13 May Introducing Dr Ferdinandus Pranadi

Indonesian expat Dr Ferdinandus Pranadi has arrived in Timboon and has already fallen in love with the air quality, natural beauty and state-of-the-art medical facilities.

The 51 year-old clocked on for duty at the clinic on April 29, having spent the past 12 years working in Orange, Melbourne and most recently Altona.

“I love the Timboon area – there’s beautiful fresh air every day, no traffic jams and the community is very close knit and welcoming,” he said.

“It’s a small town and it’s very pretty. I’m a bit surprised how great the facilities are – they’re very modern.

“I’m working in Cobden as well and get to enjoy the beautiful scenery when I’m driving backwards and forwards. It’s very different to Point Cook where my family live.”

Dr Pranadi’s wife Fiona and daughters Belle, 18, and Rochelle, 22, are still in Point Cook and he returns home on weekends to spend time with them.

“Rochelle is doing her Honours in psychology in Melbourne and Belle has a disability. The family will move to Timboon, but we’ll do that slowly to cater for Belle,” he said.

“She is one of three cases in the world with a specific syndrome that hasn’t been diagnosed, which makes it hard to manage.

“It’s the main reason we moved from Jakarta to Australia in 2003 – for my daughter’s care. There’s more specialists, more care and more support here.”

Dr Pranadi finished his medical degree in Indonesia and ran his own surgery there for five years. He and wife Fiona travelled between Indonesia and Australia for several years before their permanent move in 2003.

He completed additional qualifications over several years to be able to practise in Australia and landed his first job in Orange in 2007.

“I’m very happy to be here in Timboon. The demographics of patients is very different – even from Orange, but certainly from Altona,” he said.

“Australia has felt like home for many years and I’m looking forward to my family joining me here in Timboon in the future.”