Coochie Community Shopping Service

(TL:DR) If getting groceries from Coochie feels like a full-day mission, the Coochie Community Shopping Service has just become a lot more relevant. Now open to all residents (with priority for seniors and people with disabilities), CCSS collects online orders from **Coles and delivers them to your door. A recent membership drive was quiet, but with **Woolworths adding a $20 island delivery fee, that’s likely to change fast. The service runs fortnightly (for now), costs $5/year plus $15 per delivery, and is even fundraising for a refrigerated truck as demand grows. Quietly efficient, community-run, and probably about to get a lot busier.

If you’ve ever attempted a “quick” grocery run from Coochie, you’ll know it rarely stays quick for long.

There’s the ferry to think about. Or the barge. Heavy bags that somehow get heavier between the jetty and your front door. What should be a simple errand can quietly turn into a half-day mission.

Which is exactly why the Coochie Community Shopping Service (CCSS) exists.

This volunteer-run, not-for-profit service has been supporting island residents for years, collecting groceries from shops in Victoria Point and delivering them straight to homes on Coochie 🚚

A service that’s just had a quiet but important shift...

At a general meeting held on Sunday 21 March, amendments were passed that officially opened the service to the wider community.

Previously, CCSS was available only to seniors. Now, it is open to all Coochie residents, while still prioritising seniors and people living with disabilities.

It’s a small sentence on paper… but a big shift in practice.

A reality check (no lecture, just context)

There was a membership drive held on 10 and 11 January. To be honest, it wasn’t particularly well attended. That’s not a criticism. More an observation.

Because right now, things are changing.

With the introduction of a new $20 island delivery fee from Woolworths starting 3 February, many residents are already rethinking how they do their groceries.

And suddenly, CCSS is looking a lot more relevant.

Looking ahead: building capacity for what’s coming

With increased demand expected, CCSS is not just preparing operationally… it’s also planning ahead.

The service is currently fundraising for a refrigerated truck, which would significantly improve how groceries are transported between the mainland and the island.

It’s a practical next step for a service that is likely to grow, and another example of how CCSS continues to evolve in response to real community needs.

When does it run?

Right now, CCSS operates on recycle bin week, running Wednesday and Friday each fortnight.

With demand expected to increase (hello rising delivery costs), there’s already talk of shifting to a weekly service using alternating days.

Watch this space 👀

And yes… more volunteers may be needed.

How the service works (without overcomplicating it)

There’s flexibility depending on how you like to shop:

• Order online using Coles Click & Collect and CCSS will collect it for you
• Or travel over yourself and shop during the service window

Either way, your groceries make their way back to Coochie… without you having to juggle ferry timetables.

The “behind the scenes” version

A typical shopping day starts early:

• Volunteers and driver begin around 8:00am
• Catch the 8:20am barge
• Arrive at Coles around 8:45am
• Orders are packed and organised for transport
• Boxes are loaded early afternoon
• Return barge around 2:20pm
• Back on Coochie… and deliveries begin

It’s a full day. And it runs on volunteer effort and good organisation (and 

probably a bit of caffeine).

What does it cost?

• $5 annual membership
• $15 per shop/delivery

It’s simple, transparent, and community-based.

Click & Collect (the easy version)

• Order online with Coles
• Receive your order number
• Send it to CCSS via phone or email
• They collect it and deliver it

That’s it.
Island-style easy.

Want to know more or get involved?

The membership system is currently being refreshed to make things simpler, clearer and more inclusive for all Coochiemudlians.

In the meantime, you can contact:

• Angela Phillips (President): 0432 000 859
• Rosemary Starr (Secretary): 0403 014 396

CCSS is one of those quiet community services that just gets on with the job.

No fuss. No fanfare.

But with rising delivery costs and the usual island logistics we all know too well… its timing couldn’t be better.

One box of groceries at a time, this is Coochie looking after its own 💚