Healthcare for the whole family

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Our Doctors

Dr Pietro Ridolfi

MBBS

Born and raised in Italy, Dr Pietro completed his medical studies in Milan in 2013 and subsequently practiced as a volunteer medical doctor in the Solomon Islands in both rural and metropolitan hospitals before moving to New Zealand in 2017 after getting married.
There he worked in various medical and surgical specialties as a Resident Medical Officer until 2020 when Dr Pietro moved to Cairns during the Covid-19 pandemic working at the Emergency Department as an ACEM Registrar from 2023 to the present.
From 2025 he joined RACGP training with the intention to work in community health setting and to cultivate a mutual relationship with patients to provide them with holistic and tailored care. Dr Pietro interests as a GP are in the areas of Paediatrics and Men's Health.
Besides work, he enjoys time at home with his family, cooking and travelling and has a passion for soccer too.

Dr Marlee Paterson

MB DM

Raised in Mareeba, Dr Marlee has a strong connection to Far North Queensland and a deep commitment to community health. Her clinical interests include chronic disease management, preventative health, and skin cancer medicine. After completing her medical training in Sydney, she returned to Cairns to practice in the region she proudly calls home.
Dr Marlee is passionate about delivering holistic, patient centred care and working collaboratively with patients to support sustainable, long term health and wellbeing.
Outside of work, she enjoys sourdough baking, is an aspiring tennis player, and a keen cycling enthusiast, always up for a challenge both in and out of the clinic.

Dr Hamish Albany

MBBS

Dr Hamish completed his medical training at University of New South Wales in 2020. Originally from Sydney he relocated to Cairns in 2023 working in Emergency Medicine before transitioning to General Practice.
Hamish enjoys all aspects of general practice in particular preventative medicine, paediatrics, and chronic disease management. He has special interests in men’s health/health checks, sports medicine, musculoskeletal conditions, diabetes, and weight management.
In his spare time, he enjoys training Jiu-Jitsu and spending time with his young family. 

Dr Brendan Griessel

MBBS

Dr. Brendan grew up in the tropics of Far North Queensland, completing his studies locally and graduating in 2020. After four years working in Brisbane and Adelaide, he returned to Cairns  in 2025 with his wife and their two children to focus on family and community care.
With experience across a variety of medical fields, Brendan is particularly passionate about men's health, family medicine, pediatric care, and a personal interest in migraine and headache management. Outside the clinic, he enjoys euro-style board games, cooking, and spending sunny days outside with his family.

Dr Emma Doyle

MBBS

Dr Emma grew up in Melbourne but moved to North Queensland after high school, and completed her medical degree at James Cook University in 2020. 
Her interests include women's health, mental health, and chronic disease management, and she is qualified to insert intrauterine devices and brings genuine compassion and commitment to patient wellbeing.
Dr Emma has set down roots in Cairns with her husband and two dogs, after she fell in love with the greenery and local creeks, and loves taking her dogs for a swim.

Dr Louise Bourke

BSc(Hons) BMBS FRACGP

Dr Louise Bourke completed her medical degree at Flinders University of South Australia in 2002, then general practice fellowship in 2016. Prior to this she did a Bachelor of Science with Honours degree at the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin.
She moved to Cairns with her husband and 4 children in 2016 and has lived most of her life in Darwin. She is of Aboriginal descent. She enjoys the diversity of health care in general practice from infancy to aged care and in particular, chronic disease management and women's health.
Furthering this, she completed a FPAA National Certificate in Reproductive and Sexual Health and is able to insert intrauterine devices and the implanon. She can also offer iron infusions.
Outside of work, Louise enjoys exploring the outdoors and bike riding.

Dr David Tran

Dr David Tran graduated from James Cook University, Townsville and has been working in Cairns ever since. He has worked in a number of specialities at the Cairns Base Hospital.
Dr David enjoys the personal patient interaction that general practice offers and has a keen interest in preventative medicine. He brings a caring and considerate approach to his practice to deliver holistic care to his patient's and their families.
In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, watching movies and SCUBA diving.

Dr Vivian Matthews

FRACGP, MBBS, FRANZCOG (diploma Obstetrics) and Rural General Practice Fellowship.

Dr Vivian Matthews completed his medical training at the University of Melbourne in 1993. He has been practicing in Cairns since 1998 and established the Kewarra Family Practice in 2006.

His areas of special interest included skin cancer checks and treatment, women's health and pregnancy care. He has also developed an interest in complex medical condition care.

Dr Patricia Ogilvie, Beaches Family Practice Kewarra Beach

Dr Patricia Ogilvie

FRACGP, MBChB, MRCGP,

Dr Ogilvie graduated from University of Liverpool, UK in 1997.

She first moved to Cairns in 1999 and completed her training in General Practice in 2004. She has also undertaken further studies in Obstetrics and Gynaecology,  Family Planning, and Dermoscopy (used for skin checks) .

She enjoys all aspects of family medicine from children to women’s health, mental health and elderly care.

Dr Patricia has worked in the UK, Fremantle WA and Brisbane before returning to Cairns in 2007 to settle with her family.

Dr Richard Thambyah, Beaches Family Practice Kewarra Beach

Dr Richard Thambyah

FRACGP, MBBS, MPH

Dr Thambyah completed his training in Sydney where he then worked in a university health service and aboriginal medical service. He holds a masters in public health and has an interest in general medicine and chronic disease management.

Dr Katherine Johnson

FRACGP, MBBS

Dr Katherine Johnson graduated in London in 1992 and completed her GP training in 1997 in the UK. She has been working as a GP in Australia since 2001 in remote western Australia and Queensland.

Dr Katherine's special interests include women's health and contraception, and performs insertion of intrauterine contraceptive devices.

Dr Nora Duffield, Beaches Family Practice, Trinity Beach

Dr Nora Duffield

MBChb (Rhodesia), LRCP, LRCS (Edinburgh), Dip Obs (Auckland), FRCGPN, FRACGP,

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Dr Duffield completed her medical degree there and has been working in family medicine since 1985. After practicing in New Zealand for 17 years Dr Duffield moved the Beaches in 2002 and has been working at Trinity Family Practice since. Her medical interests include nutrition, addiction medicine, women's health and diabetes management. She now juggles working full time with her most important role as grandmother.

Beaches Family Practice, North Queensland

Other Doctors

Welcoming New Doctors joining our Practice:-

We are pleased to welcome three new doctors who will be joining Beaches Family Practice in January 2026.

  • Dr Marlee Paterson will be based at our Trinity Beach practice and will commence on Monday, 19 January 2026.

  • Dr Hamish Albany will be joining our Kewarra Beach practice, starting on Tuesday, 20 January 2026.

  • Dr Pietro Ridolfi will also be based at our Kewarra Beach practice and will commence on Tuesday, 27 January 2026.

All three doctors are looking forward to meeting our regular patients and welcoming new patients to our practice.

Welcoming New Patients

Beaches Family Practice Welcomes New Patients to join our Family Practice at Kewarra Beach and Trinity Beach.  For more information please call our practices, Kewarra Beach on 4032-7500 and Trinity Beach on 4032-7575. Thank you.

If you are experiencing a cough, cold, fever, sore throat or runny nose please call prior to your appointment and advise reception that you have these symptoms and we will arrange alternative options with the GP.

Locations

Kewarra Beach

Shop 7, 2-6 Cottesloe Drive, Kewarra Beach QLD 4879

Phone: 07 4032 7500 Fax: 07 4032 7570

Trinity Beach

1 Rabaul St, Trinity Beach QLD 4879

Phone: 07 4032 7575 Fax: 07 4057 6041

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