After a three-year break, hundreds of teddy bears – and their human families – were finally able to enjoy their picnic on the front lawn of Sydney Adventist Hospital.
The annual feast returned to the grounds of New South Wales’ largest private hospital on Wednesday 10 May 2023, having been put on hold due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Teddy bears of all shapes and sizes gathered with more than 700 mums, dads, babies, toddlers and grandparents, along with hospital staff.
Known as the San since its origins as a sanitarium in 1903, the hospital delivers about 2,000 babies each year.
The picnic gives returning San families the chance to interact with new families of San babies, while catching up with their obstetricians, midwives, paediatricians and women’s health staff.
Maternity staff and doctors get to see how the babies they delivered have grown and developed.
This year’s picnic took place in between International Midwives Day 2023 (Friday 5 May) and Mother’s Day (Sunday 14 May).
As to be expected at a Teddy Bears’ Picnic, there were lots of marvellous things to eat and wonderful games to play in the hospital’s tree-lined grounds on the Wahroonga Estate.
Children’s entertainers The Beanies performed a show on stage to the delight of the crowd, while the face-painting stalls catered to those who did not come in their own disguise.
Everyone was sure of a treat thanks to all the play equipment, delicious food and snacks, a photo booth, and gift bags filled with goodies.
