Ngintaka was born at 5.55am while the NSW Ambulance was transferring the mum-to-be from Macksville Hospital.

“She was 11 days overdue – I was booked into Coffs to be induced and then I went into labour," Juanella said.

“I was hoping to make it ... and kept thinking of my partner and girls for strength, knowing everything was going to be okay – there were no complications and she was fine.”

Nelly said Ngindy (her nickname) was born as she was going over the bridge at Urunga, and her partner, Michael Donovan Jnr, said the river is very significant to his family too.

“Michael has Gumbaynggiir heritage and Ngindy was born on the highway as we crossed Baalijin Bindarray … this is very special and lovely for us.”

Nelly said the year since the birth has been “crazy” but in true Ngindy-form it’s been full of surprises too.

“She can walk and talk all before her first birthday and she brings much joy and laughter to our full house,” Nelly said.

Ngintaka, has two siblings Ngarlaa, 3, and Ngayan, 2, and a year on Nelly still has praise for the ambulance paramedics, her GP and the midwives and staff at Macksville Hospital.

“Vicky, from Macksville maternity was great throughout it all,” she said.

“The Aboriginal Maternal Infant Health Strategy (AMIHS) run by Sue out of Macksville maternity was a big help.

“Sue cared for us through all three pregnancies … you see stuff like this on TV but you never think something like that would happen to you.”

In other fabulous news for Nelly’s family, the GoFundMe campaign to raise money for a car (after an accident destroyed their previous vehicle) has seen Nelly and Michael able to afford a new car.

A perfect end to 2016.

AMIHS provides culturally appropriate community-based maternity care in pregnancy and the post-natal period up to eight weeks.