News

Baby makes early entrance

By Bree Harding

Jan 5, 2026

Ekta and Ravi Mathukiya welcomed their first child on January 1, 2026. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

One of Shepparton’s newest residents doesn’t have a name.

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‘Baby Mathukiya’ arrived so far ahead of schedule, his parents, Ekta and Ravi Mathukiya, hadn’t yet decided what they would call their first child.

Born in the first hour of 2026, at 12.53am, this 3.3kg bundle of joy in a tiny baby boy was one of the first babies born in Shepparton for the year.

He wasn’t expected to arrive until January 18, but in the spirit of a new year’s new beginnings, he brought his own surprise celebration to the family.

“I was getting ready to go to the fireworks,” mum Ekta said, as she recalled the moment she went into labour at 6.30pm on New Year’s Eve.

“But then my water broke.”

Instead of heading to the Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, she and Ravi headed to Goulburn Valley Health’s birth suite.

Ekta and Ravi Mathukiya’s baby boy. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Aside from the pain labour naturally brings, Ekta said her firstborn’s birth was otherwise uncomplicated.

Mum and bub had a short stay in hospital before heading home in the afternoon on January 2 to continue recovering from a New Year’s Eve so wild and exciting, it will be hard to top.