Townsville University Hospital celebrates first baby of the year for 2025

A mad dash to the city from rural central-north Queensland has resulted in the first baby born at Townsville University Hospital for 2025. See the pics.

Kirby-Lee Drinkwater and her baby boy who was the first baby born at Townsville University Hospital in 2025. Picture: Nikita McGuire

As fireworks went off across the city, excitement of a different kind was had by a North Queensland mum, welcoming her fifth baby into the world.

A quick onset of labour pains late on New Year’s Eve led to a trip from central-north Queensland to Townsville for Kirby-Lee Drinkwater, with her new son the first baby born for 2025 at Townsville University Hospital.

Ms Drinkwater said she began going into labour late on December 31 before ringing the ambulance.

“It was just really quick last night around half past ten I got a heap of pains and then the ambos came and took me to hospital and it was an emergency C-section straight up,” she said.

Kirby-Lee Drinkwater and her baby boy who was the first baby born at Townsville University Hospital in 2025. Picture: Nikita McGuire

Ms Drinkwater’s fifth child, the baby boy was born at 3.06am on January 1, 2025 weighing 3.45kg, with a name still yet to be decided.

Living out on a cattle property two hours southwest of Charters Towers, Kirby-Lee and partner Blaine last welcomed a baby girl named Gypsy 14 months ago.

Ms Drinkwater’s oldest son celebrated his 21st birthday on December 31 and said the new arrival just missed out on sharing the birthday.

She said it was exciting to give birth to the hospital’s first baby of 2025.

“It’s really great, it was either today or the big boy’s birthday. He didn’t want to come yesterday, so he has his own day.”

Originally published as Townsville University Hospital celebrates first baby of the year for 2025