Marketown Optical

Dom

Dom is the founder and owner of Marketown Optical & Willson Optometrists. He is a member of the Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists (ACBO) and the Cornea & Contact Lens Society (CCLSA). He lectures about eyes and vision to university students, teachers, GPs, pharmacists, and on local radio. He is a visiting clinical supervisor at the University of NSW optometry clinic and a visiting optometrist for the Aboriginal Vision NSW program (www.icee.org). He is one of only a few optometrists in the Newcastle area who is recognised by the Optometrists Board of Australia as an Ophthalmic Medicines Prescriber, meaning he can write prescriptions for medicated eye drops just as a doctor can.

Dom currently sees patients on Mondays, Tuesdays, and some Saturdays. 

Away from work, Dom enjoys keeping fit, playing bass guitar, and helping coaching kids sports such as soccer and nippers. 

Heidi

A highly qualified optometrist, Heidi joined us officially from January 2012. Heidi grew up in Newcastle and graduated from the University of NSW in 2000. She has years of experience working in many optometric practices and seeing a very wide variety of patients in the Newcastle/Hunter Valley area.

Heidi is also an Ophthalmic Medicines Prescriber, meaning she has advanced skills in diagnosing various eye diseases & conditions from conjunctivitis to glaucoma, and can write prescriptions for medicated eye drops. She also works with a local ophthalmologist assisting with the care of his eye surgery patients and has also worked at a laser refractive surgery clinic.

Among other things, Heidi enjoys using our brand new corneal topographer for RGP (rigid gas permeable) contact lens fitting. Heidi currently sees patients on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and some Saturdays.

Away from work, Heidi enjoys spending time with her husband & two children, cooking and socialising with friends.  

Nerida

Originally from Grafton, Nerida graduated in optometry from the University of NSW. She has worked as an optometrist in Newcastle for most of her career apart from a few years in Katherine, NT where she was the only optometrist in the district. Nerida enjoys having access to all the high-tech testing equipment and qualified support staff at Marketown, which allows her to provide a high quality eye examination every time.

Nerida normally sees patients on Mondays, Fridays, and some Saturdays but she is currently returning gradually from extended sick leave and is seeing patients on Fridays only for now. On other days in the past she has also helped out seeing patients at a local eye laser surgery clinic.  

Away from work, Nerida enjoys time with family and friends, cooking, walks and coffee.

Michelle

Michelle has worked in the optical industry for nearly 25 years and has worked at Marketown Optical for 7 years. Michelle's usual working days are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.  

Michelle has lived in the Newcastle region all her life and loves the lifestyle it offers.  Now her two boys are all grown up she spends her spare time enjoying her local beach with her dog, keeping fit (or trying to!) by  going to the gym and running, and travelling with her husband. 

Lesa

Lesa has lived in Newcastle all her life and has been in the dispensing industry for 20 years, starting with John F Miner in 1991 at the Civic branch until Mr Miner retired in 1992. Lesa joined Marketown Optical in 2006. Lesa's usual working days are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Away from work, Lesa enjoys coaching Hunters Representative Basketball and has been announced as a Hunter Academy of Sport Coach for Basketball for 2012. Lesa also plays basketball and she loves watching her two boys who both play basketball for Newcastle  and rugby union for the Hamitlon Hawks Juniors where she is the Secretary of the Club. Lesa also loves to keep fit running and doing any outdoor activities and going to concerts in her spare time. Lesa is a huge fan of the Foo Fighters and knows nearly every word of every song.

Jenni

Jenni  has lived in Newcastle all her life and started in the optical industry 19 years ago. She started working for Marketown Optical in 2008. Lesa and Jenni met when Jenni filled in for Lesa when she went on holidays whilst working with John F Miner at Civic many years ago, and they remain the greatest of friends today.

Jenni's usual working days are Mondays and Thursdays.

Away from work Jenni loves to spend time with her husband and two children. She also loves her horses, photography & hanging out at the beach. Jenni is also a keen latin dancer, which you can catch her teaching a class or two. Jenni is a huge fan of music especially Jeff Martin from the Tea Party & The Foo Fighters.

 Kate

Kate is our Saturday morning receptionist, and occasionally fills in on other days too. She is currently a full time student at Newcastle Uni studying speech pathology, but also has few years experience working in optometry practices.

Kate's  ideal day would involve a picnic near the beach with friends, a spontaneous basketball game, time to read a good book, and some form of chocolate.

 Hannah

Hannah is our trainee optical dispenser. This means she is working her way through a 2-3 year correspondence course with NSW TAFE (OTEN) to become qualified & registered to give advice and take precise measurements for all types of glasses. 

Hannah has lived in Newcastle all her life, and before joining our team she gained a couple of years experience as a travel agent. Away from work Hannah enjoys being outside, playing netball and soccer, 4WD at the beach or out with friends.

Tracy

Tracy is a Newcastle local who is very interested in a career in optics. She is currently becoming familiar with our practice in a receptionist role but will soon enrol in the OTEN (TAFE) Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing, to obtain her qualifications.

Away from work Tracy enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.