Register here!

WELL, L👀KIE HERE!! 

What's inside this week?

🌺Your Community, Your Contribution
🌺Spoiler alert for jetty jumpers
🌺Local talent feat: John Sharrock
🌺Positions vacant - for the musically minded

🌺Recipe: Spicy Pumpkin Soup - with a twist 

Scroll to the end for 'What's on in October' and 'Standing Items' for events &  key contacts on Coochie 👇👇👇

⚓ From the Helm⚓

It’s been smooth sailing around Coochie this week, a mix of calm seas, good company, and just enough island mischief to keep things interesting.

Down at the jetty, my 11-year-old Grandie and her friends were leaping off like seasoned deckhands, laughter echoing across the bay. The new safety barrier has done its job beautifully. The bar’s been lowered (literally) and the vibe feels right again.

The younger crew can enjoy their rite of passage without anyone rocking the ferry’s wake. 🌊

Across the island, the creative winds are picking up too. The Coochiemudlo Artisan Collective continues to shine a light on our talented locals, with the Gallery upstairs behind the Curlew Cafe open regularly as well. 🎨

And as we drift toward summer, it’s the perfect weather for a bowl of spicy pumpkin soup (you’ll find the recipe in this week’s edition👇 🍲) and a slow wander along the foreshore to soak up the sights, sounds, and salty air that make island life what it is.

Here’s to another week of calm waters and good community spirit. If you’ve got a story or photo to share, send it my way, it’s your island moments that keep this ship afloat. ⛵💚

Until next tide,

Adaire Palmer

Editor, Coochie Community Online
Aboard Adaire to Dream

Coochie - Your Community; Your Contribution🏝🤝

📬 Got an idea, event, or organisation you’d like featured? Hit reply to this email, or send a message in a bottle (aka Facebook Messenger) or to editor@coochiecommunityonline.com.

If you're looking to make a complaint to council, head to the bottom of this newsletter. You'll also find other info that might be useful.

Together, we’ll build a community resource that every Coochiemudlian (and our ML neighbours) will be glad to have in their inbox.

The bar’s lowered, but the fun’s still afloat!🏊‍♀️

The bar’s been lowered,  for all the right reasons! 🌊 Watching my 11-year-old Grandie and her friends jetty-jumping yesterday (a true Coochie rite of passage!), I noticed something new, and a good solution.

Gone are the risky roof jumps and ferry delays, replaced with laughter, safety, and a smart little barrier that quietly keeps everyone out of harm’s way. A simple fix that’s brought the fun, and the balance, back to our beloved jetty. 💙 Read more…

Artisans on Coochie

Feat: Local artist John Sharrock 🎨

Island Portraits: John, the Colourist on Coochie🎨

Walk down almost any Coochie street and you’ll find a story. This one starts with John, who looked across the bay from the passenger deck nearly ten years ago and said to Gail, “This is me. I’m going to live here.”

John’s path to our island has been anything but straight. Born in Geelong, out of school early after a head injury, he made his way the hard way, oil and gas work in Bass Strait, then fly-in fly-out jobs across Africa, Canada, the South of France and the Pacific. He served a tour and a half in Vietnam, and weathered the kind of family loss that would stop many people in their tracks. Through it all, he kept his compass pointed toward the sun.

“I’ve always been a positive person,” he says. “I could always see the sun over the hill.”

Finding the brush

Art flickered in the background for decades. A Renoir exhibition in Melbourne planted a seed, but the work and the travel left little space for painting. About 12 years ago—first on acreage near Nambour, then fully after settling on Coochie—John finally picked up the brush for good.

He paints in acrylics. No solvents, no fuss, just colour and canvas. “I’m a colourist,” he says. “I paint the fleeting moment—the colours other people might not notice.” He rarely works from photos, preferring to paint from memory and “a fair amount of artistic licence.”

Most days he’s in the studio by late morning and paints for two to two-and-a-half hours. “It’s meditation,” he says. “It keeps the brain from seizing up. If someone smiles at a painting or it brings a bit of happiness, I’m over the moon.”

Community, quietly built

If you’ve enjoyed an island exhibition in recent years, you’ve likely felt John’s quiet hand in the mix. Alongside Collette and Roger, he helped kick-start the original island art group that blossomed into today’s Artisans Collective. Early shows found a home thanks to the generosity of local patron Carolyn Brammer, and the momentum kept building. With Deidre now at the helm and a strong committee, the group is incorporated and thriving—painters, potters, poets, photographers and more.

“I like to share,” John says of posting his work in the community group. “There are a lot of lonely people out there. If a painting in their feed brightens the day, that matters.”

Style and spirit

John’s work shifts—abstracts, landscapes, memory-scapes—but a few threads run true: bold colour, movement, joy. He changes gears when he needs to, but he doesn’t paint to chase a market. “When it turns into drudgery, you lose the point,” he says. “I paint from here,” tapping his chest. “That’s enough.”

He’s sold on the mainland and overseas, gathered a few hundred followers, and kept his feet planted firmly on island sand. Fame isn’t the goal; presence is.

At 79, he’s planning the next twenty years of painting. “Why not?” he grins. “There’s always another canvas.”

🎶 Calling All Music Lovers! 🎤

From José, our island music man and long-time community champion:

We’ve got two fantastic opportunities coming up on Coochiemudlo Island, and we’re looking for the right people to keep the island’s music scene thriving!

1️⃣ Music Director / Choirmaster – Coochie Choir (Paid Role)
The Coochie Choir is seeking a new Music Director to start in January 2026.

Rehearsals are held every Monday evening, and our community performances are all about connection and joy.
If you’ve got a strong musical background, can arrange songs for group singing, and love working with people, we’d love to hear from you! The choir has been singing together for over two years and continues to grow in harmony. 🎶

2️⃣ Music Co-ordinator – Jammalong at Coochie (Volunteer Role)
The monthly Jammalong has been bringing music lovers together for over three years, creating a space for fun, friendship and shared creativity. 🎸

We’re looking for someone with a community spirit to help coordinate the sessions, starting January 2026. Musical ability is helpful, but more important is a heart for collaboration and inclusivity. Coaching can be provided to support the right person.

If you’re passionate about music and community, get in touch with José to find out more.

Let’s keep the island’s music alive and singing! 🌴💚

🥣 Spicy Pumpkin Soup — Coochie Style ☀️

Last week I shared a delicious Pumpkin & Beet Salad made with fresh produce gifted at the Coochiemudlo Island Coastcare working bee — and promised to follow up with a recipe for the rest of the pumpkin.

You can find that salad recipe here 👉 Click for last weeks edition👈
(And while you’re there, feel free to subscribe if you haven’t already 🥰).

I've turned the rest of my Coastcare pumpkin into a light, tropical soup with a hint of spice and a swirl of island flair. 

Even as summer warms up across the bay, there’s still room for a light, spicy soup that feels both nourishing and tropical. This version has a hint of curry, a splash of coconut cream, and all the easy island flavours we love.

Here’s my recipe for simple spicy pumpkin soup — cooked and enjoyed at home.

Events on Coochie 📅

🙏 Alpha at Pineridge Chapel

Lourens and Lizaan Malan would love to welcome you to join them on a journey of faith — a space to share questions, reflections, and encouragement together.

Alpha is all about exploring life, purpose, and the Christian faith in a safe, open environment. It’s not about having all the answers, it’s about good conversations where everyone’s perspective is valued.

Each Monday night includes a relaxed dinner (complimentary) followed by meaningful discussion. Alpha is completely free, and everyone is welcome.

📅 When: Monday nights, 25 August – 20 October
🍲 Dinner: Provided, free of charge
📍 Where: Pineridge Chapel
📱 RSVP: Please text 0433 342 440 by Monday, 20 October so we can set a place for you at the table.

Come curious, come hungry, and come as you are. We’d love to have you with us.

Full Day Island Experience Retreat — Sat 18 Oct | 10–5 | Coochiemudlo Island |

Standing items

Your portal for information about Coochie

🌴Stay Connected on Coochie 🌴

Life on Coochiemudlo Island is all about community. Whether you’re here full-time, part-time, or visiting, it’s easy to get involved and feel at home.

From emergency services and medical contacts to local clubs, sports, and social groups, there are plenty of ways to connect.

Looking for a Justice of the Peace? Want to join the Progress Association, Men’s Shed, or Recreation Club? Keen to play tennis, pickleball, or keep fit at the gym (once it reopens) Or maybe you’d like to explore art, craft, music, or gardening with fellow islanders?

You’ll find it all in one handy place.

👉 Check out the full list of community contacts here

It’s your go-to resource for staying safe, connected, and part of our wonderful island life. 

📅Community Calendar📅

Want to know what's coming up? You don't need to wait for us to share, check the calendar right here!

Credit: Angela Hoskins for this wonderful resource 🥰

Artisan Alley 

Redland City Council 

Want to make a complaint? Report an issue?

Find out what week your bin goes out? Watch the latest Public Council Meeting? Do that here!

Here is information on how Coochiemudlo residents can contact Redland City Council for various issues.

Individuals can report issues such as potholes, trees, roads, paths, rates, planning & development, and graffiti by phone, email, or submitting a contact form.

Residents can also give feedback, lodge complaints, or seek assistance from the council.

Report an Issue

Use this form to contact council

Redland City Council Public Meetings

Redland City Council Meeting Webcast offers an archive of past meetings for public viewing.

Have questions?

Visit the help page for assistance.

Did you know you can access recordings of General Meetings, Special Council Meetings, and Special Budget Meetings?

Stay informed about important decisions and discussions within the council.

Visit the Redland City Council Public Meetings archive here.