Monbulk: Steve McRae gets help from stranger to deliver child in a Kallista driveway

A Kallista man quickly swung into action after his barking dog alerted him to some unexpected visitors in the middle of the night.

Finn McRae was born in a Kallista driveway in the early hours of October 2. Picture: Supplied.

A Monbulk family plan to give a good Samaritan some new towels after he came out in the dark of night to help them deliver their third child in his driveway.

Steve McRae was driving to the Angliss Hospital in Ferntree Gully when wife Nikki went into labour about 3am on Saturday.

He pulled into the driveway of Grahame Emanuel’s home on Monbulk Rd in Kallista and began trying to help his wife with her contractions in their white Mazda 6 wagon.

Mr Emanuel was woken up by barks from his dog KooWee, and after watching on bemused for five minutes, headed outside with a torch to investigate.

After Mr McRae said his wife was having a baby, Mr Emanuel rushed inside to get some towels from wife Anne.

He then supported the couple as emergency services officers provided instructions over the phone, and Ms McRae safely delivered a boy, Finn, a short time later.

Paramedics then arrived to transfer the family to the Angliss Hospital to recover.

Finn McRae was delivered inside parents Steve and Nikki McCrae's car en route to hospital in the early hours of October 2. Picture: Supplied.

Mr McRae said Finn arrived 13 minutes after he called triple-0 and his newborn son’s arrival would have been much messier without Mr Emanuel’s help.

“It was raining, it was dark, she (Nikki) was talking me through and then Graeme called out and asked if I needed any help,” he said.

“He ran back up and got us towels and a blanket and said nice things to Nikki, and three minutes later I had a baby in my hands.”

Mr McRae said the family planned to visit the Emanuels with a thank you gift of some new towels later in the week.
“He’s not going to want the old ones back, that’s for sure,” he said.

Mr Emanuel said it was the second medical emergency to happen outside his home after someone in another passing car had a heart attack two years ago.

“We’ll probably put a sign out the front after this … if you’re having a nervous breakdown, a child or a heart attack, all are welcome,” he said.

“It was an intense moment, but the husband and wife did a fantastic job and the baby was terrific.”

Mr McRae said his wife and Finn left hospital late on Saturday, and Finn was now getting to know his older sisters, Layla, 3, and Dotty, 2.