Summary
- 50th baby birth since birthing started on 22 May 2024.
- Weipa recorded 32 births in 2025 and 14 in 2024.
Weipa Integrated Health Service’s maternity unit has celebrated its 50th baby birth since birthing started on 22 May 2024.
Yasmin Cavanagh and Billy Kadwell welcomed second daughter Brydie at the facility on 8 February.
Brydie arrived just after 6 am weighing 3.375kg.
The couple’s first daughter Baileigh was born in early 2024 just prior to the re-opening of the Weipa service so they had to spend six weeks in Cairns preparing for her arrival.
“It felt really good to be able to have the baby in Weipa and not have to stress about the logistics of being in Cairns,” Ms Cavanagh said.
Mr Kadwell added: “We’re not even five minutes down the road from the hospital”.
Ms Cavanagh was able to labour at home until coming to the hospital a few hours before Brydie arrived.
“The maternity team were amazing, just reassuring you and making sure you’re okay,” Ms Cavanagh said.
Weipa Midwife Lorraine Woods said as well as being the 50th baby, Brydie was the fourth baby born so far this year.
Weipa recorded 32 births in 2025 and 14 in 2024, she said.
“Last year we delivered 20 boys and 12 girls, and in 2024, we had four boys and 10 girls,’’ she said.
Amongst the last births of the year in Weipa in 2025 was baby Ace, born on 9 December to parents Emily and Alistair Thorogood and brother to Kai and Vin.
It was the second birth at Weipa for Ms Thorogood who also gave birth to the first baby born at Weipa’s new birthing service on 28 May 2024, when she gave birth to son Vin.
“It was so much easier for us to have Ace born here at Weipa, like we did with Vin,’’ she said.
“The birthing service here is amazing and we couldn’t fault the continuity of care we received throughout my pregnancy with Ace through the Midwifery Group Practice here at Weipa.’’
Ms Thorogood said she, husband Alistair and first son Kai had been preparing to fly to Cairns to give birth to Vin early in 2024 when the opening date for the new Weipa birthing service was announced.
“We then asked our midwife if we could stay and were approved to do so,” she said.
“My first son Kai was born in Mareeba so we had to fly out of Weipa at 36 weeks and that would have been even more difficult to do to give birth to Vin, while having Kai at home to consider.
“With Vin, I was able to labour at home for a while, then just drive two minutes to the hospital and he was born half an hour later. It was great to be able to do the same with Ace.
“It’s just such an excellent service here at Weipa.’’
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Rex O’Rourke said the 50th baby birth was a major milestone for the Weipa Integrated Health Service birthing unit.
“Our Weipa birthing unit has been going from strength to strength since restarting services in early 2024 and we look forward to seeing many more babies born there,’’ Mr O’Rourke said.
“Thursday Island Hospital continues to deliver a high-quality birthing service, welcoming around 80–100 babies each year.
“At Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service, strong progress is being made toward safely resuming local birthing services, following workforce shortages.
“For the first time since 2019, we have fully recruited our midwifery and anaesthetic workforce and are finalising remaining obstetric positions to support a safe, sustainable 24/7 service later this year.
“We remain committed to providing high-quality birthing care as close to home as possible for our communities.’’