Bundle of joy: Former Greater Geraldton mayor Shane Van Styn and wife Jazzlyn welcome baby boy Redmond

Former City of Greater Geraldton mayor Shane Van Styn and his wife Jazzlyn have welcomed their first child into the world — a baby boy — who arrived more than a week early. Redmond Hauata Van Styn was born at 4.25pm on Wednesday, December 11 at Geraldton’s St John of God Hospital. Mr Van Styn said he raced from Carnarvon to be there for the birth of his son — who was due on December 19 — arriving the night before to be with his wife. He said it still hadn’t sunk in that he was a father. “In modern midwifery, I actually get to receive the baby at birth on its way out, and you get to cut the cord,” he said. “So fathers are heavily involved in birth, and particularly here at St John of God. It’s a big experience. “I still don’t think I’ve had my happy cry yet, to be honest . . . It’s just something that . . . you can’t describe.” It’s been a big week for the Van Styn family, with Mr Van Styn confirming his run as an independent candidate last week for the seat of Geraldton in the State election next March. Redmond was born with “a full set of hair” and weighed 3.4kg. His parents said their son’s name honoured Mrs Van Styn’s grandfather, whose middle name was Redmond, while his middle name Hauata was her dad’s middle name. Mr Van Styn said he was proud to honour their English/Irish, Maori, and Dutch heritage from their families. Both of the pair’s mothers were at the hospital, as was Mrs Van Styn’s brother. Meanwhile, some friends also dropped in to visit and see the couple’s new bundle of joy. Mrs Van Styn said it hadn’t sunken in that she was a mother, describing her feelings as “scary”. “I’m responsible for a human. He’s the most important person in the world,” she said. The new mother and father thanked St John of God Hospital staff for their help in delivering baby Redmond.