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)

Melbourne horse trainer Mick Sell, and his wife Mel, welcomed their third child in unusual circumstances. Their daughter Louise Maree was born around 5 pm on January 14, beside the Tullamarine Freeway, underneath the Melbourne Zoo exit sign. As with similar stories seen on the blog, Melissa was heading off to the Royal Women’s Hospital to give birth, when Louise insisted on being born there and then. She was delivered with the help of Melissa’s friend Julie, and the paramedics. Louise Sell joins siblings Sarah, 8, and Joe, 5.

Mick trains 20 horses not far from the Kyneton track. On Australia Day, he took five horses to a race meeting at Kyneton, which had been transferred from Hanging Rock. All five of his horses won their races that day, an unbelievable result which made Mick think that baby Louise was his lucky charm. Mel says a few people have offered to buy their daughter since then. The winning horses were Cashzoo, Vopop, Dance Crew, Whiskey Fur, and Enchanting Waters, which won the Hanging Rock Cup.

Just a few days earlier, Mick’s dad Ron, part-owner of Enchanting Waters, had been diagnosed with cancer, and Enchanting Waters’ breeder Maurie Bloom, died last Christmas Eve. Mick says that the day put a smile on people’s faces who needed cheering up. He was able to visit Ron in hospital and present him with two gifts: the Hanging Rock Cup, and his new grand-daughter.

(Story and photo from the Herald Sun, February 1 2012; photo shows the entire Sell family with Enchanting Waters. Headline incorrectly identifies Louise as Mick’s son).

AFL star Adam Cooney, and his wife Haylea, welcomed their daughter Evie Danielle on January 28. Evie joins siblings Ashlea and Jaxon.

Adam has played for the Western Bulldogs in Perth since 2004, and in 2008 won the Brownlow Medal. Adam and Haylea were married in 2009 – he famously proposed by putting a Burger Ring on her finger. At the wedding ceremony, he presented her with another Burger Ring, but this time he ate it.

(Story and baby photo from The Advertiser, Janury 31).

Soccer star Harry Kewell, and his wife, actress Sheree Murphy, welcomed their fourth child and third daughter on January 14, naming her Dolly. She was born just before 6 pm, weighing 3.59 kg (7 pounds 15 ounces). Dolly joins big brother Taylor, aged 11, and sisters Ruby, 9, and Matilda, 4, who are all very excited to have a new baby sister.

Harry has been a member of the men’s national team, the Socceroos, since 1995, in which he has scored 16 goals – most notably one against Croatia which took Australia through to the knockout stages of the 2006 World Cup. An exceptional player, he has been called Australia’s finest football export. He has played for Leeds United and Liverpool in the English football league, and also spent two years playing for Turkish club Galatasaray SK. Last year he relocated his family to Australia so that he could play for Melbourne Victory.

Sheree is an English actress who became famous on soap opera Emmerdale. She was runner up on the fifth series of I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here, where she won fans over with her sweet personality. She has also hosted several TV programmes, and been the face of Gala Bingo. Rumours abound that Sheree will be offered a role on Neighbours, which Sheree says is flattering if true, as she is a massive fan of Australian soaps Neighbours and Home and Away.

Harry and Sheree met at a Leeds nightclub in 2000, and married in Las Vegas in May 2002.

These are all the celebrity babies who missed out on being included on the blog last year (some were born before the blog existed).

Reporter and author Nick Bryant, and his wife, fashion designer Fleur Wood, welcomed their first child, Billy, in late 2010, but his birth wasn’t announced until last year. Nick was for several years the BBC’s foreign correspondent to Australia, and is now a roving reporter for that corporation. Fleur is one of Australia’s leading fashion designers, and has stores all around Australia.

Sports writer for the Coffs Coast Advocate, Brad Greenshields, welcomed his son Samuel Thomas at the start of the year (info from Twitter).

Notorious criminal Brett Maston, and his wife Rissa, welcomed their first child, Brett Junior Ronald, early in 2011. A bank robber and prison escapee who was once named Australia’s Most Wanted, Brett senior was discovered hiding out in the Philippines with his new wife and baby to avoid facing charges relating to unlawful possession of guns, ammunition and more than $90 000 in cash.

Crime widow Roberta Williams, and her fiancé Robert Carpenter, welcomed their son Giuseppe Sebastian some time in January. Roberta has Tye, aged 23, Danielle, aged 18, and Breanne, aged 16, from an earlier relationship, and daughter Dhakota, aged 9, from her marriage to Carl Williams. Carl Williams, a convicted murderer and drug trafficker, was killed by another inmate in 2010 while serving a life sentence in prison.

Actor Erik Thompson, and his wife, actress Caitlin McDougall, welcomed their second child, Magnus James, on January 2. The couple have a daughter named Eilish, aged 4. Erik plays dad Dave Rafter on the hit TV show, Packed to the Rafters. Erik was born in Scotland and emigrated to New Zealand as a child; both he and his wife came here from New Zealand.

AFL star Nick Maxwell, and his wife Erin, welcomed their first child on January 18, a girl named Milla Eve. Nick is the skipper of the Collingwood Magpies.

NRL player Mark Riddell, and his wife Karli, welcomed their first child, Harrison, in mid-January. In 2010 Mark spent a season in the English Superleague playing for the Wigan Warriors, who won the premiership. Last year he returned to Australia to play for the Sydney Roosters.

AFL player Daniel Cross, and his wife Samantha, welcomed their son Tyler in January. Daniel plays for the Western Bulldogs.

NRL star Akuila Uate, and his partner Samantha Maton, welcomed their first child in late January – a girl named Tatianna Sera Loami. Akuila plays for the Newcastle Knights, and moved to Australia from Fiji as a schoolboy; he became an Australian citizen recently. His surname is pronounced yoo-AH-tay.

AFL player Heath Scotland, and his wife Alisha, welcomed their second son, Tyler, on February 11. The Scotlands already have a son named Riley. Heath plays for the Carlton Blues.

Media personality Kellie Connolly, and her husband Adam, welcomed their third son, William Adam, in February. Their other sons are Thomas, aged 5, and Lachlan, aged 3. Kellie was a news presenter and TV host on Channel 9 for many years, and currently has a radio spot on 2GB and runs her own media consultancy.

Journalist James Chessell, and his wife Jan, welcomed their son Patrick in February; Patrick joins big sister Hannah. James was with The Australian for many years; last year he became deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review.

V8 Supercar driver Mark Winterbottom, and his wife Renee, welcomed their first child, Oliver, on February 29. Mark drives with Ford Performance Racing.

Soccer player Brett Holman, and his wife Femke, welcomed their first child, Emma, in early March [pictured]. Brett plays for the national men’s team, the Socceroos, and lives in the Netherlands, where he plays for AK.

NRL player Robert Lui, and his partner Taleah Backo, welcomed their son Matthias on March 8. Robert has just finished three seasons with Wests Tigers, and is signed with the North Queensland Cowboys for this year.

Singer and actor Jason Donovan, and his wife, former stage manager Angela Malloch, welcomed their third child, Molly, on March 9. Jason and Angela have a daughter Jemma, aged 11, and a son Zach, aged 10. Jason and his family live in Britain; last year he played Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music and took part in the Here and Now concert tour.

Sports presenter Basil Zempilas, and his wife Amy, welcomed their first child, Ava Jessica, on March 9. The middle name is after Basil’s mother. Basil is a sports commentator on Seven News, and has also covered the Olympic Games. He has his own radio show on 92.9.

TV host Catriona Rowntree, and her husband, grazier James Pettit, welcomed their second son on March 11, naming him Charles Stephen. They are already parents to 19-month-old Andrew. Catriona has been a presenter on Channel 9 travel show Getaway for many years.

AFL player Liam Picken, and his partner Annie Nolan, welcomed their first child, Malachy Thomas, at the end of March. Liam plays for the Western Bulldogs.

Real estate entrepreneur Amber Werchon, and her husband, lawyer Paul McHugh, welcomed their first child, Max Hayden, on September 9. Amber is one of the youngest female real estate principals in Australia, and entered the property market at the age of 16.

Comedian and Triple M radio host, Merrick Watts, and his wife, former PR manager Georgie Sulzberger, welcomed their daughter Kinga Rose on December 30. Kinga joins big brother Wolfe, aged three.

Kinga is a Polish pet form of the name Kunigunde, a German name meaning “family war”. Saint Kinga is one of the patrons of Poland, and Georgie’s family background is Polish, so the name honours her heritage. According to the newspaper article, they will be pronouncing her name KEEN-gah.

Merrick says that his mother isn’t a fan of her new grand-daughter’s name, but luckily doesn’t seem too fazed by that.

The newspaper article decided to use this opportunity to list some of the “quirky” celebrity baby names of 2011. Making the list were Poet Poppin Nicholson, Arlo Galafassi, Sailor Denyer and Hudson Stone.

They then contrasted this with the “mainstream” choices of Faith Kidman Urban, Flynn Bloom, Ruby Murch, Bobby Cousins and Oscar Judd.

Kinga Rose is the final celebrity baby for 2011; it’s been a bumper year for babies, but we are expecting quite a few during the summer and early autumn, so stay tuned!

(Story and photo from the Herald Sun, December 30 2011; photo shows Merrick, Georgie and Wolfe)

Political reporter Hugh Riminton, and his wife, TV journalist Mary Lloyd, welcomed their daughter Holly May on December 27. Holly has older sisters named Caitlin and Coco, and a big brother Jacob who is 2 and a half years old.

Hugh has had a distinguished career in TV journalism, often working as a foreign correspondent, and has won several awards. He is currently Political Editor for Ten News, and also hosts political interview show, Meet the Press. He married long-time partner Mary Lloyd in December last year; the wedding was held in Cambodia.

According to Hugh’s Twitter account, he found a four-leaf clover in his garden on his first wedding anniversary while expecting the baby. I wonder they didn’t think of calling her Clover, which would fit in with her sisters also having names starting with C. I guess Holly as a Christmas name won out, or perhaps Clover is too strongly identified with the mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore.

(Story and photo from the Herald Sun, December 30 2011)

Soccer player Tiago Calvano, and his wife Paola, welcomed their second child and eldest son on December 1 (traditionally the first day of summer). He weighed 3.7 kg (8 pounds) and has been named Jean Pedro. Jean Calvano joins big sister Julia.

Tiago is a Brazilian soccer player and holds Italian citizenship. He joined the Newcastle Jets at this start of this year’s season. Tiago says that the birth of his son has made his move to Australia complete.

(Story and photo from the Newcastle Herald, December 3 2011).