Hundreds of twins and triplets have gathered in Melbourne to celebrate the miracle and mysteries of multiple birth.
The Twins Plus Festival is the biggest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere. It brings together sets of multiple birth siblings from all around the globe. This year the event was held on Melbourne's Caulfield racecourse.
Dorothy Murphy, Florence Welsh and Betsy Audino are Australia's oldest identical triplets. At 74, Dorothy says being a triplet does have its advantages.
"Yeah we have had a great life together." said Ms Murphy.
Her sister, Florence, says she can’t imagine life without her siblings.
"Without them, I wouldn't have been able to cope." says Ms Welsh.
Primary school aged twin brothers, Martin and Robert Zboril, says the uncanny sixth sense that exists between multiple birth siblings is true. They often find themselves finishing each other’s sentences.
"Sometimes we think of the same words at the same time,” says Martin, “..and sometimes we even dress the same without knowing." says Robert.
As part of the festivities, entertainment, face painting and look-a-like competitions are held.
But there's also a serious scientific aspect to the event with organisers also looking for recruits to research projects into just what makes twins and triplets tick.
Professor John Hopper, the director of the Australian Twin Registry, says twins could hold the key to unlocking some of life's great genetic mysteries.
"Twins are very special in the way they can give us insights into what it means to be human." says Mr Hopper.
