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Only baby born in southwest on New Years Day to call Roma home

Hamish Christensen is the region's newest addition, born on January 1 at 10:52 am to parents Bronwen and Michael, and a baby brother to proud 16 month old Sophie. Picture: Ellen Ransley

HE WAS more than two weeks early, but he was eager to start his and his family's year off on the right foot.

Hamish Christensen was the first baby born in the southwest region, when he entered the world at Roma Hospital at 10.52am on New Years Day, to parents Bronwen and Michael and big sister Sophie.

Hamish Christensen is the region's newest addition, born on January 1 at 10:52 am to parents Bronwen and Michael, and a baby brother to proud 16 month old Sophie. Picture: Ellen Ransley

A healthy boy weighing in at 3.5 kilograms, he made his appearance after a six hour and seven minute long labour.

Michael and Bronwen, who first arrived in Roma when 27 weeks pregnant with Sophie two years ago from the Toowoomba region, said this was a great way to start the year.

"We weren't really expecting him, he wasn't due until January 19, but he's a beautiful addition,” Mrs Christensen said.

"I came into hospital in daylight and he was born not too long after, much easier than my first one.”

Hamish Christensen is the region's newest addition, born on January 1 at 10:52 am to parents Bronwen and Michael, and a baby brother to proud 16 month old Sophie. Picture: Ellen Ransley

The Christensens said the process was always made easy with a good midwife team, the same one who helped deliver their first born in 2016.

"We had the most fantastic midwife team here.

"We really want to say a big thank you to Kelsey and Mary, who were great.”

Having left the hospital 24 hours after Hamish was born, the Christensens said they were excited to tackle the next year as a family of four.

Around the world, UNICEF said they expected over 395,000 newborns would share January 1, 2019 as their birth date.

Originally published as Welcome to family