Darson Adams, Brax Banks take Rockhampton region’s cutest baby 2024 titles

Readers have voted in our search to find the Rockhampton region’s cutest baby of 2024 and now we can reveal the surprise results.

Rockhampton region's cutest baby 2024 winners Darson Adams and Brax Banks.

The search to find the Rockhampton region’s cutest baby of 2024 has officially ended and the results have revealed a surprise twist, with two bubs in particular snaring the hearts of locals.

Proud local families shared their favourite photos of their adorable babies and readers had the chance to cast their votes.

There were 182 gorgeous nominees, but precious little Darson Adams and Brax Banks received the official honours.

Brax, or Braximus, was nominated by mum Karleigh Banks and Darson was nominated by his mother, Madyson Smith.

Both mums were surprised their bubs received so many votes, with Karleigh describing all of the nominees “as adorable as each other”.

Darson with his mum Madyson Smith.

Madyson said she felt “absolutely honoured that so many people voted for my little man”.

“Winning was a huge surprise as there was so many beautiful babies,” she said.

Coincidentally, Darson’s cousin Violet was the runner up in the 2023 poll.

Incredibly, both of the boisterous boys are being raised by amazingly hard-working single mothers who praised their family for their support helping raise their only child.

Karleigh said she understands “when people say ‘it takes a village to raise a child’.”

Brax with his mum Karleigh Banks.

“(I am) so extremely lucky to be able to have a great job and still be able to be home every night to enjoy my little man,” Karleigh, who works in the mining industry, said.

“My parents are definitely the only things that let me be able to have the best of both worlds.

“He is just my world and I would not ever trade it in. My whole world has changed for the better.”

Madyson said Darson, who is almost nine months old, loves his “fur sibling” Loki, a miniature sausage dog.

“Darson is surrounded by so much love, support and encouragement from his Mum, grandparents, aunties and uncles every day and you can’t find a happier little man,” she said.

Darson Adams with cousin Violet and Sophie in the picture frame at age nine, 'fur sibling' Loki (bottom left) and Nana Kerry Smith (right).

Karleigh’s mum came up with the name Braximus, whose nickname is Braximus Prime, before he was even born, inspired by the Transformers movie.

“My Nana Jo came up with it and it’s just stuck from before he was even born,” she said.

“And then a neven funnier story; my mum’s number plates are now Nana Jo.”

Madyson said Darson is “the only child to a hard working single mum, who loves life to the fullest”.

“He loves to indulge in beef, rice and veggies but does like a bit of oats and yoghurt,” she said.

Ten month old Brax Banks loves his mum and swimming, among many other things.

Karleigh said Brax loves yoghurt, chicken and vegetables, and frozen fruits and his favourite toy is his six volt electric motor bike.

“He cruises around on it everywhere,” she said.

“He’s currently on the move and about to start walking around any day now. So the fun is all about to begin.

“He’s a massive sticky beak has to be apart of anything that’s around. And he’s just the happiest little boy.”

The mum said he also loves swimming at Splash-A-Bout and following his “Grumps around in his shed”.