By Brendan Rees
Twelve-year-old Kaylah Paton of Lynbrook has celebrated a rare feat – her own birthday. It’s an opportunity she hasn’t had since 2016.
Her birthday falls on the calendar’s occasional date which only comes around every four years.
Despite turning 12, Kaylah technically celebrated her third birthday on Saturday 29 February.
She’s part of a rare breed called ‘leaplings’ – a person born on a leap day.
The odds of this happening are 1,461 to one.
So for Kaylah, she is justifiably thrilled to celebrate such a rare feat.
Mum Kristy McMahon said her daughter was “so excited” as the date comes with its disadvantages – as Kaylah has to explain to others which day she celebrates her birthday.
“She’s always having to justify her decision,” she says.
“She chooses the 28th because she says ‘Well I was born in February so why would I want to celebrate in March?’
“Everybody comes back and says ‘Well you were born the day after the 28th’.
“Most kids get a whole week of birthday celebrations anyway so it doesn’t really matter.”
Kaylah, who has just started year 7 at Cranbourne Secondary College, had a packed day of fun to celebrate the milestone – including a night out to dinner with family, a surprise new bedroom suite, and of course a birthday cake.
Her science teacher also made her feel special by making her a birthday cake before inviting all students to sing her a happy birthday in class.
Kristy adds: “Being 12, it’s probably the first one she really fully understood the significance.”
And the celebrations don’t there.
“We’ve actually organised a surprise party for her on Friday (6 March) with her dance friends and school friends,” Kristy says.
“She doesn’t have social media or anything – she won’t see it until I show her”.
