With arguably the best view in Coolum, is it any wonder that locals and tourists alike seek out the Coolum Beach Surf Life Saving Club for a drink and dinner, and on Friday night each week the club also hands out free raffle tickets, with the prizes made possible by the generosity of the local community and their volunteers, including 7-year-old Macie who loves to help out. Macie, who lives in Brisbane and is in grade two, loves volunteering with her grandad, John Ellingsen, who was the Supporters Club’s longest-serving president, and a member of the club since the 1960s. Macie loves all things water-related, including swimming, snorkelling, and collecting shells. And it was her grandfather, John, who introduced her to the Coolum Surf Club, and she has been helping with the free Friday night raffles for about four months now. John said that one day Macie just asked if she could help out and that for him it’s a special time that they get to spend together. Malcolm Wright, General Manager of the Coolum Surf Club, believes there is a lot we can all learn from Macie. “Macie is an incredible young girl who is already showing a strong sense of community spirit and generosity, and we are thrilled to have her as part of our team.” “Watching John and Macie together is just lovely and shows us the importance of passing on a sense of community spirit to younger generations.” For more information about the Coolum Surf Club, please visit www.coolumsurfclub.com.au.