Ellery Strange holds a special title all of her own. She was the first baby born at Echuca Regional Health in 2023.
Despite not being due until January 13, baby Ellery decided to enter the world a little earlier than her parents, Amy Strange and Jake Strange, had planned.
At 9.37am on New Year’s Day, she was delivered at a weight of just more than three kilograms and a height of 47.5cm.
Now a mother of three children, Amy Strange said she “couldn’t believe” that no other babies had been born yet and that hers was the first, especially considering she was due later.
On January 3, the family left the hospital and took Ellery to the place where she will grow up — her new home in Echuca’s west.
Amy said Ellery’s siblings, Harrison, 3, and Ivy, 1, were already so excited to play with their new baby sister when she came home.
They visited the hospital twice to give her a cuddle.
“Harrison is so gentle with her and Ivy is just obsessed with her,” Amy said.
The Strange family only moved from Romsey in August, and already has a special place in the community as a result of Ellery’s memorable world debut.
The family will be busy over the upcoming weeks and months, with many visits from loved ones and friends who just want to get a look at her.
But when you’re as cute as Ellery is, that kind of attention is expected.