Jacqui Illman, coach of the Matrics in Adelaide, and her husband Matt, welcomed their daughter Leila on July 28. Leila joins big sister Lucy, aged 2. Leila was born just before the Matrics won their State Premier League grand final.

Jemma Johnston, who plays for Canberra’s netball team in the State League, and her partner, welcomed their son Samuel “Sam” at the end of last year.

(Photo shows Jacqui with Leila and Lucy)

Celebrity chef Miguel Maestre, and his wife Sascha, welcomed their second child on September 19 and have named their son Morgan Miguel. Morgan Maestre joins big sister Claudia.

Miguel was born in Spain, and first began cooking when he was 21 and moved to Scotland; this is also where he learned to speak English. He moved to Australia in 2004, and has worked at some of Sydney’s premier kitchens; he now runs Apertif on Potts Point with fellow chef Manu Feildel, and has his own catering company, as well as writing cookery books. He is well known from his many media appearances, including Channel Ten’s The Living Room, and has been a guest judge on MasterChef Australia and Junior MasterChef. Miguel became an Australian citizen last year, and took part in the The Pledge video series, celebrating 65 years of Australian citizenship.

Sascha is an Australian, and first met Miguel in Scotland, where she was working as a waitress in Edinburgh. She and Miguel were married in 2010.

(Photo shows Miguel, Sascha, and Claudia)

Former AFL star Jude Bolton, and his wife Lynette, welcomed their second child on September 11, and have named their daughter Piper. Piper Bolton joins big sister Siarra, aged 2; Siarra’s birth was covered on the blog.

Jude played for the Sydney Swans, and retired at the end of last season. Since retiring, he has taken on a role in Channel Seven’s coverage of AFL, and was also a celebrity crew member on Perpetual Loyal in the 2013 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Chef Alessandro Pavoni, and his wife Anna, welcomed their daughter Jada on July 7. It was especially wonderful news because Alessandro had bone cancer two decades ago, and was told he would never be able to have children. He also had a double bypass after two near-fatal heart attacks three years ago. The Pavonis had five years of IVF, and suffered four miscarriages, before having Jada. Alessandro was born in Brescia, in Italy’s north, and worked at several Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe, including La Rotonde in Paris, before moving permanently to Sydney in 2003. He opened his own restaurant at The Spit in Mosman in 2009, and Ormeggio at the Spit has won several awards since then. Alessandro is well known as a celebrity chef on Channel Ten’s Masterchef.

LNP candidate Matt Trace, and his wife Michelle, welcomed their fifth child early in July, and named their son Noah. Noah Trace joins big brothers Hayden, aged 13, Jacob, aged 10, Bryce, aged 4, and Liam, aged 2. Matt is a dairy farmer from Kenilworth in Queensland, and a cricket coach in his spare time. Matt has been selected by the Liberal National Party to stand for the seat of Nicklin against long-standing Independent Member Peter Wellington in the state election next year.

Journalist Emma Heron, and her husband Brian Schafer, welcomed their daughter Ruby Sue earlier this month. Emma writes for the Chinchilla News in Queensland, while Brian is the Venue Manager for the Commercial Hotel in Chinchilla.