⚓

⚓From the Helm⚓

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I come from a big family. I mean HUGE! To some, a big family is anything more than one or two kids. I’m the second eldest of eight amazing humans.

If you’re wondering where this week’s From the Helm is going, check the pic. Standing at the back next to me is my brother Devron, with his beautiful wife Prue at the front. His two gorgeous daughters, Asha and Mia, are either side of Elsie, my equally gorgeous granddaughter. Hmmm… a bit of a generation glitch there, for sure!

While I’ve been on the island for nearly 10 years now, yikes, where did all that time go, this was their first visit.

Elsie took her couzzies to meet some island friends, while we big kids decided to chuck a lap of the island. It had been a hot minute since I’d done that myself, so it was well overdue.

Heading down James Street to Norfolk Beach, we hung a righty and wandered along the track beside the beach. The first yarn-bombed tree of hearts produced plenty of ooohs and aaahs from Prue, along with an eyeroll from Devron. 🤣

I showed them Flinders Landing, and we wandered around to Main Beach before heading up to Red Rock. It was a huge buzz seeing the island through their eyes. In spite of the eyerolls, which are apparently just a brother thing, it deepened the appreciation I already have for this place.

We circled around the back of the Community Hall and emerged at the first tee on top of the hill.

The eyerolls disappeared.

They were replaced by a very different look. 😲

That made me chuckle.

As we headed down the steps and across the golf course, I could almost see the cogs turning in my brother’s brain. He was most likely calculating how he could get hold of some clubs, how long he could spend on the green and what the traffic would be like going back to the Goldie, where they had accommodation booked for the week.

He was blown away to discover that people had left golf clubs there for visitors to use. Just as he began recalculating whether he could squeeze in a quick round, we received a message from one of the kids announcing they would die if they didn’t eat RIGHT NOW!

So, we kept walking.

We made our way around the western side of the island and down to Morwong Beach, then cut back through Elizabeth Street to reach the Curlew Café and save the children from imminent starvation.

Another delight awaited us there. My brother noted the reasonable prices and quality of the food, while Prue commented on the lovely setting.

We truly are blessed.

After the café, we wandered back through the wetlands, and words such as, “I can understand why you love this place,” were mentioned more than once.

Photos were taken of land for sale and it was agreed that we really are incredibly lucky to have such a beautiful slice of paradise barely a stone’s throw from “civilisation”.

We explored the oval, the labyrinth, beaches and mangroves while I talked about the shopping service, the fuel run, pickleball, singing, kayaking and jetty jumping, among other things.

Once again, it struck me how lucky we are to have a community so involved in helping one another enjoy island life the way we do.

So, my challenge to you, dear reader, is to look at the island as you did the first time you saw it.

Remember the beauty. The magic. The call of the curlew. Perhaps even your first python!

Then come along to the Seniors Month High Tea on Saturday 24 October at 2pm at the Rec Club and share your memories. We’ll be recording them live for posterity.

Same island. Fresh eyes.

It’s brilliant!

Editor, Coochie Community Online

⚓ Coochie's wild side - wildlife on Coochie

⚓ Pickeball - Tournament takes off on Coochie

⚓ It's Magpie Season!

⚓ ⚓Scroll down to the end for updated and standing events and other handy information (like community contact info and how to make a complaint to council - because why not!)

Why Coochie?

People, places, creatures and things that make our little slice of paradise so special...😍

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Hit reply to this email, or send a message in a bottle

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Something Spooky Is Happening at the Op Shop!

The Coochiemudlo Recreation Club Op Shop is getting into the Halloween spirit this Saturday, 3 October, with plenty of bargains, hidden treasures and a few spooky surprises.

The doors will creak open from 8:30am to 11:00am, giving you three gloriously ghoulish hours to browse the shelves and perhaps uncover something you never knew you needed. That is the magic of op shopping, really.

If you hear blood-curdling screams coming from the bushes, don’t panic. It’s probably just the local curlews patrolling the island and keeping an eye on the bargains.

The Men’s Shed Breakfast will also be open and cranking up the BBQ, so come hungry, enjoy breakfast and then wander over for a little treasure hunting.

Saturday, 3 October
8:30am–11:00am
Coochiemudlo Recreation Club Op Shop

Come for breakfast, stay for the bargains and try not to jump when the curlews start screaming!

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 8.30 - 11.30am (Downstairs)

Open Saturdays 8.30 - 11.30am. Downstairs in the Community Hall. Pop in and say hi to Pam and Christine. Pick up a book or two. 

Read about Mabels life through books

Check here for more information...

The Fun, social exercise of pickleball continues each week on Coochie. Thurs, Fri & Sun at 4pm. All standards welcome, so come & check this out. Pickleball is moving it start times to 3pm in March and 2pm in June for the public sessions on Thurs, Fri & Sun

New players always welcome so come & join us for some fun exercise. Tuesday Youth Pickleball for 10 to 15s, continues 4.45 to 6pm.

The courts are behind the Gym & Op Shop, beside the Croquet lawn. 🥒🥎🎾😄

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.

Qigong at Morwong ( opposite 186 Victoria parade North ) in the park on Wednesdays at 8 am. All welcome and bring water. FREE!

Image by my trusty AI assistant 😁

Sunrise, Salt Air and a Whole Lot of Smiles

If you’ve ever stood on the shoreline at dawn and thought, “I should be doing something with this view,” here’s your sign.

The local outrigger paddlers meet every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6.15am for a 6.30am start, and it’s one of the best-kept secrets for starting your day right. It’s free, it’s welcoming, and no, you don’t need to be an elite athlete who drinks kale smoothies for breakfast.

Paddling an outrigger canoe builds full-body strength without punishing your joints. You’ll work your core, shoulders and legs while getting a solid cardio workout, all without staring at a gym wall. It’s fitness disguised as fun. The kind where you’re too busy laughing to notice you’re actually working hard.

But here’s the real magic. It’s the camaraderie. There’s something about being on the water at sunrise, paddling in rhythm, that bonds people quickly. It’s friendly, frolicking, fitness-inducing and genuinely good for the soul. You’ll leave energised, salty-haired and slightly smug that you’ve already conquered the day before most people have had their first coffee.

If you’d like to give it a go, contact Helen on 0414 533 781 and she’ll point you in the right direction.

Early mornings never looked so good. 🌊🚣‍♀️

Image taken by Adaire (that's me!) from the outrigger canoe recently. HDIGABTT?!?!?!

Video by Nick Obrien

Every First Sunday Of Each Month From 10-11am

1000+ parks. Over 30 Countries.

• No Agenda
• No Religion
• No Leaders

Wear yellow in unity.

Coochie's Stand In The Park is in the park at Main Beach, in the shelter opposite the Memorial (near the beach bar)

Below is the yellow bin calendar for the rest of the year. 

You can either look down the road and follow your neighbours lead, or check in here and take the lead your neighbours will follow 🤣

Gym fees are carried over from last year, but the annual membership ($5) is still required.

You can pay either by dropping the $5 (in an envelope) to Yvonne Symes, Treasurer, at 1 Kingfisher,

or deposit into:

Coochiemudlo Recreation Club

Bendigo Bank

BSB: 633-000

Account: 137959631

💥NEW💥Roles & Contacts for the Rec Club:

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.

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