The Crane General Practice

💜 Wear It Purple Day 💜

Today, our team is wearing purple to stand with LGBTQIA+ young people - and to send a simple message:

You are seen. You are valued. You belong.

Healthcare should be a place where everyone feels safe to be themselves, without judgement or fear.

At The Crane GP, inclusion isn’t just something we wear for a day. It’s part of how we care, every day. 💜

🌼 Daffodil Day 🌼

Most of us have known, cared for or loved someone affected by cancer.

The daffodils brightening our waiting room this week are a small reminder of hope - and of the importance of supporting better cancer treatments, care and research.

This Daffodil Day, if you’re able, consider donating to Cancer Council and helping fund life-saving cancer research. 💛

Donate via the link in our bio.

👋🏽We’ve been a little quiet on social media lately…

Behind the scenes, we’ve been busy navigating changes and working to continue bringing you better care - as always. 💚

We’re excited to welcome Dr Sadunee (photo), joining The Crane GP from Monday 17 August!

Sadunee is an experienced generalist GP with a broad background across emergency medicine, general medicine, paediatrics, and three years in Obstetrics & Gynaecology. She has a particular interest in women’s, sexual and reproductive health, including contraception, pregnancy care, endometriosis, pelvic pain and perimenopause/menopause.

Warm, thoughtful and non-judgemental, Sadunee is passionate about helping patients feel heard and supported in making decisions about their health.

She’ll initially be consulting on Mondays and welcomes new and existing patients.

🌿 Please check out Dr Sadunee’s profile or book an appointment via our bio.

And outside medicine? You may find her hiking, travelling or Bollywood dancing! 💃

Last Tuesday marked World Family Doctor Day -  a reminder that good healthcare is not just about quick access, but about relationships, continuity, prevention, and having a GP who knows you over time.

At The Crane General Practice, we believe good medicine is built on time, trust, experience, and continuity of care - not simply fast turnover.

While recent Federal Budgets continue investing heavily into bulk-billing incentives and Urgent Care Clinics, many GPs are asking a simple question: why not invest more directly into existing community GP clinics instead?

Realistic Medicare rebates and support for extended-hours local GP care may ultimately provide a more sustainable, cost-effective healthcare system - while preserving continuity for patients.

And perhaps the irony worth reflecting on is this: when politicians promote high-volume “free healthcare” models, do they personally rely on those same rushed systems - or do many instead choose private doctors who can spend more time and coordinate care properly?

Good General Practice is worth protecting.

Pic: Part of the team - L to R - Dr Jessie Rafeld, Dr Lauren Harrison and Dr Hwuei Lim

Behind every busy clinic day, are nurses bringing calm to chaos, reassurance to uncertainty, and care to every patient interaction.

A heartfelt thank you to Laura, Aminee, Ange and Paola for everything you do for our patients, our team, and our community 💙

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word…” — Leo Buscaglia

Happy International Nurses Day 🌿

✨ “Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever.” - Walt Disney 💫

What a fun afternoon at our Fancy Dress Flu Shot Clinic yesterday!

A huge well done to all the brave kids (and encouraging parents!) who came along for their flu vaccines. The flu nasal spray was a big hit 👃💨

There were plenty of smiles, costumes, and laughs - with some kids helped along by a little wizardry and a few “pain-free spells” 🪄⚡️

A big thank you to our amazing team for making the afternoon so much fun ❤️

Missed out? Flu vaccine and Flu + COVID booster appointments are still available during the week.

Book online at thecranegp.com.au

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
    That mark our place; and in the sky
    The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
        In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
    The torch; be yours to hold it high.
    If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
        In Flanders fields.

In Flanders Fields by John Mccrae.

Lest we forget.

Working in Broken Hill at Maari Ma Aboriginal Health Service, I came across a T-shirt that read “Deadly Choices” given to patients who attend for a health check.

A simple message - but a powerful reminder.

Every day, we have a choice.
How we respond.
How we treat ourselves and others.
What habits we build.

We can choose:
✔️ Kindness over criticism
✔️ Action over complaint
✔️ Boundaries over people-pleasing
✔️ Health over excuses

Not everything is in our control -
but our response often is.

And in that space, we find autonomy.

What will you choose today?

- Dr Hwuei Lim (Principal GP)

Over the Easter long weekend, I spent a few days camping near Yarrawonga in country Victoria - a simple reset, but a powerful one.

Waking up to greenery and the quiet movement of the river.
Swimming in fresh water.
No alarms, no rushing - just time.

Somewhere along the way, that constant background tension - the quiet hum of a nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight - began to soften.

Not through medication.
But through environment, connection, and presence.

We gathered around the campfire with friends - sharing meals, stories, and unhurried time. One friend spent hours fishing - patient and still - eventually catching a Yellowbelly, which we cooked fresh over the fire with garlic and butter. Simple - and somehow perfect.

During the day, I noticed things I would usually miss - insects moving quietly through the campsite, each intricate in its own way. It became its own form of mindfulness. No app, no timer - just attention.

A gentle reminder:
• How quickly the body can settle in the right environment
• How accessible true mental restoration can be
• How much of this is freely available to us

And equally - how important it is to protect it.

The same rivers, bushland, and ecosystems that restore us are part of our health. This is *One Health* in practice.

Sometimes, the most effective intervention isn’t something we prescribe - it’s something we return to.

- Dr Hwuei Lim, Principal GP

🎭 Our much-loved Fancy Dress Flu Shot Clinic is back - and it's bigger, brighter, and just as fun. Flu season is approaching, and this is your chance to protect yourself and your family - with a little flair 🎉

📅 Saturday 9 May (1-4pm) 
📍 The Crane General Practice, 35 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Open to everyone - patients, families & friends
✨ Face painting
🎨 Kids colouring competition
👗 Dress up… or don’t -  existing and new patients are welcome  

NEW this year:
💨 Needle-free option (nasal spray vaccine) for kids aged 2–