Local cricketer Matt Scheiser welcomed his daughter Ella last month. Matt plays for the Port Douglas Mudcrabs in Queensland.

Northern Ireland’s motorcycle racer, Jonathan Rea, and his Australian wife Tatia, welcomed their first child on September 27, and have named their son Jake Elijah [pictured]. Jonathan competes in the Superbike World Championships for Castrol Honda, and has been named Irish Motorcyclist of the Year three times. Tatia is from Philip Island in Victoria, and she and Jonathan live on the Isle of Man.

Bookmakers Luke and Claire Behrmann welcomed their first child on September 24, and have named their son Noah. Luke is the managing director of the Behrmann Group in Sydney.

Golfer Steve Jones welcomed his son Jackson in August. Steve is from Victoria.

Chef Ben Willis, and his wife Andy, welcomed their first child on July 7, and named their daughter Chloe. Ben owns the Aubergine restaurant in Canberra, which won the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Regional Restaurant of the Year.

Australasian International Boxing Federation lightweight champion Brett W. Smith, and his wife Taryn, welcomed their daughter Zara in May. Brett has been a professional fighter for five years, and is an electrical foreman on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

Author Felicity Castagna welcomed her son Zain this year. Felicity teaches writing in the community, and at the University of Western Sydney, where she is a doctoral candidate. She recently launched her first novel, a story for young adults set in Parramatta called The Incredible Here and Now; she completed writing it the same day she went into labour with her son, who the book is dedicated to.

AFL footballer Michael Walters, and his partner Marnie Tyers, welcomed their daughter Laila last year. Michael has been playing for the Fremantle Dockers since 2009, and as a junior player won the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best player in the Under 16 Championship. Michael and Marnie are currently expecting another child.