COMMUNITY spirit is shining bright this season in a neighbourhood in Fraser Coast.
A small act of caring between neighbours has grown into something extraordinary, and it’s got everyone from newborns to retirees involved.
It all began when Gail, a resident at Ozcareʼs Reflections on the Bay retirement village, started hand-stitching Christmas stockings for the local children.
Word spread, and soon the village clubhouse was filled with toys, books, games and handmade stockings.
And it has led to the community’s first resident-led Christmas toy drive this year, supporting children and families doing it tough across the Fraser Coast.
Since then, residents have created and filled more than 100 stockings for children aged from newborn to 17.
For everyone: The retirees have created and filled more than 100 stockings for children aged from newborn to 17. Photo: Supplied
Australian households experienced an increase in out-of-pocket living costs, with the Bureau of Statistics’ living cost indexes (LCIs) recording rises between 0.6 per cent and 1.5 per cent in the September 2025 quarter.
Donations for 31 children are being distributed through Yoorana, a Fraser Coast women’s domestic violence and resource service, with all other stockings going to help other children from local schools to ensure families experiencing hardship feel supported and seen this Christmas.
Yoorana service manager Tanya Sanders said staff would deliver the hand-stitched stockings stuffed with toys and gifts in the lead up to Christmas.
“We have an amazing community on the Fraser Coast who also donate gifts for mums and food hampers, which we will deliver to our families on our Santa run,” she said.
Yoorana is a not-for-profit service that has been operating in the region for 45 years, supporting women and children escaping violence.
Reflections on the Bay village manager Jenny Marrello said the retirees’ generosity had been incredible.
“What started as a way to support someone within our village has grown into something that has brought together so many residents, Ozcare aged care residents and staff, and the wider community of Hervey Bay and Maryborough,” she said.
Christmas presents: From left, Gail Hansen, Lyn Fricke, Denise Cousins and Joan Skilleter with village manager Jenny Marrello. Photo: Supplied
A Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry into volunteering in Queensland found that while volunteering contributed “immense civic, social, and economic value” estimated at $117 billion each year, participation rates had declined significantly – from 75.7 per cent in 2020 to 64.3 per cent in 2023 – amounting to a loss of about 200,000 volunteers.
The toy drive was an example of how a single act of caring for another person could have a ripple effect, Ozcare head of retirement living Anna Gorgijeski said.
“This year has been marked by cost-of-living pressures, but we’re seeing where we can all step in where families’ budgets can’t stretch,” she said.
“This project and the stockings have become a symbol for a community of caring.”
She said Ozcare’s wider network of co-located aged care clients, community care clients and Ozcare team members had all contributed to the shared goal of giving back.
With fewer people volunteering nowadays, she said, community-led efforts like these were important to everyone’s wellbeing.
“This is about more than gifts – it is about finding joy in doing something together that makes a difference,” Ms Gorgijeski said.
