Crowe's letter to his son

My beautiful boy, This time last year I was on top of the ridge on Mt. Lourene that runs along the back of the farm. It was 3 weeks before you were due. When I saw two vehicles peeling into the back paddocks my heart started racing, I knew you were coming. It took me 40mins to get to the first car. Then we went to our emergency 'get back to Sydney' plan. However, the best laid plans of mice and men don't mean a damn. The helicopter was held up fuelling, in that time the wind rose to a 60-70km/ph headwind coming from the south. It took 3 hours to do a two-hour flight.

Your mother's waters broke at 8.30 or so in the morning, I saw the cars around 9am, got to the main house around 10, chopper booked to arrive at 11, didn't get to the farm until 1pm. We landed in Sydney at 4.30. I was just hoping your mum hadn't left for the hospital without me. She hadn't. She had waited. Everything happened very fast after that.

We got to the hospital around 5.30, they were sure pleased to see your mum, they'd been expecting her hours before.

She had her parents and a midwife urging her to go to the hospital, but she didn't want to go to the hospital without your dad, she was super-cool and stuck to the plan. You were born at seven mins to seven on the 21st of December, one year ago today and I can truly tell you it has been the most wonderful year of our lives. You are a very special little boy, so affectionate and lovely. I'm going to wake you up in a minute and give you your first birthday bottle, then later mum and I will take you on the harbour for breakfast. This afternoon your grandparents will come over and spoil the birthday boy rotten. Thankyou for coming into my life Charlie Boonker.
I Love You, Dad