Charlie Arthur Bryant was determined to be Wollongong's first Australia Day baby - he was eight days overdue before his birth early yesterday.
"We were so surprised that he was the first," said Charlie's tired but happy mum, Elizabeth, of Mt Keira.
"He was born just before 1am so we thought there would be someone else before him."
The staff at Wollongong Hospital were especially pleased to welcome Charlie as the first baby of the day because Mrs Bryant works as a midwife at the hospital and has delivered hundreds of babies herself.
"It was all very exciting," said Christina Spence, who served as the primary midwife during the birth.
"The pleasure was with Elizabeth being a midwife.
"It was a beautiful birth - we actually thought she was going to have it in the corridor it was that quick."
The Wollongong Australia Day Committee was equally quick to present gifts to the family, including a Horizon Credit Union account and a night at the Novotel Northbeach.
"It's all very unexpected but we're very grateful," said Charlie's dad, Mark.
"It's a special occasion anyway but this is just icing on the cake."
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