NOT long after the last fireworks had fizzled from the sky and the noise of partygoers began to soften something special happened.
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While the rest of the south-west was out celebrating, Jena Robertson was in labour about to give birth to her second son Koby.
With his eyes barely open on day one of the new year, the newborn is the first child to be born at the Warrnambool Base Hospital for 2013.
Originally expected before Christmas, Jena and her partner Matthew Clarke made no arrangements to ring in the new year at their home in Camperdown.
“I was due on December 23 so he was nine days over,” she said.
“There were no parties ... it was all on hold.”
At 3.41am Koby Clarke arrived healthy and well.
Clutching her newborn in her arms yesterday afternoon, Ms Robertson said she was “tired but good”.
Only Koby’s two-and-half-year-old brother Noah had plans — to visit the Cobden Miniature Railway.
“We were going to go but then it started,” Mr Clarke said.
The couple had hoped for a birth at the Camperdown hospital but had to travel to Warrnambool late New Year’s Eve.
The drinks might have been cancelled for the night, but Mr Clarke said a glass or two might be shared in the next week or so.