Neil is married with two children and enjoys being a part of the Eurobodalla community. Neil participates in a wide range of pursuits; his ideal day involves one major and two minor activities. His recreational interests include remaining fit, sailing, gardening and telemark skiing.
MBBS, FRACGP, FACRRM, DRANZCOG (Adv.), DTM&H
Dr Les Roberts-Thomson grew up on a potato farm in Tasmania, and did most of his training in North Queensland, before moving to Moruya in 2004. Along the way, he has done some work in Papua New Guinea and Ethiopia. Apart from work, he enjoys cricket, cycling and the snow.
MBBS (London), FRCS, DCH, DRCOG, MRCGP, FRACGP
What a privilege to be here! Only ten years working in this place called Moruya, where the day starts, often on two wheels, commuting along a stunning river. Being a part of this great team at the medical centre helps to enhance the privilege of our role. Ali and I have immersed our family in the local 'outdoors', and now those children are young adults I thank The South Coast for helping us grow.
Dear Patients
Dr Charlie Lavender will be leaving our practice during August 2019.
If Dr Charlie Lavender is your usual doctor or if you are a new patient to our practice, please contact our reception team to arrange your next appointment with one of our GPs.
MBBS (Sydney), FACRRM
During my early GP years I worked in rural Queensland, Brisbane and then in Sylvania Sydney. I have now been a South Coast GP for 32 years - working at Batemans Bay Medical Centre and Batemans Bay Hospital as Visiting Medical Officer. In April 2014, I chose to move to Queen Street Medical Centre, Moruya - it's a large, friendly, well-run practice in a new building where I enjoy working with my many GP colleagues who have different talents. I am interested in all aspects of general medical practice ,especially geriatrics. My general interests are bird watching & breeding, surfing, snow skiing and trekking.
MBBS (London), FRACGP, DRCOG, DFFP
I qualified in 1992 from St Thomas's, London and then worked in the South of England before moving to Australia with my family in 2005. I enjoy the outdoor lifestyle here, especially bushwalking, camping and swimming in the ocean.My medical interests are paediatrics, women's health and I am a Specialist HIV prescriber.
MBBS (Qld), BSc, FRACGP, FACRRM, FARGP,MPH, Dip Paeds, DRANZCOG (Advanced)
I graduated from the University of Queensland in 2000 after my first degree in Science from the Australian National University. I then worked at Nambour, Sydney Children’s, Wollongong and Shoalhaven Hospitals before I settled in Moruya in 2005. I am a VMO at Moruya Hospital in obstetrics and on the general ward, as well as providing general practice services in Moruya, Tuross Head and Broulee. My areas of interest are women's health and paediatrics, and I have a Diploma in Child Health and the Advanced Diploma of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. I also work with training GP registrars and medical students, and am passionate about medical teaching and training. I am a Senior Lecturer and the Academic Coordinator in the Eurobodalla for the ANU Faculty of Medicine. In this role I facilitate training the next generation of doctors, with a particular focus on the medical students who chose to live and study in our area for the third year of their medical studies.
MBBS, M.Ed, B.Sc, B.Ed, FACRRM
My professional interests include emergency medicine and general practice for all ages groups, and all backgrounds. It is this variety of medical and surgical issues that makes it interesting. Further, it is the mix that is the Eurodoballa community that I enjoy meeting in my work as a rural GP.
MBBS, DCH
Brenton studied at the University of Wollongong and graduated in 2011. He completed post graduate training at Wollongong and Shoalhaven hospitals. Brenton is interested in paediatrics and has completed the diploma of childrens health. His other interest is in obstetrics and in 2015 he moved to Moruya to complete the advanced diploma of obstetrics. Brenton is working at QSMC Moruya and on Fridays at Broulee. He is now a VMO/Obstetrician at Moruya District Hospital.
MBBS M.Sc (Medical Toxicology)
I have over 10 years’ experience in general practice. Having graduated in 2005, I have worked in different fields such as general medicine, general surgery and antenatal care - this included my volunteer medical work in the rural areas of Sri Lanka. I completed my post-graduation in Sri Lanka and in 2016 completed a Diploma in Child Health from Westmead Hospital and University of Sydney. Prior to joining the Queen Street Medical Centre in May 2017 I worked at Moruya District Hospital and have developed a great fondness for coastal living in this beautiful rural setting At QSMC I continue my passion working as a rural GP to care for the people in this lovely community while enjoying a relaxed life style with my family. I also have a passion for languages and am fluent in English, Sinhalese, Hindi, Urdu and Arabic. My main areas of interest are preventive health, reproductive health, chronic diseases and geriatric medicine.
B. Med, FRACGP
I’m originally from Newcastle and graduated from Newcastle University in 1991. Much of my early working years were in Canberra, initially mainly in Emergency Medicine and Paediatrics. I started General Practice training in Canberra in 2002 with rural training in Bega in 2003. In 2007 I moved back to Newie where I worked at a small family Practice in East Maitland for nine years. Here I learned the value of continuity of care in a small town, and find it very rewarding caring for people and their families over the long-term . I can’t pick any particular area of interest – the variety of General Practice is another drawcard for me. The opportunity arose to relocate to the paradise of this area 2016 and we are now here to stay. I have been working at Broulee Surgery since early 2017. When I’m not at work you’ll find me walking the dogs, queuing at the markets, gardening or in the kitchen trying or inventing new recipes.
Working days – Monday to Thursday
MBBS (Sydney), FRACGP, DRANZCOG (Adv.)
Originally from the Hunter Valley, my first jobs after graduation were at Gosford and Newcastle hospitals. I then moved overseas and after completing a paediatric residency in the USA, I went to Southern Africa, where I lived and worked for over five years. It was then time to return to Australia and our family moved to the South Coast in 2011. I thoroughly enjoy being a rural GP and I have a special interest in women’s health, paediatrics and indigenous health. I am a member of the Obstetrics team at Moruya Hospital.
BSc, MBBS, DFM, MD, DCH, MRCS(1), FRACGP Certificate of Counselling and Mental Health Professional Certificate in Skin Cancer Medicine Professional Certificate in Skin Cancer Surgery
The great diversity in nature, languages and people has always fascinated me while travelling and working in many parts of the world. I have worked in different countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Oman and Canada during my career and feel fortunate to settle down in Australia with my wife. My overseas experience is in the fields of Emergency Medicine, General and Cardiothoracic Surgery and General Practice. I have obtained my MBBS in 2003, Diploma in Family medicine (UK) in 2006, MRCS 1(Eng) in 2008, MD Canada in 2011, Diploma in Child health (Uni. Of Sydney) in 2017 and fellowship of Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 2018. Working in our Moruya Hospital Emergency Department and at Queen Street Medical Centre Moruya and Tuross has allowed me to provide extensive support to our local community. My special interest is in Skin Cancer Medicine and Surgery and I have undergone up-skilling in skin cancer management in Australia attaining my Professional Certificate in Skin Cancer Medicine and a Professional Certificate in Skin Cancer Surgery. Also, see Dr Thilan Walgamage - Skin Cancer Management
MBBS (Colombo), FRACGP
In 2005 I Graduated from the University of Colombo, Faculty of Medicine (UCFM), Sri Lanka where I then worked for a couple of years. I then decided to emigrate to Australia and my family and I spent over four years in Tasmania. I worked in hospitals and then in general practice throughout different regions including the North West and Hobart. We then moved to Sydney but found the big city pace too hectic and my family and I decided to settle here on the south coast where I currently practice at QSMC Tuross Head. I love the relaxed pace here - it's the perfect lifestyle for our young family and we love the lack of traffic! I love to visit Sydney once in a while to be reminded of what is not missed. Having now lived in Australia for many years - I now call Australia home.
BAppSc ForSc; MBBS
It was over ten years ago that I was first introduced by my partner to the hidden-jewel that is the South Coast. I fell in love. Years later, after completing my internship in Brisbane, I was fortunate enough to be accepted as a Resident at Moruya District Hospital. It was here I first had the pleasure of working with Judy, Les and Neil.
I have been a GP registrar for two years now, and am very excited to join the Queen Street Team. When I'm not working you might find me watching cricket in the summer, NRL in the winter, fishing on Coila or frolicking in my garden.
BMed MD
I graduated from the University of New South Wales in 2015 and have done my first couple of years training at St George Hospital in Sydney. I’m excited to finally escape Sydney to start my General Practice training in Moruya.
I grew up in Cowra, a small town in Central West NSW, so the peace and quiet of Moruya is a very welcome change from the city. Outside of work I’m hoping to spend more time gardening, swimming and kayaking.
MBBS ACRRM
After graduating in 1978 (the late Pleistocene) and following a stint in the Army and PNG, I focused on country medicine and revel in assisting in the education of the young doctors of this world. For the past 25+ years, I've been involved in Addiction and Pain Medicine with training at Uni NSW and Harvard. Carolyn and I have three adult children and three dogs (we've always had three dogs) and none of them like to go fishing with me. I have a boat that requires more attention than the dogs and like to travel ... so I can get the T-shirt that says I've been! Eating and good wine are among the great pleasures in life and anything pleasurable has got to be good for you ... right? Oh ... and an apple a day is good for your biome!
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On-the-day appointments times are set aside each day for patients with urgent or serious problems when access to a doctor is essential.
