| “Don’t be ashamed to ask for things and ask for help as well.” — Nat Saville |
** Kingsford Smith Welcomes Its Newest Residents at Annual Baby Celebration
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“Don’t be ashamed to ask for things and ask for help as well.” — Nat Saville
26/09/2026
(See translation in Arabic section)
Sydney-Middle East Times Int'l: The Federal Member for Kingsford Smith, Matt Thistlethwaite MP, welcomed newborns and their families at his annual baby celebration, bringing parents together for conversation and community connection.
A large number of mothers attended with their children, while local businesses and organisations displayed products and shared information about services available to families. The gathering offered parents an opportunity to meet others navigating the same early years and to celebrate the arrival of the community’s newest members.
Opening the event, Mr Thistlethwaite thanked parents for the important role they play in the community. He acknowledged that caring for a newborn can be demanding, drawing on his own experience as a father of four.
He said he hosts the gathering each year partly to give parents a reason to get out of the house, talk to one another and learn about support close to home. He encouraged families to visit organisations and ask about the services they provide for newborns and parents.
Mr Thistlethwaite then introduced guest speaker Nat Saville, describing her as an inspirational local mother with ties to the area. He recalled her schooling in the local community and her achievements in sport: she represented Australia in racewalking at the 2004 Olympic Games and won a silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. He also spoke of her work, community involvement and experience raising two daughters.
Speaking after Mr Thistlethwaite, Ms Saville gave parents an account of the challenges and surprises she had encountered. Books about babies and children can be helpful, she said, but their advice cannot provide a rule for every situation or every family.
She recalled deciding that she would breastfeed her first child for 12 months. When the baby struggled to sleep and cried frequently, however, Ms Saville found herself exhausted. Her mother and mother-in-law suggested trying formula, but she initially resisted because she wanted to follow the plan she had made. She eventually tried it, and said her daughter then slept for eight hours.
For Ms Saville, the experience illustrated the importance of paying attention to a child’s needs while trusting one’s own judgment. “What works for you, works for you,” she told the families. Parents, she said, should not feel that changing their approach means they have failed.
She offered another example from her sister, whose young children sometimes slept in their parents’ bed. When her sister worried about whether this was the right arrangement, Ms Saville asked whether the children were sleeping and whether she was sleeping too. Her point was that families need to consider what is working for them, even when they encounter a flood of competing advice.
Ms Saville acknowledged that new parents now have access to an enormous amount of information, especially through technology. Although much of it is useful, she said, it can also leave mothers feeling overwhelmed by instructions about what they should do or buy. She remembered receiving so many hand-me-down items that she did not use them all.
Now the mother of daughters aged 10 and 12, Ms Saville said she was still learning. She asks friends with older children how they handled problems that arise as children grow. Those conversations have reminded her that many parents face similar uncertainties, whatever their children’s ages.
She encouraged parents to stay in touch with their networks, join mothers’ groups and speak to families whose children are older. Questions that feel embarrassing or unique, she suggested, have often been asked by someone else. Support can come from a conversation as readily as from a parenting book.
Ms Saville praised the annual baby welcome as a chance to build those connections. Recalling that she had attended the event years earlier, she urged parents to use the occasion to talk to one another and ask for help when they need it. Raising young children is hard work, she said, but the years pass quickly.
After her address, Mr Thistlethwaite called the babies forward by name to receive welcome certificates and gift bags. Families had an opportunity to take photographs before returning to the gathering and continuing their conversations. The presentation brought a warm, cheerful close to an event centred on welcoming children and supporting the people who care for them. |
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