Ben’s seventh heaven
Prop does his part to lift births WE’RE NOT BONKERS
THERE is something in the air at Clear Island Waters, one of the only suburbs on the Gold Coast to buck a sliding fertility trend.
The Bulletin yesterday revealed the city had one of the lowest fertility rates in the country, with every woman on average giving birth to 1.67 children, a drop of 10 per cent from 2011.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows Clear Island Waters was an exception, rising 29 per cent from 1.35 in 2011 to 1.76 in 2017.
Locals were at a loss yesterday to explain the breeding bonanza.
Prue Smith, the manager of Kool Kids childcare at Clear Island Waters, said she was seeing more multiplechildren families than ever.
“Staff at our centre are also always pregnant, usually three at a time, so something is happening,” Ms Smith said.
“We have 38 that work here, when one falls pregnant I can guarantee another two aren’t too far behind.”
Tallebudgera was one of the many suburbs to post a decline. Its fertility rate dropped 12 per cent to 1.9, not from a lack of effort from former NRL player Ben Hannant, a father of seven.
“Even the numbers in our suburb Tallebudgera dropped,” the Sea FM breakfast presenter said. “I was surprised because I thought we were doing our part.”
Having grown up in a family of 10, Mr Hannant said expanding his own brood was one of his proudest achievements.
“It is the best thing I have ever done. If you are waiting for the right time, the right amount of money, the right house or the right job you will never have them. Nothing worth having is easy.”
Mr Hannant said he had eased into parenthood.
“You learn and grow together. There is just so much love. We had thought we were going to stop at six but I couldn’t imagine life without our seventh.”
Coast fertility rates among worst in Australia as career-minded couples shun storks for nest eggs Yesterday’s Bulletin