REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Friday September 3, 2004

THE energy crisis might have plunged the Beattie Government into darkness but the 2003 summer’s blackout season brought at least 45 Gold Coast couples the light of their lives.

A blackout baby boom saw more than 45 babies born at local hospitals in the just three days.

At Gold Coast Hospital there were a whopping 24 babies born in 36 hours, Pindara Hospital has had 16 births over three days and five babies were born in 24 hours at Allamanda Hospital.

John Flynn Hospital could not provide exact figures but said their maternity ward also recorded a baby boom.

It seemed all that soft candlelight, lack of television and hot, steamy summer weather set pulses racing over the Christmas and new year period. With at least five blackouts between early November and late January, there were many opportunities for amorous couples.

Trina Popata and her hubby are celebrating the birth of little Pania, their second early spring baby, who was born at 3.40am yesterday, the same day as big sister Shaquille 11 years ago.

Trina reckons it’s a case of too much Christmas cheer. ”It’s all those Christmas parties,” she said.

“Everyone’s in a bit of a celebratory mood – It seems like the whole Gold Coast was up to something around that time.’’

Rosie Emerton said the combination of candlelight and the festive mood was probably the major factor in the Gold Coast baby bonanza.

Her aptly named bub Holly was quite probably the result of one of those nights in the dark.