MLC Amber-Jade Sanderson and her husband Steed Elliot welcomed their son Hugo around September [pictured]. The Sandserson-Elliots also have a daughter named Chloe, and Steed has two children called Michael and Sophie from a previous marriage. Amber-Jade was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council as a Labor Party member for the East Metropolitan region in the 2013 state elections.

Former ironwoman Hayley Bateup, and her long-time partner April Zekulich welcomed their son Baxter Frankie in July. Hayley has won the Coolangatta Gold three times, and was on the 2008 series of Gladiators as “Nitro”. She is also a surf lifesaver and a model.

Winemaker and television host Eddie McDougall and his wife Frederica (nicknamed “Freddie”) welcomed their son Hugo in January. Eddie was born in Hong-Kong to an Australian dad and Chinese mum, and grew up in Australia. He became a winemaker at the first winery in Hong Kong before opening his own winery, The Flying Winemaker. He now runs wineries in both Australia and Hong Kong, marketing to Asia, and hosts his own show on the Discovery Channel – The Flying Winemaker.

NRL footballer Tim Lafai and his wife Jacqui welcomed their daughter Zylah Jay in March. Tim is originally from Samoa and came to Australia while in primary school. He has been with the Canterbury Bulldogs for several years, but is signed with the St George-Illawarra Dragons for next season. He has also played for the Samoan national team.

Ryan James and his wife Ana welcomed their son Carter in October. Ryan plays for the Gold Coast Titans, and has also been selected for the Indigenous All Stars and the New South Wales Country Origin side.

David Mead and his wife Taneal welcomed their son Paxton in September. David is originally from Papua New Guinea, and came to Australia as a high school student. He plays for the Gold Coast Titans, and has been selected for the PNG national team, and the New South Wales Country Origin side.

James Tamou and his partner Brittney McGlone welcomed their son Barclay in June, joining big brother Brooklyn, aged 2 [pictured]. James plays for the North Queensland Cowboys, and has been selected for the Australian national team, the New South Wales state team, and the New Zealand Maori team. Brittney is a track athlete who currently has her sights set on the next Olympic Games in Rio.

Marika Koroibete and his wife Emma welcomed their son Iliesa Joshua in June. Marika is from Fiji, and plays for the Melbourne Storm, having also been selected for the Fijian national squad.

Josh Hoffman and his wife Emma welcomed their daughter Evie-May in May, joining big sister Leilani, aged 2. Josh plays for the Gold Coast Titans, and has been chosen to represent New Zealand, and for the Indigenous All-Stars.

Daly Cherry-Evans and his partner Vessa Rockliff welcomed their daughter Harvie late last year, joining big sister Navi. Daly plays for the Manly Sea Eagles, and has been chosen for the Queensland state team, and the national team. Daly and Vessa had problems explaining Navi’s name (a variant spelling of Navy), and this time I have seen their little girl Harvie described in the press as their son Harvey.

Lachlan Coote and his partner Laura welcomed their son Bailey in September last year. Lachlan plays for the North Queensland Cowboys and has also been selected for the City Origin side and the Prime Minister’s XIII.

Meteorologist and weather presenter Magdalena Roze, and her fiance, chef and restaurateur Darren Robertson, welcomed their first child on December 11 and have named their son Archie Bob. Magdalena is an award-winning meteorologist who has worked for both the Weather and Channel and Channel Ten. Currently she runs her own climate and lifestyle blog, and writes food reviews for publications such as Delicious and Sunday Style. Darren is head chef and co-owner of the Three Blue Ducks cafe in Byron Bay.

Author Jessica Rudd, and her husband, investment baker Albert Tse [pictured], welcomed their second child on December 21 and have named their son McLean George. McLean joins big sister Josephine, aged 3; Josie’s birth was featured on the blog. Jessica is the daughter of former prime minister Kevin Rudd. She and Albert have recently relocated from Beijing to Brisbane, from where Jessica launched her online business Jessica’s Suitcase, which sells Australian mother and baby products to China. She is also a mummy blogger on popular Chinese social media platform WeChat.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, and his wife Hayley Ross, welcomed their daughter Charlotte Maree Irene on December 16. Charlotte joins big sister Isabelle. Mathias was born in German-speaking eastern Belgium, and served on his local council as a member of the Christian Social Party. He migrated to Perth during the 1990s, where he joined the Liberal Party and was a political adviser in both state and federal politics. He was elected senator in 2007, and re-elected in 2011. He was made Minister for Finance under the Abbot government in 2013, and in the current government was promoted to Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate. Hayley is a lawyer.

Former beach volleyball champion Natalie Cook, and her wife Sarah Maxwell, welcomed their daughter Jordan in October. Natalie gave up a medical degree to become a professional volleyballer in 1994, and is the first Australian woman to take part in five Olympic Games, first taking part in Atlanta in 1996, and retiring after the London Olympics in 2012. She won bronze in 1996, and gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2000. Sarah is a former Canadian beach volleyballer; she and Natalie were married in 2008 in New Zealand.

(Photo shows Mathias and Hayley with their eldest daughter Isabelle)

Channel Nine newsreader Wendy Kingston, and her husband David Thompson, welcomed their daughter Mia Rose on December 2. Mia joins big brothers Joshua, aged 3, and Sam, aged 19 months; Sam’s birth was covered on the blog.

(Photo shows Wendy and David with Josh and Sam)