You will find Avonlea Clinic at 159 Yarra Street Geelong, a double-fronted Victorian building. In a serendipitous nod to its current incarnation, it was the place of Betty Hannon’s birth in 1923.
Our gardens are full of fruit trees, herbs and perennials, many of which have been used traditionally in remedies for women’s health problems over the years. As part of our green approach, we have solar panels, water tanks and composting of food waste on site.
Wheelchair access is available at the rear of the building. On street parking is available, be sure to leave enough time to park.
Meet the team
Dr Marilla Druit
Obstetrician Gynaecologist
MBBS BMedSc FRANZCOG
Dr Marilla Druitt is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist who became a member of RANZCOG in 2011 after having won the Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the oral examination. She works in the public, private and university sector and provides specialist care to patients from Geelong, surrounds and occasionally overseas. She trained in Minimally Invasive Surgery at Monash Medical Centre and is RANZCOG/AGES accredited to perform Level 6 surgery. She has worked regionally around Australia and overseas in Ireland and Vietnam.
Dr Druitt does research with Deakin colleagues and AIRE (Australasian Interdisciplinary Researchers in Endometriosis) in Pelvic pain and endometriosis, helped to write the national Endometriosis guideline for Australia and is current president of Pelvic Pain Victoria, an interdisciplinary group of clinicians all dedicated to upskilling and providing best possible care. She teaches medical students and trains junior doctors at University Hospital Geelong.
Dr Druitt works with Jean Hailes, the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia and is a member of the International Pelvic Pain Society and the region’s Trans and Gender Diverse Special Interest group. She has been elected councillor for RANZCOG which involves her participation in the Womens Health Committee who write college statements, the Gender Equity and Diversity Working Group, and the O&G Magazine editorial committee. She collaborates with the EndoHelp Foundation and thinks working with patient advocacy groups is the key to improving services for Womens Health. In the last few years she has been an invited speaker to RANZCOG and AGES meetings, the International Society for Gynaecology Endoscopy (ISGE), Australian Association of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Ultrasonologists and the Victorian Rural Health Conference.
She loves her job, loves talking to patients about all of their options, loves operating and loves caring for women in childbirth. She is living the dream working with her colleagues at Avonlea and at St Johns.
Dr Tony Ma
Obstetrician Gynaecologist
MBBS (Hons) FRANZCOG
Diploma of Child Health
Dr Tony Ma initially wanted to be a regional GP but during his junior medical years fell in love with the specialty of Women’s Health.
Dr Ma is a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist, with a special interest and additional post fellowship training in minimally invasive endoscopic surgery (laparoscopic and hysteroscopic) for severe endometriosis, pelvic masses, uterine abnormalities, laparoscopic hysterectomy and myomectomy. Dr Ma also provides colposcopy and general gynaecological services.
He does not work in the area of urogynaecology (prolapse or continence) or assisted reproductive techniques (eg. IVF).
He enjoys managing normal and high risk pregnancies, delivering at SJOG Hospital. He actively tries to cap his deliveries to approximately six per month so that he can provide the individualised care that is satisfying for patients.
He obtained his FRANZCOG in 2015 after working in hospitals in Perth, the Northern Territory, Sydney and Melbourne. He completed an additional two year post fellowship training in minimally invasive surgery training program with the Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy and Surgery Society (AGES) in gynaecological endoscopy.
Tony enjoys the support and collegiality of the Avonlea team practice and the SJOG team as a whole. He is the Director of Gynaecology and Deputy Director of Women’s Services at Barwon Health University Hospital Geelong since 2020 and been active in the unit since 2017 in other roles.
Tony lives in the Geelong region rurally with his wife and three children on their family farm. They intend to stay in the region for the rest of their lives.
Specialties
Gynaecology
Obstetrics
Sub-Specialties
Minimally invasive endoscopic surgery
Special Interests
Minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic and hysteroscopic) for severe endometriosis, pelvic masses, laparoscopic hysterectomy and myomectomy.
Dr Anne Hotchin
Obstetrician Gynaecologist
MBBS FRANZCOG
Dr Hotchin has been providing specialist O&G care in Geelong since 1999, in both public and private settings.
Dr Hotchin has an abiding interest in providing care that encompasses the art and science of healthcare. Her approach to pregnancy and birth care is to use scientific evidence to inform and support the patient’s needs, while always mindful of the unique journey towards parenthood each individual is on.
She is a former Divisional Medical Director of Women’s Service at University Hospital Geelong between 2005-2011, helping develop the MGP Program, multidisciplinary maternity education and fetal monitoring education, as well as assisting in the inaugural Deakin Medical School Women’s Health teaching. She remains an active trainer of undergraduate and postgraduate medical students both at UHG and St John of God Geelong.
She has a special interest in pelvic organ prolapse, both surgically and in office-based care. She has become a leading local provider of non-surgical management, in line with best practice guidelines, and actively supports the multidisciplinary approach to female pelvic floor care.
Dr Hotchin was central in the re-establishment of a public Colposcopy service in Geelong through Barwon Health in 2012, and offers colposcopy through her private practice at Avonlea Clinic. Her other particular interests are vulvar disorders, reproductive health and menstrual management.
Dr Hotchin is a practice principal of Avonlea Clinic with Dr Marilla Druitt, and along with Dr Tony Ma and Dr Vidhu Krishnan provides a comprehensive general gynaecological service. She remains active in peer review activities with her colleagues, and organisational governance roles including Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury medical reviewer for UHG.
Dr Vidhu Krishnan
Obstetrician Gynaecologist
MBBS FRANZCOG MCE
Dr Vidhu Krishnan is a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist, who trained in Australia and is passionate about womens health. She strongly believes in shared decision making and aims to provide holistic and women centered care for her patients.
Vidhu offers an extensive range of services in Obstetrics and Gynaecology with special interest in high-risk obstetrics. She has worked in multiple metropolitan and rural centers across the Australia and is actively involved in the training of medical students and junior doctors through her current appointment at Barwon Health.
Vidhu is culturally sensitive and quite understanding about the needs of women with different cultural backgrounds. She is effective in communicating with women and their families and can also speak Hindi. She is a calm listener and treats women with utmost respect and dignity. Dr Krishnan enjoys being a part of women’s journey into motherhood, being very conscious that every woman’s journey is unique.