The very last new arrival in Bendigo for 2014, baby Finn was born to parents Leonie van Rooyen and Stephen Bryant, both 49, on New Year's Eve at 11.15pm. 

Stephen and Leonie met when they were 15 but their lives diverged from there.

"We both married other people and got on with our lives," Leonie said.

"We kept in touch over the years - we actually both went to each other's weddings - and then after our marriages broke up we got together three years ago."

The new couple discussed having children straight away.

"I always wanted more children," Leonie said.

"Stephen hadn't had kids and I always thought he would be a good dad."

In their late 40s, there was little chance of the couple having a child naturally so they turned to IVF, which Leonie had used previously to conceive her son Angus, 11, with her former husband. 

A doctor told the pair the only way IVF had a possibility of working was with a donor egg from a young woman.

At 22, niece Abbey Stooke was an obvious candidate.

Leonie said she and Abbey, now 23, had been close since her niece was a baby.

"She is a wonderful girl - one of those people who would do anything for anyone," she said. 

"She's wise beyond her years."

But the family expansion plans were put on hold when Leonie was diagnosed with a bowel tumour.

Fortunately, the tumour was found to be benign and three operations later, Leonie and Stephen were given the all clear.

Leonie said Abbey was the couple's biggest supporter during this time.

"She was the driving force behind me doing it because she was so enthusiastic," Leonie said.

The couple decided to have only one round of IVF and let fate decide the rest.

Leonie said she was convinced the treatment hadn't been successful.

She was in the middle of planning a holiday to Vietnam and Cambodia to distract herself from the disappointment when she received the news she had been waiting for - a healthy embryo had attached and a baby was on the way. 

Pregnancy at 49 was a breeze, she said.

"I had a terrific pregnancy," Leonie said.

 "I had no sickness, no weight gain, no complications whatsoever."

Abbey said she was behind the idea of Leonie and Stephen having a baby from the start.

"I thought it was great; they're both really great people and have a lot of love for each other so why shouldn't they?" she said.

When the idea of egg donation was floated, Abbey said yes immediately.

Her close relationship with her aunt made it an easy decision.

"She's like a mum to me," Abbey said.

"I've always been able to talk to her about everything."

Abbey described the first time she held Finn as "perfect".

"I burst into tears as soon as I saw him," she said.

"Leonie and Steve had time with him at first because I wanted them to enjoy the first moments with him.

"When I did have my first cuddle with him it was beautiful."

However she said there had been a few moment's since her cousin's birth where she found herself feeling "lost".

"I think its too soon to know (how I feel)," she said.

"It's not everyday you give up a baby. It has been a bit confronting but I've had a lot of support from family and friends and I know I've done the right thing."

Stephen said first-time fatherhood at 49 had been "fantastic".

"I had wanted to be a father but it just never happened," he said.

"I'd given up on it."

He said he couldn't be happier with their decision to have a child - despite the fact many of his friends were welcoming grandchildren.

Older brother Angus is also smitten with little Finn. 

"He's rapt," Leonie said. 

"He's been a really good helper; runs the bath and constantly asks to nurse him. He's so happy to have a brother."

Abbey, who lives in Melbourne, said she would be spending plenty of time with Finn and Angus in future.

"I've got some leave at the start of February so I'm planning to go up for a while and spend some time with them and give Leonie a break for a while and do some babysitting," she said.

Leonie said Abbey would always hold a special place in her cousin's life.

"We're his parents, there's no doubt about that. But Abbey will always be a special person to him."