Queensland Dentist

Dr Julian Leigh came from a dental family – his father is a (now retired) dentist. He qualified in Otago (NZ) as did his younger brother (who went on to become an orthodontist). Dr Leigh’s great uncles (on his mother’s side) were also dentists. So he believes it must be in his blood! In the late 1960’s his parents immigrated to Perth, here in Australia. In the early 1980’s his family left Perth and went to live in the Middle East. Dr Leigh’s father worked for a Saudi Arabian Military Hospital.

Dr Leigh had two years of schooling in the Middle East and was eventually shipped off to a British boarding school for 4 years. As Dr Leigh had UK high school qualifications he went to university in the UK – The Royal London Hospital in the East End (Krays Brothers, Jack the Ripper and the Elephant Man were all part of the history of the place!).

Dr Leigh qualified in 1993 and started work in early 1994 in Camberwell, S.E London. After a short time he bought the practice and opened another in Herne Hill (also S.E. London) in 1998 – on Half Moon Lane. Dr Leigh’s wife is an illustrator and her best friend is a designer who produced all the logos for Half Moon Dental Centre. The practice here is a copy of the London surgery! When Dr Leigh returned to Australia in 2001 he spent just over a year doing very little and winding down – he even worked as a builder’s labourer for a while!! In March 2003 Dr Leigh opened Half Moon Dental Centre in Minyama and it has grown from there.

Clinically, Dr Leigh enjoy’s all aspects of dentistry and often tackles the tricky stuff – wisdom teeth and implants for example (he is a member of The Australian Society of Implant Dentistry and The Australian Dental Association). Dr Leigh has extensive clinical experience which was gained by having to see vast numbers of patients in the NHS in the UK and takes pride in his keen diagnostic skills (often seeing 60 patients a day!!). His father has always worked in Private Practice and he worked out that he had seen more patients in his years in the UK than he had seen throughout his entire career!!

Dr Leigh understands that dentistry is not the nicest thing to have done when you are lying down, and put considerable effort into making it as pleasant and – just as importantly – as quick as possible when treating his patients. He does not mind the odd laugh as well!

Outside of dentistry Dr Leigh enjoy living on acreage in Maleny with his wife and 3 kids (plus cattle, horses, chooks, dogs and various other creatures!). Dr Leigh is a keen dirt bike rider and even race! Dr Leigh spends a lot of his spare time involved in the Queensland Fire and Rescue – Dr Leigh has become an Auxiliary Fire-fighter in Maleny and is on call 24/7. All very different to teeth!

Dr Jill Armour was born in Scotland on the west Coast and studied at Dundee University where she qualified in 1999. Dr Armour worked for a year in Edinburgh and then decided to travel. Dr Jill Armour arrived in Australia in 2000 and have been here ever since. She has worked in a number of practices all over Australia including places like Ayr, Geelong and Karratha, but now calls the Sunshine Coast home. Dr Armour now has Australian Citizenship and have been at Half Moon Dental Centre since January 2004.

Dr Jill Armour does all aspects of general dentistry but particularly enjoys the restorative side of things i.e. aesthetic dentistry, crown and bridgework. Dr Armour also likes working with nervous patients as it’s a challenge but nice to see the results when patients overcome their fears and can have confidence to become regular attendees again.

In Dr Armour’s spare time she likes to play golf and keep fit by running and going to the gym. Dr Armour also enjoys watching sport and is a fan of rugby league.

Dr Heath Fraser was born south of the border in Newcastle, NSW in a very rural area. Dr Fraser’s primary school rarely had more than 30 students in the whole school! His family moved to Queensland when he was just about to finish primary school so Dr Fraser did most of his high school years in Brisbane.

Dr Fraser did two years of a Bachelor of Science which gave him entry into dental school. In 2005, Dr Fraser found himself graduated and after short stints in northern Queensland Dr Fraser settled here on the Sunshine Coast with his fiancée.

Dr Fraser has almost always wanted to be a dentist ever since he saw an extremely pro-happy gas dentist back in Newcastle. Dentistry is something he finds very rewarding and enjoyable which in turn, results in a good experience for his patients (he hopes).

Dr Gemma Hamilton was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland. Dr Hamilton studied Anatomical Sciences at The University of Dundee. Dr Hamilton had always wanted to study dentistry so following the completion of her science degree in Dundee she embarked on a five year dental degree in Newcastle, England, completing it in 2006. Following qualification, Dr Hamilton worked in a busy National Health Service practice in Newcastle carrying out general and private dentistry.

Travelling has always been a passion for Dr Hamilton, travelling around Europe and America and having jobs varying from fruit picking in Denmark to working in a children’s camp in America! This passion brought her to Australia. Upon arrival in Australia Dr Hamilton worked in a busy private practice in Mackay for 6 months. She then travelled around the east coast of Australia and fell in love with the sunshine coast where she settled. Dr Hamilton feels the lifestyle suits her well.

Dr Hamilton is very active and loves being outdoors keeping fit. She enjoys running and has recently completed the Sydney half marathon which was undeniably a challenge for her! Dr Hamilton has also taken up golf and enjoys “attempting” to surf!!

Dr Hamilton enjoys being part of the team at Half Moon Dental. She finds it a very friendly and relaxed dental practice to work in. She feels it reflects in the staff as they are motivated and happy to come to work which in turn puts patients at ease!

Dr Hamilton enjoys all aspects of dentistry and especially enjoy making teeth look pretty! Dr Hamilton is particularly interested in conservation dentistry, oral surgery and working with phobic patient’s and children.