Townsville City Council's Welcoming Babies Ceremonies are held in January, June and October and is open to families who live in Townsville with a baby who is under 13 months at the time of the ceremony.

Welcoming Babies Ceremonies 2012 

January 2012

Date: Thursday 26 January 2011 (as part of Australia Day Celebrations)
Location: Riverway Arts Centre
Registration open: Friday 25 November 2011
Registration close: Registration for the January Welcoming Babies Ceremony has now closed

June 2012

Date: 2 June 2012 (as part of Townsville Eco Fiesta and Smart Lifestyle Expo)
Location: Queens Garden Northward
Registration open: Thursday 1 March 2012
Registration close: Friday 18 May 2012
Registration form.

October 2012

Date: to be confirmed
Location: to be confirmed
Registration: Will open August 2012 (check back for more information closer to this date)

The aims of the project are:

• To make a clear statement to parents, their extended families, friends and neighbours, to the wider community, and to our civic leaders, that the arrival of a baby is a significant event and deserves to be celebrated with an appropriate ceremony
• To reinforce the view that families, the community and organisations like the Council have a responsibility towards babies and children in our community, and have a vested interest in their well being
• To show that the community values parents, and to give tangible evidence of this to parents
• To give parents information about resources or assistance that they may need.

Elements of the day include:

• The official presentation of a welcoming certificate, a plant, and a gift/information bag to each family
• A variety of information stalls provided by local organisations that work with families and children
• Children's activities and children's stage entertainment.

For more information please contact council's Community Services on 1300 878 001.