November 2025 Magazine

November 2025 Magazine Issue

Read Story

1 min read

November 2025 Magazine

November 2025 Magazine

November 2025 Magazine Issue

Read Story

1 min read

Magazine

November 2025 Magazine

November 2025 Magazine Issue

Nov 3, 2025

1 min read

Author:

Events

Coming Events November

SUNRISE MARKETS

Every 2nd Sunday of the month.No charge to display and sell anything and everything! Great food and Rosie’s Coffee stall.

Don’t have a garage sale—come to the Sunrise Sunday Markets instead.

JOIN THE BAY ISLAND SINGERS!

Come for the music—stay for the magic. Whether you’re a seasoned singer or a first-timer with a hidden voice, The Bay Island Singers welcome you with open arms (and probably a biscuit or two). Come for a sing, stay for a cuppa, and leave with a full heart. Serious. Fun. Singing. Social. Supportive.

Rehearsals: Mondays, 2:00–4:00pm, at the Resilience Centre (BIMSARA, near the tennis courts), Russell Island.

Just turn up or email info@thebayislandsingers.com.

RUSSELL ISLAND COMMUNITY ARTS (RICArts)

Not-for-profit, community-based organisation offering Art, Sewing & Craft, Pottery, Ukulele, Wheel Throwing, Mosaic/Patchwork and more, Monday to Saturday.

Gallery & Art House: Entry via Robert St, Russell Island (short walk from the jetty). Gallery open on weekends as needed. All welcome! While you’re here, grab a coffee from ROSIE’S – Island Beans Coffee Cart (Recommended by Restaurant Guru 4 years in a row).

SMBI COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND

Island community band (started in 2023) welcomes new players of all ages and levels—woodwind, brass, percussion and more.

Rehearsals: Sundays (school terms), 2:00–3:30pm, Macleay Island Progress Hall. Just come along and join!

Enquiries: Eve Newsome – evenewsome@hotmail.com

BERNIE’S ARTISAN MARKET & SOCIAL

Every 3rd Saturday at the Macleay Island Progress Hall and grounds.

TENNIS ON MACLEAY & LAMB ISLANDS

Social tennis three times per week:

Mon 3:00pm – Macleay Tue 4:00pm – Lamb

Thu 2:00 or 3:00pm – Macleay Cost: $2 per day. All welcome (players 18–88!). Text Graham 0492 951 458.

RUSSELL ISLAND SINGERS

Mondays 3:00–5:00pm at the Russell Island RSL, Jackson Road. Afternoon tea included. New members: $5/week.

Email: info@thebayislandsingers.com

GIRLS’ DAY OUT LUNCHES

Held last Thursday of the month. Raffle proceeds go to the Animal Welfare League. New and returning participants welcome. Info: Sue 0434 969 790.

VISTA GROUP – MACLEAY ISLAND

Help improve Macleay Island—join our group!

Meetings: 1st Monday of each month, 12 noon (various venues). Email macleayvista@gmail.com or phone Suzanne 0435 006 365.

START IN THE PARK

Light exercise with Council equipment (bring your own dumbbells too). Thursdays 8:00am, opposite Macleay Community Centre. Info: 0400 463 443.

MACLEAY ISLAND UKULELE GROUP (MUGS)

Over 10 years strong! Fridays 12:00–3:00pm, Progress Hall, Russell Terrace, Macleay Island.

Fee $5 casual (includes afternoon tea). First time free.

Bring your uke and join the fun—or just pop in and say hi.

See our Facebook Group for updates.

CAN DO COMPANION LINE

Need help or just want a chat? Feeling a bit isolated? We can keep in contact, check you’re okay, run a few errands, and listen. Mon–Fri 9:00am–3:00pm – Lea 0422 465 493.

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE

A JP is available at the Macleay Island Community Library

Fridays 10:00am–12:00 noon.

LAMB ISLAND CRAFT GROUP

Tuesdays 9:00am–12:00pm, LIRA building near Progress Hall.

All welcome for good company and a cuppa.

MACLEAY ISLAND TOURISM CENTRE

Office open 5 days a week at the Macleay Island Community Hall complex.

LIONS CLUB COMMUNITY MARKETS

First Saturday of each month at the Macleay Island Community Centre.

COME DANCE WITH US – LINE DANCING

Thursdays 9:30am–1:00pm, Bay Islands Community Services, 55 Jackson Road, Russell Island. Girls & Guys Line Dancing to Country, Pop, Rock ’n’ Roll, Waltz. Contact Joanne 0419 999 540.

TABLE TENNIS

First night free! Mondays 5:00–7:00pm, Recreational Hall, Alison Cres. Contacts: Siobhan 0406 108 882, Alan 0418 799 765.

SHE-NANIGANS – GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT

Women-only dance party held at The Happy Room on Russell & Macleay Island Hotel every month. Check venues for dates.

CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Coochiemudlo Island Progress Association

Saturday 29th november 2025, 9am – 1pm

Book a stall – text emily 0491 092 043 markets@coochieprogress.org

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS COMMUNITY EVENT

Sunday, 14th December – from 8am onwards

Come along for a festive day of island fun, music, markets, and community spirit!

Enjoy performances, local stalls, food, and entertainment for the whole family at The Farm, Russell Island.

HUNTING TRASH AND TREASURES

Macleay Island Clean Up - Facebook page or call Sam at 0490 758 016, first Sunday of the month at 3pm

Russell Island Clean Up Walk - Facebook group, first Sunday of the month at 8am

CHRISTMAS MARKET ON JACKSON ROAD

Saturday Dec 6th 8am - 12pm 55 Jackson Road, Russell Island

Nov 3, 2025

4 min read

Author:

Bay Islands

ISLAND DETECTIVES - Hunting Trash and Treasures On Macleay and Russell

On Macleay Island, 20 year old Sam Orphanides didn’t set out to start a clean-up group. He just couldn’t walk past the plastic anymore. Gloves on, bags in hand, he went hunting - and what started as a solo mission quickly became a small tribe of like-minded humans, meeting first Sunday of the month.

For Sam, each bottle, can, and wrapper is a checkpoint on a kind of meditative scavenger hunt.

“It’s walking, noticing the wildlife, being present and making a difference without even thinking about it,” he says.

His dad Costa tags along and is rarely seen without his trusty rubbish picker claw. On the ferry, in carparks, wherever he goes, Costa’s quietly on patrol. While most commuters scroll their phones, he’s out there plucking chip packets from oblivion.

Together they quietly reclaim the island, one piece of litter at a time. Some people see trash. Sam and Costa see potential.

Meanwhile, on Russell Island, Vanessa Aubrey and her daughters, Raven, Frankie and Ivy, treat litter picking like a treasure hunt. Since moving to the island four years ago, Vanessa couldn’t ignore the cigarette butts and random debris scattered around. One morning, a Facebook complaint nudged her into action and walking their dog turned into leading the Russell Island Clean Up Walk, also held first Sunday of every month.

The family finds more than just trash. Raven and Frankie have uncovered a working pen, a torch, a bracelet, and even a brand new pair of pants.

“Every clean up feels like an adventure,” says 7 year old Frankie.

“We would love mum to have more helpers, because if everyone picked up one piece of rubbish it would be done in no time!”

For the Aubrey family, island life is about community spirit and being part of a bubble frozen in time, surrounded by wildlife and the satisfaction of making a tiny corner of the world a little better.

Vanessa laughs when she talks about litterers. “People who litter aren’t malicious, they probably just don’t think about the consequences,” she said, adding that even picking up one piece can change the game.

Whether it’s Sam patrolling the beaches in the afternoon or Vanessa and her daughters combing the sand in the morning, one thing’s clear - these island detectives see magic in what others throw away. Trash isn’t a problem, it’s an invitation. An invitation to slow down, notice the world, maybe find a treasure, and leave the island a little cleaner than you found it.

Want to join the hunt?

Macleay Island Clean Up - Facebook page or call Sam at 0490 758 016, first Sunday of the month at 3pm

Russell Island Clean Up Walk - Facebook group, first Sunday of the month at 8am

Gloves on. Eyes open. Adventure awaits.

Nov 3, 2025

2 min read

Author:

Bay Islands

Post With Personality Where Every Letterbox Tells a Story

You can tell a lot about a place, and the souls who call it home, by its letterboxes. Some stand tall and proud, others lean like they’ve survived one too many summer storms - but here on the Bay Islands, they’re in a class of their own.

Forget boring brick and off the shelf letterboxes, our mail is delivered to surfboards, flying cows, sharks, mural covered masterpieces, microwaves and more. Because on the islands, creativity isn’t just encouraged, it’s welded, painted, glued, and occasionally nailed to a palm tree.

Take Russell Island, for example. Cruise down Wahine Drive, and you’ll likely be eyeballed by the island’s most famous fish - a giant fibreglass letterbox with more personality than a pelican at happy hour.

Back in 2008, its creator, Urs Hurlimann, moved to Russell Island with his wife, Theresa, and a creative mind that refuses to rest.

“I was bored, so I decided to build a fish,” Urs explained, and just like that, an island icon was born.

The sculpture is a conversation starter, a photo op, and a splash of joy in everyday life. Cars slow down, kids stick their hands and heads into its mouth for photos and laughter spills onto the street.

But just when the fish thought it had the spotlight, along came The Beast, a ten metre fibreglass lizard stationed up on their rooftop, keeping a watchful eye over their property. It’s weathered cyclones, storms and the passage of time, turning Urs and Theresa’s property into an island landmark.

“Art’s personal, and seeing smiles on faces of all ages as they stop by is what makes it all worthwhile,” said Urs.

Creativity doesn’t stop there. Jennifer Ng, a Macleay Island resident, was so charmed by the islands’ imaginative letterboxes that she grabbed her camera and documented over 40 of them, producing a coffee table book available to read at the Macleay Island Library.

“They bring the streets alive,” Jessica said.

“Each letterbox has its own story - they give the island its character and make every walk a little adventure.”

The Bay Islands’ letterboxes aren’t just for mail, they’re mini works of art, showing pride, creativity, and a sense of fun. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing more of these eye catching creations. Next edition, meet the Hilton family from Macleay Island and discover their unique birthday present surprise. Plus, we’ll be launching a competition to celebrate the weird, wild, and wonderful designs that make our streets unforgettable.

If your mailbox makes people stop, smile, or scratch their heads, snap a photo and send your story to editor@friendlybayislander.com.au From pirate ships to driftwood dolphins, we want to see the mailbox magic hiding at the end of your driveway!

Nov 1, 2025

2 min read

Author:

Magazine

November 2025 Magazine

November 2025 Magazine Issue

Events

Coming Events November

SUNRISE MARKETS

Every 2nd Sunday of the month.No charge to display and sell anything and everything! Great food and Rosie’s Coffee stall.

Don’t have a garage sale—come to the Sunrise Sunday Markets instead.

JOIN THE BAY ISLAND SINGERS!

Rehearsals: Mondays, 2:00–4:00pm, at the Resilience Centre (BIMSARA, near the tennis courts), Russell Island.

Just turn up or email info@thebayislandsingers.com.

RUSSELL ISLAND COMMUNITY ARTS (RICArts)

Not-for-profit, community-based organisation offering Art, Sewing & Craft, Pottery, Ukulele, Wheel Throwing, Mosaic/Patchwork and more, Monday to Saturday.

SMBI COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND

Island community band (started in 2023) welcomes new players of all ages and levels—woodwind, brass, percussion and more.

Rehearsals: Sundays (school terms), 2:00–3:30pm, Macleay Island Progress Hall. Just come along and join!

Enquiries: Eve Newsome – evenewsome@hotmail.com

BERNIE’S ARTISAN MARKET & SOCIAL

Every 3rd Saturday at the Macleay Island Progress Hall and grounds.

TENNIS ON MACLEAY & LAMB ISLANDS

Social tennis three times per week:

Mon 3:00pm – Macleay Tue 4:00pm – Lamb

Thu 2:00 or 3:00pm – Macleay Cost: $2 per day. All welcome (players 18–88!). Text Graham 0492 951 458.

RUSSELL ISLAND SINGERS

Mondays 3:00–5:00pm at the Russell Island RSL, Jackson Road. Afternoon tea included. New members: $5/week.

Email: info@thebayislandsingers.com

GIRLS’ DAY OUT LUNCHES

Held last Thursday of the month. Raffle proceeds go to the Animal Welfare League. New and returning participants welcome. Info: Sue 0434 969 790.

VISTA GROUP – MACLEAY ISLAND

Help improve Macleay Island—join our group!

Meetings: 1st Monday of each month, 12 noon (various venues). Email macleayvista@gmail.com or phone Suzanne 0435 006 365.

START IN THE PARK

Light exercise with Council equipment (bring your own dumbbells too). Thursdays 8:00am, opposite Macleay Community Centre. Info: 0400 463 443.

MACLEAY ISLAND UKULELE GROUP (MUGS)

Over 10 years strong! Fridays 12:00–3:00pm, Progress Hall, Russell Terrace, Macleay Island.

Fee $5 casual (includes afternoon tea). First time free.

Bring your uke and join the fun—or just pop in and say hi.

See our Facebook Group for updates.

CAN DO COMPANION LINE

Need help or just want a chat? Feeling a bit isolated? We can keep in contact, check you’re okay, run a few errands, and listen. Mon–Fri 9:00am–3:00pm – Lea 0422 465 493.

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE

A JP is available at the Macleay Island Community Library

Fridays 10:00am–12:00 noon.

LAMB ISLAND CRAFT GROUP

Tuesdays 9:00am–12:00pm, LIRA building near Progress Hall.

All welcome for good company and a cuppa.

MACLEAY ISLAND TOURISM CENTRE

Office open 5 days a week at the Macleay Island Community Hall complex.

LIONS CLUB COMMUNITY MARKETS

First Saturday of each month at the Macleay Island Community Centre.

COME DANCE WITH US – LINE DANCING

Thursdays 9:30am–1:00pm, Bay Islands Community Services, 55 Jackson Road, Russell Island. Girls & Guys Line Dancing to Country, Pop, Rock ’n’ Roll, Waltz. Contact Joanne 0419 999 540.

TABLE TENNIS

First night free! Mondays 5:00–7:00pm, Recreational Hall, Alison Cres. Contacts: Siobhan 0406 108 882, Alan 0418 799 765.

SHE-NANIGANS – GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT

Women-only dance party held at The Happy Room on Russell & Macleay Island Hotel every month. Check venues for dates.

CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Coochiemudlo Island Progress Association

Saturday 29th november 2025, 9am – 1pm

Book a stall – text emily 0491 092 043 markets@coochieprogress.org

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS COMMUNITY EVENT

Sunday, 14th December – from 8am onwards

Come along for a festive day of island fun, music, markets, and community spirit!

Enjoy performances, local stalls, food, and entertainment for the whole family at The Farm, Russell Island.

HUNTING TRASH AND TREASURES

Macleay Island Clean Up - Facebook page or call Sam at 0490 758 016, first Sunday of the month at 3pm

Russell Island Clean Up Walk - Facebook group, first Sunday of the month at 8am

CHRISTMAS MARKET ON JACKSON ROAD

Saturday Dec 6th 8am - 12pm 55 Jackson Road, Russell Island

Bay Islands

ISLAND DETECTIVES - Hunting Trash and Treasures On Macleay and Russell

For Sam, each bottle, can, and wrapper is a checkpoint on a kind of meditative scavenger hunt.

“It’s walking, noticing the wildlife, being present and making a difference without even thinking about it,” he says.

Together they quietly reclaim the island, one piece of litter at a time. Some people see trash. Sam and Costa see potential.

The family finds more than just trash. Raven and Frankie have uncovered a working pen, a torch, a bracelet, and even a brand new pair of pants.

“Every clean up feels like an adventure,” says 7 year old Frankie.

“We would love mum to have more helpers, because if everyone picked up one piece of rubbish it would be done in no time!”

Want to join the hunt?

Macleay Island Clean Up - Facebook page or call Sam at 0490 758 016, first Sunday of the month at 3pm

Russell Island Clean Up Walk - Facebook group, first Sunday of the month at 8am

Gloves on. Eyes open. Adventure awaits.

Bay Islands

Post With Personality Where Every Letterbox Tells a Story

Back in 2008, its creator, Urs Hurlimann, moved to Russell Island with his wife, Theresa, and a creative mind that refuses to rest.

“I was bored, so I decided to build a fish,” Urs explained, and just like that, an island icon was born.

“Art’s personal, and seeing smiles on faces of all ages as they stop by is what makes it all worthwhile,” said Urs.

“They bring the streets alive,” Jessica said.

“Each letterbox has its own story - they give the island its character and make every walk a little adventure.”

Government

Crisafulli Government Delivers Next Stage of Smbi Parking Relief Package

• Crisafulli Government delivers 30 per cent discount on car hire under the new Bay Island Car Share Subsidy Scheme.

• Scheme to benefit around 9,000 island residents, who can access parking relief on the mainland during Weinam Creek upgrade.

• Builds on the Crisafulli Government’s permanent 50 cent public transport fares and temporary 50 per cent vehicle ferry subsidy.

Redland residents living on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI) will soon have access to more affordable mainland transport, with the Crisafulli Government launching a 30 per cent car hire subsidy under the new Bay Island Car Share subsidy scheme.

Open to SMBI permanent residents and ratepayers, the scheme – delivered in partnership with local provider Bay Island Car Share – will offer discounted daily and hourly vehicle hire from 27 October 2025, on a temporary basis while the Weinam Creek multi storey car park is being completed.

This initiative is one of four elements of our SMBI Parking Relief Package, which the Crisafulli Government promised before the election and is getting on with delivering, as it said it would, for the people of the Bay Islands.

Member for Redlands Rebecca Young MP said the initiative was squarely focused on easing the parking squeeze on the mainland, particularly while major works get underway at Weinam Creek.

“This is a very unique model we've worked hard to establish with Bay Island Car Share to deliver real parking relief for residents who live on our bay islands,” Mrs Young said.

“We’ve already delivered permanent 50 cent public transport fares and 50 per cent off SeaLink vehicle ferry fees, and today we’re delivering the next piece - a cheaper alternative to taking your own car across, so you don’t have to fight for a park on the mainland.”

With the new scheme, residents can leave their cars on the island and hire a vehicle on the mainland for as little as $7 per hour (plus $0.35 per kilometre, for a compact car), significantly reducing travel costs and parking demand.

“The Crisafulli Government is committed to reducing congestion at Weinam Creek and surrounding mainland parking zones,” Mrs Young said.

“And once the new multi-level car park at Weinam Creek is complete, we’ll have the final piece of the SMBI Parking Relief Package in place.”