Our Team
We have a compassionate and caring team of doctors that are dedicated to looking after our community in and around Gympie. Our doctors are highly skilled, bringing along many years of experience over a wide range of medical services.
Doctors
Dr. Georg Pienaar
MB ChB, FRACGP
Dr Georg Pienaar grew up on a wheat farm in rural South Africa. After his school years, he did a few years military service and then completed his medical degree in 1995 at The University of Bloemfontein in South Africa.
Georg and his family immigrated to Australia in 2001. He started at Channon Street Medical Centre in July of that year. Georg gained his Fellowship of The Royal College of General Practitioners in 2004 and a diploma in Travel Medicine from James Cook University in Townsville in 2015.
He has experience and interests in all areas of General Practice including chronic disease management, preventative health care, diabetes, travel medicine, paediatric health, skin cancer, male and female health as well as geriatric medicine.
After work, on weekends and holidays, Georg can be found on a small hobby farm near Traveston. He is married to Monica and has 3 adult children and 2 grandchildren.
His hobby is aviation. He holds a recreational pilot certificate and, on some weekends, he will go flying from the local airport at Kybong.
Dr. Julie Blake
MBBS, BSc (Qld), FRACGP
Dr Julie Blake grew up on a dairy farm just outside of Gympie. She studied Science and Medicine at The University of Queensland, graduating in 2006 and working in her junior years at Nambour General Hospital.
Julie returned to Gympie in 2009 to commence her General Practice training, and received her Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 2011. She has a particular interest in sexual and reproductive health issues. Julie also enjoys teaching medical students and junior doctors, and is an accredited GP registrar supervisor with James Cook University.
When Julie isn’t at work, she’s probably running around after her 2 kids, and if time permits, gardening and occasionally sneaking in some PC gaming.
Dr. Karl Berge-Venter
MB BCh, FRACGP
Dr Karl Berge-Venter has over 20 years experience and has practiced in South Africa, England and Norway before settling in Australia in 2014.
He has worked at Channon Street Medical Centre ever since and built strong relationships with many patients during this time.
He has experience and an interest in all areas of general practice, in particular family health and preventive health care.
Karl loves the outdoors and sport in general and when time allows can be found playing golf or squash, gardening or out on a walk.
He loves spending time with family and enjoys good conversation, board games, chess, reading and creative crafts.
Dr Stefanus Badenhorst
MB ChB, CCFP, DPA/GPA
Dr Stefanus Badenhorst completed his Medical degree at the University of the Free State in South Africa.
He moved to Canada in 2005 where he worked as a General Practitioner in urban and rural hospitals doing clinic work, GP anaesthesia, emergency care and labour and delivery.
Dr Badenhorst enjoys the broad scope of General Practice. He takes a comprehensive approach towards the prevention, diagnosis and management of illness, promoting health and wellbeing of his patients.
Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family. They love outdoor activities.
Dr Trevor Bernhardt
MB Bch
Dr Louise Roos
MB ChB
Dr Roos grew up in South Africa and obtained her medical degree in 2003. She practiced family medicine in Canada for 17 years and obtained her specialist certification from the Canadian College of Family Physicians, before immigrating with her family to Australia early in 2023.
She has experience in all areas of general practice with special interests in women’s health and chronic disease management.
Louise is the mom of two daughters and a younger son. Their family enjoys the outdoors and participating in sports. Camping, hiking and mountain biking keeps them busy over many weekends.
She is always happy to talk about a good book as well!
Dr Esté Badenhorst
MBChB, CCFP
Dr Esté graduated in 2002 from the University of the Free State in South Africa. In 2005, she moved to Alberta, Canada where she worked in a regional Hospital doing emergency medicine, GP work and labour and delivery. She moved to Calgary where she worked in the same Surgery for the last 15 years. Dr Esté enjoys the diversity of general practice and strongly believes in compassionate, personalised care and empowering patients through education. Outside of work Esté loves nature and spending time with her family.
Admin/Reception Staff
Doreen
Practice Manager
Tracy
Accounts
Suzanna
Senior Receptionist
Lyn
Receptionist
Bron
Receptionist
Maree
Receptionist
Shannon
Receptionist
Kristen R
Receptionist
Wendy
Receptionist
Nursing Staff
Sheryl
Clinical Nurse
Chimene
Registered Nurse
Anita
Registered Nurse
Julie
Registered Nurse
Wendy
Registered Nurse
Brigitte
Registered Nurse
