⚓ From the Helm⚓

As I write this, the compass is wobbling slightly. Not from rough seas, but from heat shimmer, random thunderclaps, cicadas screaming their summer anthem, and the unmistakable feeling that the year has well and truly sailed into the sunset.

Christmas on Coochie doesn’t arrive with snow or silence. It arrives hot. Loud. Salty. With bare feet, sandy towels, and a calendar that suddenly feels very optional. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

To everyone on our little island, and to those reading along from further shores, I send my deepest and warmest season’s greetings. Warmest in spirit… and let’s be real, warmest in temperature too. Hydration is festive now.

This time of year always invites reflection. On what we’ve weathered. What we’ve learned. Who helped steady the ship when the winds kicked up. And what we’re quietly ready to leave behind, tossed overboard with a grateful nod. (More on this with the New Year Edition next week)

Coochie has once again shown what it does best. Community. Connection. Turning up. Whether it’s volunteers, organisers, creatives, quiet helpers, or the people who simply check in on their neighbours, the heartbeat of this island remains strong and generous.

As we head into Christmas Eve on the beach, carols on the breeze, and

Santa arriving by decidedly non-traditional means, (and quite possibly doing a 'drive by' on water skis,) it feels like a good moment to pause at the helm. To take stock. To breathe. To appreciate the view. And to remember that no matter how choppy the wider waters may feel, this community knows how to sail together.

Wherever you find yourself this Christmas, may your anchor hold firm, your sails catch a kind breeze, and your horizon feel hopeful. Thank you for being part of this shared voyage.

Now… sunscreen on, esky packed, and see you on the sand. ⚓💛

Wishing you all smooth sailing as we head into 2026 

Adaire Palmer

Editor, Coochie Community Online
Aboard Adaire to Dream

PS/Sending this newsletter earlier in case folk missed the news of Christmas Eve on the Beach (scroll to the bottom for the Coochie Progress Website)

Thank you to the 'REAL' Father Christmas's for entertaining us at the Christmas Eve events. (Image generated by my trusty AI Assistant - any likeness to Santa is entirely intended 🎅)

WELL, L👀KIE HERE!! 

⚓Christmas Eve at Main Beach - Coochie Progress Invites one and all! 🎅🎁
⚓Buzzzzzz, SWAT! It's mozzie season again! Tips to ward the little buggers off!

⚓We have a date!! The Coochie gym will be open for fitness in January!

⚓The Great Toad Bust - Coming in January!

⚓ Local Poet Roger's 'Things that make me sad'

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

Tis the Season

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to all 🎄🎁

As the year gently rolls toward its final chapter, there’s something about Christmas on Coochiemudlo Island that just hits differently. Maybe it’s the salty air mixed with tinsel, the thongs instead of boots, or the fact that half your neighbours double as Santa’s helpers, choir members, ferry companions, or raffle ticket sellers.

Wherever you are reading this from, on Coochie or beyond, we send you our warmest season’s greetings. May your days be merry, your eskies cold, your mozzies minimal, and your ferry rides smooth.

Christmas Eve on the Main Beach  🎅🏖️

One of the island’s most loved traditions returns again this Christmas Eve, with Christmas Eve on the Beach at Morwong, proudly run by Coochie Progress.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Festivities kick off from 4.30pm at Main Beach 

• Bring your own chairs, food, and drinks

• Free sausage sizzle for the kids (instant crowd-pleaser)

• Music for the evening provided by the local church group and the ever-popular Coochie Choir

• Santa arrives at 6pm sharp (island punctuality applies)

• Photos with Santa available for $5 per photo, raising funds toward the island’s new community bus

• Christmas raffles drawn on the night, because someone has to win that mystery hamper
  
  

It’s relaxed, family-friendly, and very much “Coochie Christmas” style. No tickets, no fuss, just neighbours coming together as the sun dips and carols float across the sand.

Other Festive Happenings Around the Island ✨

While Christmas Eve is the big communal anchor, the festive spirit has been quietly popping up all over the island in true grassroots fashion.

You might notice:

• Christmas decorations and creative displays dotted around homes, trees, and community spaces, often appearing overnight like festive island elves have been busy (I've included a small snapshot of some of the lovely displays Coochie folk have created for our enjoyment - see below)

• Local cafes and community spaces embracing the season with themed treats, friendly catch-ups, and end-of-year cheer (Cheers to the Coochie Crochet Club for the tree decoration at the Main Beach)
  
  

• Informal gatherings, street get-togethers, and neighbourly celebrations, which tend to happen organically this time of year and are very much part of island life

• Community groups and volunteers wrapping up the year with gratitude, reflection, and the occasional plate of something homemade

And of course, the simple island traditions continue. Morning swims. Sunset walks. Kids riding bikes with new confidence and no real sense of the calendar. Adults quietly marvelling at how another year slipped by so fast.

Looking Ahead 🌅

Christmas on Coochie isn’t about big stages or flashy events. It’s about connection. It’s about showing up, pitching in, and sharing the space we’re lucky enough to call home.

Whether you’re joining the gang on the sand at the beach, celebrating quietly at home, or reading along from somewhere further afield, we wish you a safe, peaceful, and joyful festive season.

Here’s to community, kindness, and carrying the best of this year forward into the next.

See you on the beach 🎄💛

They’re small, they’re persistent, and they always show up uninvited… mozzies.

And while we might laugh them off as part of island life, there’s a bit more going on beneath those whiny wings than itchy ankles and dramatic slapping sessions at dusk.

This week, we’ve taken a deep dive into where mosquitoes really breed, why some of us are apparently a five-star buffet, and what actually makes a difference when it comes to keeping their numbers down. Spoiler alert: it’s less about sprays and more about what’s quietly sitting in your backyard holding water.

The full article, sourced from Redland City Council and lightly scrubbed of bureaucratic barnacles by me and my AI sidekick, is over on Facebook.

👉 Click through, have a read, and consider it part of your regular island maintenance.
Your ankles  (AND mine) will thank you. ⚓🦟

It sounds like a bad band name… but it’s actually one of Australia’s most effective grassroots environmental smackdowns.

Armed with headtorches, buckets, and a strong stomach, everyday legends across the country recently took part in The Great Cane Toad Bust. The mission? Stop an invasive, toxic pest from hopping its way through our ecosystems like it owns the place.

By day, people set clever tadpole traps. By night, they prowled yards, wetlands, and anywhere that went ribbit a bit too confidently. The result? Nearly 200,000 cane toads and tadpoles removed in one week.

That’s fewer poisoned pets, fewer dead native animals, and fewer sleepless nights wondering what that squelch was underfoot.

Run by Watergum, the Cane Toad Challenge proves that conservation doesn’t have to be boring, beige, or locked behind a grant application. Sometimes it just needs a torch, teamwork, and the willingness to say: Not today, toady, not today!

👉 Read the full story, including how it works, why it matters, and how regular humans became eco-heroes after dark.
(Warning: may inspire you to look suspiciously at puddles.)

📬 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.

Local Poet Roger Whiting

'Things that make me sad' 

The RFDS Medical Chest has made it easy for you to get urgent care. (NOT emergency care, you'll still call 000 for that!)

Your Local Library

Open Saturdays 9am - Noon (Downstairs)

Open Saturdays 9am - noon. Downstairs in the Community Hall. Pop in and say hi to Pam and Christine. Pick up a book or two. 

Check here for more information...

Our island crew gathers every Thursday, Friday and Sunday afternoon, rolling in from about 4pm. They’ll move to earlier sessions in the cooler months because no one wants to chase a whiffle ball in full sun unless they enjoy melting for sport.

The vibe is wonderfully Coochie: friendly banter, healthy competition, and the occasional “whoops, wrong court” moment. Absolutely no experience required. If you can hold a paddle without accidentally launching it into the trees, you’re already ahead of the game.

Want to join the fun or at least come watch the chaos?
Give Dave a buzz on 0408 079 098. He’s the Pickleball oracle around here.

It appears the CIPA Facebook Page has been sucked into that black hole of cyber-space.  CIPA have been keeping members updated on Progress activities and events by email and individuals posts in relevant local groups.  Until the tech issues are resolved, you can also find information on their website, here.

Disclaimer

The information in this newsletter is provided for general interest only. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy at the time of publication, details may change and unintentional errors can occur. Nothing here should be taken as professional, financial, legal, medical, or specialist advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified professional where needed.

Some content may be created, enhanced, or assisted by artificial intelligence. All AI-supported material is reviewed and edited by a human before publication. Any opinions expressed are those of the author and contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of any featured organisations or individuals.

Event details, community updates, and offers are shared in good faith. Readers are encouraged to confirm information directly with the relevant organisers.

By reading this newsletter, you accept that the publisher is not responsible for any loss, inconvenience, or unexpected detours caused by reliance on the content.