Year’s first arrival completes the family

An average of 259 babies are born in Broome every year — but Tessa Owen has the honour of being the first for 2018.

While others were still cleaning up and resting after their big New Year’s Eve celebrations, 33-year-old Sarah Owen was giving birth to her second child, while her husband Karl, 36, held her hand in support. But little did the married couple know their “bundle of joy” would go down in the history books.

Tessa was born in Broome Hospital at 6.25pm on January 1, but Mrs Owen said she was expecting her to arrive sooner.

“I was quite surprised to be giving birth to a 2018 baby,” she said.

“We were actually expecting her to be born on Christmas, which would have been just as exciting, but it was an absolutely surreal feeling.

“Tessa will bring so much happiness to our home and our family of four now feels complete.”

Midwife Karen Coyle had the distinction of delivering the year’s first infant and the couple thanked her for helping to make the experience “calm, pleasant and enjoyable”.