Adaire Palmer
Sep 23, 2026
⚓ ⚓From the Helm⚓⚓
Spring Doesn’t Wait for an InvitationToday is the spring equinox, that lovely moment when the Earth appears to pause, catch its breath and tip us towards longer, lighter days.
Although, judging by Coochie lately, spring certainly hasn’t been sitting around waiting for an official date.
New life is already appearing, plans are taking shape and our community has once again shown that regeneration isn’t something we simply watch happen. It’s something we take part in.
From wreckage to renewalWhen a boat sank and debris began washing onto our shoreline, the beach could have remained a mess for days.
It didn’t.
Jordy and Adrian were onto it almost immediately, with others quickly joining the effort. Kate later parked her ute near the beach, the community played a rather impressive game of rubbish Tetris, and the load was taken away.
Just like that, a distressing event became a reminder of who we are. The boat may have been beyond saving, but the beach wasn’t.
Restoring it didn’t require a committee meeting, a strategic plan or matching high-vis vests. It needed people who cared enough to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in.
That feels very much like spring to me. Clearing away what no longer belongs and making space for something better.
Meanwhile, in the island maternity ward…Our ground birds have also received the spring memo. Masked Lapwings, better known to most of us as plovers, and Bush Stone-curlews are entering breeding season, with eggs and fluffy little chicks appearing in some of the most inconvenient places imaginable.
Apparently, nobody has explained town planning to them. These tiny newcomers are wonderfully camouflaged, but that also makes them terribly vulnerable. Snakes, kookaburras, cats and other predators are all part of the danger, while cars, mowers and well-meaning humans add another layer of risk.
Their parents may swoop, shriek or carry on like the neighbourhood watch has completely lost the plot, but they are simply protecting their babies.
We can help by slowing down, watching where we walk, keeping pets away and giving bird families plenty of space. Spring brings new life, but getting that new life safely through its first few weeks takes a little cooperation from the neighbours.
A new home for caring for CoochieThere’s renewal of another kind happening too, with Coastcare’s new Environment Hub preparing to open.
This won’t simply be a building or a place to keep equipment. It has the potential to become a home for local knowledge, environmental education and practical action.
A place where experience can be shared, questions can be asked and new people can discover how they might help care for this remarkable little island.
There is something beautifully fitting about it opening at this time of year. While the birds are raising their young and the bush is pushing out fresh growth, our community is creating a new space dedicated to protecting what grows, nests, crawls, swims and occasionally swoops around us.
And I suspect the Hub may grow into something even bigger than we currently imagine.
Renewal is rarely tidySpring is often portrayed as blossoms, sunshine and freshly washed curtains fluttering in the breeze.
In reality, renewal can be messy.
Sometimes it looks like debris scattered across a beach. Sometimes it sounds like an outraged plover yelling at everyone within a three-street radius. Sometimes it begins with a slab of concrete and a group of people wondering what it could become.
But underneath all three of these stories is the same thing: care. Care for our beaches. Care for our wildlife. Care for the future of our island.
Perhaps that is what I’ll remember about this spring equinox. Renewal doesn’t always arrive quietly, wrapped in flowers and looking pretty. Sometimes it arrives in work gloves, gumboots and a ute piled high with rubbish.
And that feels much more like Coochie If you see something around the island being renewed, restored or brought back to life this spring, take a photo or send me a message. There are plenty more stories beginning, and I’d love to help tell them.
Adaire Editor, Coochie Community Online
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What's inside this week 👀 |
⚓ Local Legends clean up beach ⚓ Coastcare Enviro Hub to open soon! ⚓ It's breeding season for our ground birds ⚓ Island Storytelling adventure
⚓ ⚓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!) |
When a boat sank off Coochie and debris began washing ashore, local residents Jordy and Adrian took immediate action to clear the wreckage and prevent further environmental damage. Resident Kate joined the cleanup by parking her ute by the beach, mobilizing additional help through the Coochie Community Facebook group, and hauling the debris to the dump. Read More... |
This article details the history and achievements of Coochiemudlo Island Coastcare, starting from its inception in January 2013 just prior to a destructive storm surge from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald. It outlines the community's swift response alongside local council and environmental organizations to restore damaged dunes, protect the Ramsar-listed Melaleuca Wetlands, and plant over 6,500 native plants along Norfolk Beach.
Over 13 years later, the article highlights Coastcare's ongoing conservation efforts and announces the official opening of its permanent Environmental Hub at 43a Elizabeth Street on Thursday, October 1, 2026. Read More... |
 Click the image to purchase tickets Closes 1 November |
Why Coochie? |
People, places, creatures and things that make our little slice of paradise so special...😍 |
Written from the perspective of two local ground-nesting birds—Mavis the Masked Lapwing (plover) and Colin the Bush Stone-curlew—this article highlights the challenges native birds face during breeding season on Coochiemudlo Island.
It explores their contrasting defense mechanisms, from the swooping and loud calls of lapwings to the stealthy freezing behavior of curlews. The piece outlines major threats to young chicks—including predators, roaming pets, and traffic—and provides practical guidelines for residents to protect local wildlife, such as driving slowly, keeping pets contained, and giving bird families plenty of space. Read More... |
This newsletter sponsored by |
Sponsor Spot - Your Business Belongs Here! |
Come to where the people are! |
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The Island Storytellers Festival returns to Coochiemudlo Island, infusing Queensland’s southern Moreton Bay with vibrant culture and excitement.
This year’s event invites guests to board the beloved MV Kurrawera for an interisland journey, weaving through Lamb Island, Coochiemudlo, and Dunwich on Minjerribah.
Festival-goers enjoy a distinctive choose-your-own-adventure approach, immersing themselves in captivating storytelling and local history without the hassle of mainland travel.
Renowned historians and authors headline sessions like History Afloat and Flying High, treating audiences to engaging tales—from rich island heritage to stirring World War II accounts.
Family-friendly highlights include a Welcome to Country and the beloved Teddybear’s Picnic.
With flexible scheduling, staged tickets, and a focus on comfort, the festival showcases the charm and resilience of the Moreton Bay islands, creating treasured memories for locals and visitors alike. Read More... |
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📬 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.
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📅Upcoming Events and Useful Dates!📅 |
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Free First Aid Fun for Island KidsIsland children love their independence, whether they’re heading to the BMX track, climbing trees or fishing from the jetty. These school holidays, they can also learn what to do if something goes wrong. Redland City Council’s Community and Recovery team is offering a free two-hour First Aid Course for children aged 6 to 12, delivered by Lifesaving Hands. The session will cover DRSABCD, CPR, defibrillators and common emergencies including asthma, anaphylaxis, burns, seizures, bites and stings. It’s happening at the Coochie Rec Club on Tuesday, 29 September, from 10 am to 12 noon. Parents are welcome to participate, and families with younger interested children should make contact before the day. Each child will receive a Certificate of Participation, mini roller bandage and DRSABCD chart. Read More... |
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Standing items |
Regular, unchanging. Same every week 🤣 |
RFDS Medical Chest on Coochie💊 |
The RFDS Medical Chest has made it easy for you to get urgent care. (NOT emergency care, you'll still call 000 for that!) |
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🌴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 🥰 |
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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. |
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Artisan Alley |
Open Sundays 8am - 1pm weather permitting |
Pickleball on Coochie 🥒🎾 |
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? |
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Qigong on Coochie - Morwong Beach |
Qigong at Morwong ( opposite 186 Victoria parade North ) in the park on Wednesdays at 8 am. All welcome and bring water. FREE! |
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Image by my trusty AI assistant 😁 |
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Coochie Paddlers - room with a view 🛶 |
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. 🌊🚣♀️ |
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Image taken by Adaire (that's me!) from the outrigger canoe recently. HDIGABTT?!?!?! |
Video by Nick Obrien |
Standing for TRUTH and FREEDOM |
Every First Sunday Of Each Month From 10-11am 1000+ parks. Over 30 Countries.
Wear yellow in unity. |
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🙏Alpha at Pineridge Place 6pm Tuesdays 🙏 |
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Red Bin, Yellow Bin, or Both? |
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 🤣 |
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If you're a Rec Club member, note the following 👇 |
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:
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Redland City Council |
Make a complaint. Report an issue. Details below. |
Here is information on how Coochiemudlo residents can contact Redland City Council for various issues. |
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Report an Issue |
Dive into Coochie news: cleanups, family stories, local events, youth, and island life updates! |
Redland City Council Meeting Webcast offers an archive of past meetings for public viewing. |
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. |