Today I had the delightful privilege of welcoming nearly 50 babies into our local community at a special ceremony held in Ashfield.

The annual “Welcoming the Babies” event is not only a celebration of new births in our area, but also a unique community event that brings local parents together from across Grayndler.
Ashfield Town Hall quickly filled with prams, babies, grandparents and parents, and over one hundred people attended the ceremony, which started at 10am.
It is always a pleasure to host the event and, as a parent, I know how much raising a baby can change your life. This is why I believe it is important to take the time to recognise and celebrate the great work parents do.
With babies from a range of different backgrounds, it is also a fantastic illustration of the vibrant diversity of the Inner West.
The Mayor of Ashfield Council, Lucille McKenna, Ashfield Councillors Mark Drury and Alex Lofts as well as the Mayor of Marrickville, Jo Haylen also attended the ceremony.
A total of 48 babies were welcomed on the day with the youngest being Ashley Li who was six and a half weeks old.
The mums and dads received certificates and gift bags containing useful products donated by local organisations and information about raising babies and toddlers.
I would like to thank those involved including Anita Kumar, CEO of The Infants’ Home Ashfield, who acted as MC for the event and Councillor Lucille McKenna OAM who helped present the awards on the day.
I would also like to thank sponsors Bounty, Chemist Warehouse, Playgroup NSW and Woolworths, as well as the Metro Migrant Resource Centre, Australian Government Department of Health and Ashfield Council, whose support is greatly appreciated.
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