NRL player Matt Ballin, and his wife Shannan, welcomed their daughter Mackenzie Dawn on February 12. Mackenzie Ballin was born at 9.31 pm at private hospital, The Mater. Mackenzie joins big brothers Fletcher, aged 2, and Murphy, aged 16 months.
Matt Ballin is the hooker for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, and in 2010 was a member of the Queensland side for State of Origin. He also works as a personal trainer. Shannan is a member of the Eagle’s Angels, a high-profile female support group for the Manly Sea Eagles, and Mackenzie will become a member as well. Shannan thinks that Mackenzie will be a tomboy, and she will definitely go to the footy.
Matt and Shannan chose the name Mackenzie because they loved it, and Dawn is after Shannan’s grandmother – who is “stoked” to have a great-grand daughter named after her.
Two days after Mackenzie’s birth, Matt flew to England to take part in the World Cup Challanege, and will be back on February 21. Shannan’s parents are coming down from Queensland for a few weeks to help out.
(Story and bottom photo from Manly Daily, February 14 2012; top photo from Manly Daily September 4 2009, showing Matt and Shannan with son Fletcher; bottom photo shows Shannan and the three children)
Waltzing More Than Matilda 
I like Murphy and Fletcher, but I don’t particularly like Mack- names. A nice family tribute though.
I love the name Mackenzie Dawn. Its beautiful especially that Dawn is her great grandmothers name. I intend to do this by naming a daughter Isobel Jamesie (her my nana (Jamesie) and grandma (Isobel) and my great grandma’s Anne and Grace as middle names as well as using Bryan and Harold (mums dad and dads dad).
Wow. Murphy is a name I haven’t heard on anyone under 60! I like it!