Having trouble reading this newsletter? Visit https://ymlp.com/archive_gesgjgm.php

February 1, 2025

Newsletter for the Offshore Residents of Pittwater, Australia - Volume 26, Issue 1220

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of Pittwater, as well as our Indigenous readers

Tales of Two Islands

Coochiemudlo Island and Scotland Island

Roy Baker

Above: Coochiemudlo Island, Moreton Bay, nr Brisbane. Below: Scotland Island, Pittwater, Sydney

Remember the Dog Wars? If I have my island chronology correct, they came shortly after the Ferry Wars and just before the Buggy Wars. The Dog Wars were sparked by untamed packs of canines roaming the island, mauling passersby. Or so I’m told. I can’t say, because it all happened before my time.

Satellite images of Coochiemudlo Island (above) and Scotland Island (below). NB the two photos are not to scale: Coochiemudlo is more than twice our size.

Still, I can imagine the battle cries of the opposing sides. ‘No off-leash areas on the island!’, demands one. ‘Wowsers begone!‘, decries the other. Perhaps it was indeed another instance of freedom-loving islanders shaking off the shackles of officious mainland meddling. Whatever the truth, the dogs, as you’ll have noticed, won.

How quaint, then, to hear of another island where Dog Wars still rage. I came to learn this when SIRA was contacted by Angela Hoskins, a resident of Coochiemudlo, an island off Brisbane. Apparently they have had an increase in dog population, and rangers have started to fine owners who let them roam.

And guess what? Coochiemudlo, like us, has a Facebook community page. ‘The vitriol is alarming’, bemoans Angela. Intemperate language on the Pittwater offshore page? Never, we assured her.

Even so, this sparked an interest in how the two islands compare. How do we stack up in terms of population, infrastructure and environment? And who best deals with those frictions that inevitably arise in any tight-knit community from time to time?

Thus was born the idea for a series of articles contrasting the two islands. What can we learn from Coochiemudlo? What about parking? Drainage? Sewerage? There’s so much exciting stuff to discuss with our northern neighbours that we could be at the start of a beautiful inter-island relationship.

First, though, we need to set out some basics. And thanks to Angela’s hard work, I can do this with surprising ease.

Coochie, as Coochiemudlo Island is sometimes known, can be found in southern Moreton Bay, around 40 km from Brisbane’s CBD, similar to our distance from central Sydney. There’s no bridge to the island, but there’s a car park at Victoria Point, their Church Point. From there a ferry runs to the island. Do they have as much fun parking as we do? We’ll find out in future articles.

Main Beach at Coochiemudlo Island

In terms of area, Coochie is more than twice the size of Scotland Island, yet Coochie has only 20% more full-time residents: 860, as opposed to our 710. Their population density is around half ours.

Topographically, the islands couldn’t be more different. Whereas Scotland Island is a dome-shaped hill, Coochiemundo is flat. Our island is essentially a ring of houses surrounding a bushland crown, while Coochie has a central patch of housing encircled by trees.

Despite the size of their island, our Queensland cousins have just one ferry terminal, one barge/boat ramp and no private pontoons. On Coochie, no private property stretches to the water line. While they refer to their wooded coastline as the Emerald Fringe, Scotland Island, with its hundreds of private wharves, looks from the air more like a coronavirus.

We can but envy Coochie’s wide sandy beaches, which surround the island on three sides. We have one small netted swimming enclosure, which isn’t netted. And I hate to rub it in, but Coochiemudlo has a permanent café, a monthly op shop, sealed roads, mains water, proper sewerage and a bar.

Coochiemudlo's Curlew Café serves food seven days a week

If Coochie sounds like a Scotland Islander’s dream, there’s still plenty to unite us. For a start, their Facebook page is full of complaints – about local government, rules and regulations, and more. ‘There’s an undercurrent of sentiment that the island community is short changed when it comes to services and infrastructure’, writes Angela. Sound familiar?

Perhaps we share a core island philosophy. ‘It could be interpreted that some consider – or expect – that island life should come with more freedoms than those living on the mainland’, Angela concludes. That, I suppose, takes us back to dogs, as well as buggies. Another thing we have in common with our northern neighbours is an interest in getting these registered. Could we join forces?

In the next article, we’ll explore how Coochiemudlo handles transportation challenges, both in terms of mainland parking and island vehicles. In the meantime, Angela’s full article can be found here, while another, written by Nick O’Brien, a former Scotland Islander who moved to Coochiemudlo, can be found here.

Thanks to Angela Hoskins for inspiring this series, and with research.

New Roads, Same Rules

All island roads are 20 kph shared zones

Pino and his mates, along with Northern Beaches Council, have done us proud with new road surfacing along Robertson Road. Now significant portions of the island ring road are well sealed.

Even so, they remain shared zones with a 20 kph speed limit. That means that pedestrians have priority: drivers must give way to walkers. Special care is needed where hidden paths and driveways merge with the road. Always assume that a child is about to run out.

Users of the community vehicle can also help by giving drivers as much notice as possible, so they feel less hurried on the way to jobs.

Time to Play in 2025?

Share the fun by joining our playgroup chat group

Send me a message if you’d like to easily meet up with others in the park and playground. Above are some of the people who have been enjoying the playground in the holidays.

Nicole and Greg (left) with their son Lachlan, plus Alice and Richie with daughter Hendi

Do you have any spare colourful exterior paint? Or sturdy ply or Masonite?

We continue to keep the old kindy playground alive with a little timely TLC. Besides regular raking and sweeping, we’re inspired by 10-year-old Elizabeth’s enthusiasm to brighten up the cubby with some new paint.

If you have even a small amount of exterior paint in attractive colours, which you could donate, please contact me.

We are also looking for spare sheets of sturdy ply or Masonite.

Jenny Cullen 0406 806 648

Love Is In The Air

Recreation Centre, Scotland Island

Friday 14 February, 6:30 - 10 pm

To download the Bay Boys' songbook, click here.

International Folk Dancing

Scotland Island Community Hall

Saturday 22 February, 7 - 9 pm

To help defray expenses, the Recreation Club ask for $5 per person per attendance.

Island Café

Catherine Park, Scotland Island

Sunday 23 February, 10 am - noon

Moon Dance: The Wall

Scotland Island Community Hall

4 & 5 April

Experience "The Wall" Like Never Before!

Moon Dance presents an unforgettable musical journey as The Flaming Doghouse brings Pink Floyd’s legendary rock opera "The Wall" to life on 4 & 5 April 2025, at the Scotland Island Community Hall & Recreation Centre.

With masterful performances and immersive energy, The Flaming Doghouse delivers this iconic album in a way that’s both powerful and personal. Featuring epic hits like "Another Brick in the Wall" and "Comfortably Numb", this show promises to captivate both die-hard Floyd fans and new listeners alike.

Enjoy pre-show drinks and snacks at The Green Room Bar & Snackery, open from 7 pm. Showtime 8:00pm.

There will be a return ferry from Tennis to Church Point after the show (at 11:15pm). This is a seated event.

Tickets on sale now – don’t miss this exclusive event! To buy tickets, click here.

Wedding Island

Scotland Island Community Hall

9, 10, 16 & 17 May

Director and actor Sophie Lepowic (left) rehearsing with cast members Nettie Lodge (centre) and Mara Syngros

Is there anything better than an island wedding or a comedy in the Community Hall? In May 2025 we bring you both!

The team who last year brought you 'Secret Island' returns with another hilarious comedy. Once again written by that elusive islander Bogue Anthill, 'Wedding Island' is directed by Elvina Bay resident Sophie Lepowic. The cast includes (in order of appearance) May Blackband, Roy Baker, Alix Ah-Pet, Nettie Lodge, Sophie Lepowic, Larry Woods, Betsi Beem, Mara Syngros, Ian White and Lizzie Brand. Stage management is by Gilli Unwin.

Rehearsals started last month, and already some cast members are thinking about learning their lines.

'Secret Island' was a sell-out, so don't miss 'Wedding Island'. A nubile couple, seventy rowdy guests and a frisky brushturkey. What could possibly go wrong?

Tickets will be available shortly.