The Heritage Society turns 21 in '21!
The Society held its first meeting on April 15th, 2000. In this, our 21st year, we've got events and workshops to celebrate our past, establish our future priorities, and support our community through the uncertainties that are affecting us all. Why not join us?
The 2021 Coochiemudlo Island
Mangrove Festival
Limited tickets, book early!
Flinders' Weekend Events!
Saturday 17th July - 'My Dear, Girls Don't ...'
Jane Virtue was a long-time resident of Coochiemudlo, best known to locals for the sailing school she ran here from the seventies to early nineties.
The book's title comes from advice Jane received, aged 12, when she told her aunt of her aspirations. "My dear," Aunt Enie cautioned, "girls don’t fly planes or sail yachts”.
Jane went on to do both. She became Queensland's first female flying instructor and a nationally renowned skipper and teacher among the sailing community.
From when she was a kid mustering sheep on an outback station, Jane's life has been one of tackling challenges, 'Girls Don't' with remarkable success.
Join us on the eve of Flinders' Day and meet The Girl Who Did. The Heritage Society's hosting a Drinks & Nibbles book launch to celebrate a distinguished visitor who's no stranger to the island.
Come and meet Jane at the Community Hall from 4 - 6pm. Her book will be on sale. We're limited to 60 attending, so book asap if you're keen to come. Click/tap the button to chose number of tickets.
Sunday 18th July - Flinders' Day
Historic landing re-enactment, Norfolk Beach from 11.30am
Our island was first charted on July 19 1799, by Lieutenant Matthew Flinders who landed from the sloop Norfolk. He took a sextant reading, explored the island and viewed the southern Bay. With him were Bongaree, an Aboriginal man from north of Sydney, Flinders’ brother Samuel, and Trim, Flinders' cat.
Ted Jones who lived on the island from 1963 until 2010, had been an aircraft navigator in the Second World War. His analysis of Flinders’ charts caused Norfolk Beach to be so named in 1997, officially marking Flinders’ landing.
The Coochiemudlo Island Progress Association began to re-enact Flinders’ landing annually on a Sunday close to 19 July, with Ted as Matthew Flinders.
In 1982 cadets from the Training Ship Norfolk became involved and, in 1988, the re-enactment was included in the national bicentennial celebrations.
In 1999 the re-enactment was also included in the bicentennial of Flinders’ landing, when the replica Norfolk under the command of Bern Cuthbertson made a gala visit to Coochiemudlo Island.
This year's re-enactment is the 25th anniversary of this historic event.
Ted Jones and the Norfolk replica, 1999.