Marathon swimmer Susie Maroney, and her estranged husband, Darren May, welcomed a son named River twelve weeks ago. River joins big sisters Paris, aged 3, and Capri, aged 19 months. Paris is the daughter of Susie’s first husband, Robert Daniels.

Susie began swimming at the 4, and began competing at the age of 7. At the age of 14, she gained her first prize for marathon swimming, coming third. The next year, she became the first person to swim from Manly to Sydney Harbour and back in seven hours. That same year, she broke the world record for swimming the English Channel. Susie retired from swimming in 2003, after a career which included winning the Manhattan Island swim race three times, becoming the first person to swim from Cuba to the United States, setting a record time while swimming from Mexico to Cuba, and swimming from Jamaica to Cuba. Only after Susie retired did she reveal that she had been born with cerebral palsy.

Darren is a furniture maker with a troubled past; he and Susie separated after 13 months of marriage while she was pregnant with River.

Cricketer Brad Haddin, and his wife Karina, welcomed a son recently, and have named him Hugo Ross. Hugo Haddin joins older siblings Zac and Mia. Mia is 18 months old and was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, but is currently responding well to chemotherapy. We wish Mia all the best with her treatment and recovery.

Brad began his career with the Canberra Comets in 1997, and then switched to the New South Wales Blues, for whom he still plays. He made his international debut in 2001 against Zimbabwe, and made his Test debut in 2008 against the West Indies. Brad also plays for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, and for the Sydney Sixers in Twenty20.

(Photo shows Brad, Karina, Zac and Mia; Christmas 2010)

Golfer Brendan Jones, and his wife Adele, welcomed their son Curtis in July last year. Curtis Jones joins big brother Kieran.

Brendan turned professional in 1999, and has won nine tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour, as well as winning the La Salle Bank Open in 2004. He has twice represented Australia in the World Cup. Brendan and Adele live in Canberra.

I couldn’t find a reference to the birth of Curtis in the mainstream press, but happened upon it on the Brendan Jones official website, which includes a family photo.

Rugby league legend, Darren Lockyer, and his wife Loren, welcomed their second son on January 14, and have named him Flynn. Flynn Lockyer joins big brother Sunny, aged two.

Darren Lockyer is considered to be the greatest NRL player of all time. He played his entire career with the Brisbane Broncos, first signing with them for the 1995 season, when he won the Rookie of the Year Award. He became the Broncos Captain in 2005, and has also played for the Queensland state side and the national team; he captained 22 State of Origin Games and 38 international tests (a record). He won four Grand Finals with the Broncos, a record six consecutive State of Origin series with Queensland, and a World Cup with Australia. The highest-ever point-scorer for his team, he won the Clive Churchill Medal and two Golden Boot Awards.

Darren and Loren were married in 2007.

I was going through my drafts folder and I found this … I guess I thought I pressed submit, but I didn’t – oops! Clearly I was enjoying summer just a little too much.

Retired AFL player Brett Kirk, and his wife Hayley, welcomed their fifth child last week, and have named their son Skout. Scout joins brother Indhi, sister Sadie, and twin sisters Memphys and Tallulah.

You may recall that Jessica Marais and James Stewart recently welcomed a daughter named Scout, so this may seem like a bit of a coincidence. However, Scout Stewart and Skout Kirk were also born on the same day, May 9, and they were both born on the same floor of Prince of Wales Private Hospital as well. This seems like quite a coincidence, since only six babies were named Scout last year. It just goes to show, no matter how rare the baby name you’ve chosen, you can’t guarantee that nobody else in your area will have thought of it.

Brett played his whole career with the Sydney Swans, making his debut in 1999. He won the Robert Rose Award for most courageous player in 2006, won Fairest and Best in 2005 and 2007, and won the Paul Kelly Player’s Player Award in 2008. He retired from the game in 2010, after playing his 200^th consecutive game, and received both the Best Captain Award, and the Madden Medal Community Spirit Award. Brett is a practising Buddhist, and was able to meet the Dalai Lama on his Australian tour in 2008, presenting him with a signed Swans jersey. For the past six years, he has done volunteer work at the Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Hayley is a published author who writes under the name Hayley Smithers-Kirk. She has written a YA novel called Divine Clementine, and co-authored a children’s story called When’s My Turn? She and Brett wrote a book together designed to inspire children and teenagers called Brave Heart: Lessons Learned From Life.

Brett and Hayley met while attending university together in Wagga Wagga. Hayley was attracted to him because she thought he was a surfer; however eventually she learned to accept he was actually a footballer and they began dating after starting out as friends.

ALP candidate Natasha Fyles, and her husband Paul Archbold, welcomed their son Henry on April 22. Henry Archbold joins big brother Oliver. Natasha is a swimming coach in Darwin, in the Northern Territory, and was recently selected as the Labor candidate for Nightcliff.

Natasha revealed how she chooses baby names in an interview last December. She and her husband like strong names that have good nicknames available, and will also sound good with their surname and look good on official documents.

Meanwhile, another city, another state:

Runner Shannon Short welcomed her son Lucas at the end of last year. Shannon is a personal trainer at Cityfit Fitness Club in Bathurst, New South Wales. She is returning to competition running after taking a break to have Lucas, and is determined to recover her form.

AFL club football players Jacinta and Aaron Froud welcomed their son Blake almost a year ago. Blake Froud joins big sister Eve, aged 2.

Jacinta plays for the Queanbeyan Tigerettes, and although she missed last season because of Blake, this year she returns as much-missed team captain. Jacinta is a former ACTAFL Women’s Player of the Year. Aaron plays for the Harman Hogs in the Canberra League; last year they won the Premiership.

Jockey Jacques Luxe, and his wife Oksana, welcomed their first child four months ago; their daughter’s name is Athena.

Jacques came to Australia from his native Mauritius in 2006 as a mature-aged apprentice. He started out in Melbourne, but for the past four and a half years has been in Tasmania. Last year he had five wins and two seconds riding The Cleaner. Jacques and Oksana are now preparing to move to Sydney, where Jacques will take up a new career opportunity with legendary trainer, Lee Freedman.

AFL star Drew Petrie, and his wife Nicole, welcomed their daughter Abby Jade on April 5. Abby Petrie was born at 2.20 pm, and joins big brother Jack, aged one and a half.

Drew plays for the North Melbourne Kangaroos; since making his debut in 2001, he has played over 200 games. He was selected for the Australian team in the International Rules series against Ireland, and became vice-captain of the Kangaroos in 2009. He was his team’s top goal scorer in 2009 and 2011.

Nicole (nee Carr) has known Drew for many years; they met because he was a friend of her brother. Nicole and Drew had a relaxed beachside wedding in December 2009, and then honeymooned in Mexico.

(Photo shows Nicole and Drew with Jack)