More than 100 families returned to Sydney Adventist Hospital for its annual Teddy Bears Picnic, reconnecting with doctors, nurses and midwives who supported them through childbirth over the past two years.
Held on the hospital’s front lawn under sunny skies on April 23, the event welcomed families who had delivered babies at the San since 2022. Attendees enjoyed music, games and entertainment—with many children bringing along their “San Bears,” soft toys traditionally gifted to every newborn at the hospital.
The event’s name is inspired by this tradition, with a life-sized San Bear mascot hosting the picnic each year.
“It’s such a personal experience, having a child and starting a family, and we feel very privileged to play a part in that journey,” said hospital CEO Brett Goods. “We deliver about 2000 babies here every year and each one is very special to us.”
The picnic provided an opportunity for families to reconnect with maternity staff and one another. Obstetricians and midwives welcomed former patients—some of whom had been born at the San themselves. More than 3900 babies have been born at the hospital in the past two years, including 37 sets of twins.
The San’s maternity team includes around 100 midwives and 30 obstetricians, many of whom develop lasting relationships with the families they support. The Teddy Bears Picnic remains a much-loved tradition, celebrating those connections and the start of life for hundreds of families.
