The Wheels Don’t Turn Themselves…

There’s a quiet kind of magic that happens on Coochie every single week.

Groceries appear on doorsteps. Someone receives medicines they otherwise may struggle to get. A neighbour who’s no longer driving still gets to feel connected to the world beyond their front gate. Books get delivered to those who can’t make it to the library.

The island keeps moving because ordinary people quietly step in and help carry it.

And right now, a couple of those services are feeling the strain.

The Community Bus and the Community Shopping Service (CCSS) are both urgently needing more volunteers.

And the Community Shopping Service is also searching for something even harder to find: A new President.

Now before everyone suddenly becomes extremely interested in reorganising the pantry or washing their hair… hear us out.

Small community organisations don’t survive because of giant budgets or government magic-wands. They survive because good people step forward and say, “Alright then… I’ll help.”

The Community Shopping Service plays a huge role in helping island residents remain independent and connected. For many people, it’s not just about groceries arriving safely on the island. It’s about knowing someone is there. Knowing the community still functions in a practical, caring way.

But services like this can’t run on goodwill alone forever.

The volunteer pool is stretched, and without more support, the pressure lands heavily on the same few people over and over again.

The good news?

🦸‍♀️🦸‍♂️You do not need to be a superhero.

⏱️⏲️You don’t need endless free time.
💻📑You don’t need years of committee experience.
⚖️📋You don’t need to know parliamentary procedure or own a clipboard. Although admittedly, clipboards do add authority.

The President role is about helping guide and support the organisation so the service can continue into the future. Leadership experience is welcome, of course, but community spirit, reliability and a willingness to work alongside others matters just as much.

And for volunteering generally, even helping occasionally could make a genuine difference right now.

For the Community Bus, volunteers help residents access ferry and barge services, bring home heavy shopping trolleys and social connection.

For the Community Shopping Service, volunteers assist with collecting, coordinating and delivering groceries that allow many residents to continue living independently on the island.

These aren’t just practical services.

They’re part of the social fabric of Coochie.

And here’s the interesting thing people often discover after volunteering: you usually end up getting as much back as you give. New friendships. Purpose. Connection. Invitations to parties 🎊💃 A stronger sense of belonging. Plus an alarming amount of conversations about weather, ferry timings and whose lemons are currently fruiting.

Classic island life.

Coochie has always been a place where people quietly show up for each other. That spirit still exists in abundance. Right now, it simply needs a few more people willing to step forward and help carry the load.

If you’ve ever thought:
“Someone should help with that…”

Maybe this is the moment to realise that someone could actually be you.

To find out more about volunteering opportunities on Coochie, visit:

Coochiemudlo Island Volunteering Opportunities

Contact: Elizabeth on 0403 467 812 for the bus and Rosemary on 0403 014 396 for the shopping service

ps/while my trusty AI buddy did the actual heavy lifting for this article, I'd really love to encourage some actual humans to join the mix in the volunteering space.  AI is good, but as of now, not THAT good! 

Happy Volunteers Week 2026! 18 - 24 May 🫶❤️❤️😍 It's YOUR Year to Volunteer!