13.2 C
Byron Shire
August 29, 2026

First baby born at new Tweed Valley Hospital

Latest News

How can we keep paying for incompetence

The only way forward is going backwards. That’s how I explain the current situation of Byron Shire Council. The...

Other News

Going beyond the BBQ

The Men & Family Centre will soon be running a free Beyond the BBQ event in Lismore.

New research highlights pressures facing Northern Rivers community organisations

More than 50 representatives from grassroots organisations across the Northern Rivers came together at Bangalow A&I Hall last week for the Northern Rivers Community Sector Sustainability Summit.

Imagine

‘Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try No hell below us… above us only sky, Imagine all the people,...

Everyone’s welcome at the House of Spaghetti

Spaghetti Circus is throwing open the doors of its Mullumbimby home later this month, presenting its 2026 Annual Show, House of Spaghetti, at the Mullumbimby Showground from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August. Five shows over three days, with every student on stage.

Can you help our rainbow community find a home?

For four years Queer Family Inc has lived the perilous life of a homeless community organisation – bouncing from one temporary venue to the next, sometimes without anywhere to stay at all.

NSW gambling reforms announced

The Minns government says it is delivering on a key election commitment with its latest tranche of gaming reforms, giving people and families stronger protections against gambling harm and tightening the rules concerning gambling promotion and marketing.

The Espie family with Midwife Rebecca Thorne and Student Midwife Carrie Rollings. Photo supplied

The new Tweed Valley Hospital opened on May 14 at Kingscliff and it saw its first baby born that day at 8.53pm.

The little boy was born to Tweed Shire locals, the Espie family, and he weighed in at 2.958 kilograms (approximately 6.5 pounds).

Tweed Valley Hospital Midwifery Unit Manager, Michelle Brinkman, said both mother and baby are doing well.

‘I want to extend my congratulations to the Espie family on the arrival of their gorgeous baby boy,’ Ms Brinkman said.

‘I also want to thank our staff in the birthing and maternity units for their work in ensuring a smooth transition into the new hospital and the safe delivery of the first baby born.’

Parents Johannah and Martin Espie said they are over the moon.

‘It’s often said that it takes a village to raise a child. We now consider the midwifery and obstetric team at Tweed valley Hospital a very special part of our village,’ Ms Espie said.

‘In particular Rebecca, Dannielle, Carrie and Carly, they went above and beyond to make the birth of our son everything we’d hoped it would be, including supporting our young daughter to be present and share in the experience.

‘The Tweed valley is truly blessed to have such a wonderful facility on our door stop, with such an amazing team of skilled professionals. We treasure you all!’



For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Greens urged to back pathway to end native forest logging

Some of NSW’s most respected and long-standing forest campaigners and scientists have today urged the Greens not to support the Nationals' attempt to disallow the Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) method.

Ballina Council makes decision on Ross Lane

With the absence of all four of its progressive councillors for various reasons, Ballina Council pushed ahead with its agenda at yesterday's monthly meeting, including a decision which is likely to close Ross Lane for months while the road is upgraded.

Mullumbimby puts new governance models first, and now wants to build it

Imagine Northern Rivers says Mullumbimby is the only community across the region to rank new models of governance and decision-making as the number one element of its preferred future, and last week locals gathered to work out how to make it real.

Appeal to locate man missing from Broadwater

Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate a local missing man.