Tell us about yourself. Anything and everything, we’d love to get to know you
Well, where to start?! I'm a GP working in Port Macquarie, and I split my time between my General Practice work and my cosmetic clinic Port Medical Aesthetics Clinic (PMAC). I’ve been a GP for 7 years, and moved to Port Macquarie with my husband, who is also a doctor, and my 3 children (now aged 7,11 and 12) 11 years ago. Prior to that I lived in Sydney and worked as a doctor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.I absolutely love my work, and during COVID I was the Clinical Director of the largest GP clinic in Port; that was certainly a challenge. But I adore my patients, and I love helping people, and I'm grateful I was given the opportunity to do so during a time that was very difficult for the community. Due to my background in women’s medicine, I have a Masters in Reproductive Medicine and focus on women’s health in my GP domain.I started my own cosmetic company in 2019; PMAC. I wanted something different from the demands of General Practice. What started as a side business soon became the biggest and only Doctors only cosmetic clinic in our region.
Tell us a little more about what you’re doing in the community to help make a difference?
During COVID I became aware of how significant an issue domestic and family violence was in my community. As a GP I hear stories every week about women and children who are suffering. Because of this, I decided to support Liberty Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services. Liberty Services supports families experiencing domestic and family violence in Port Macquarie and its surrounds. In 2022, I created the inaugural “ToxTails” charity event; a VIP, invite-only cocktail fundraising event, with all proceeds donated to Liberty. This one-of-a-kind event brings together the local community to raise much-needed funds for Liberty’s services through raffles, fun stalls, and a live auction.
In 2022, over $30,000 was raised. In 2023 we are proud to announce that ToxTails raised over $45,000 for Liberty. It’s the best way I know how to give back to a community I love so dearly, and I know our support goes a long way to help those who really need it. I suppose other than that I consider myself an empowerer of women; it’s an ethos I bring to my medicine every day, and to my staff. I truly believe that if you lift up women, you lift up communities.
In 2021 I became involved with the Stars of Hastings, which is a fundraising event run by the Cancer Council. I had to dance as a local “star”, and was paired with a professional dancer, and perform at our local Glasshouse Theatre. Let's say dancing is not my strong point! I personally raised over $30,000 and won the trophies for Highest Fundraiser and Peoples Choice. Overall we raised over $180,000 for the Cancer Council: money which is poured directly back into the local community to support cancer sufferers. In 2022 PMAC became the gold sponsors for the event, and myself a community advisor, and we raised over $288,000!!
