On any given Saturday, the lakeside township of Metung is a hive of activity.
The Village Green Market bustles with locals and visitors browsing stalls, while nearby cafes and the Metung Pub fill with patrons.
Up on Stirling Road, St. John’s Church hosts its regular book sale, and nearby, the Metung Community Gardens run a produce swap where local growers exchange
surplus vegetables.
At the centre of much of this local energy is Cosette Murphy, a resident whose deep-seated commitment to volunteering has made her a familiar and welcoming face across the East Gippsland township.
Originally a holiday homeowner in Metung, Ms Murphy’s connection to the town deepened after she transitioned to living there full-time.
With young children attending Metung Primary School, she quickly integrated into the local community. She joined the Lions Club and took on a key role with the Metung Market, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when she worked alongside other volunteers to find creative ways to keep the market running safely.
For Ms Murphy, community engagement is a personal choice with high rewards.
“My view of the township is that it’s up to the individual to what extent they want to be part of the community or not,” she said.
“It’s your choice as to how much you get involved – but if you don’t, you miss out.”
Her volunteer portfolio spans a remarkable variety of local organisations.
Ms Murphy is well-known for her love of theatrical dressing up, particularly historic costumes from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Supported by her friend Sharon, who crafts intricate medieval and historic outfits, Ms Murphy regularly visits local aged care facilities and nursing homes to host dress-ups and fashion parades for the residents.
She has also been a regular participant in the East Gippsland Winter Festival, volunteered as an elf (and once as a notably short Santa) for the Twin Rivers Lions, and recently joined the 13th Gippsland Lighthorse 100-year anniversary at the Traralgon RSL wearing a custom-made uniform.
Ms Murphy’s dedication to Metung is perhaps best illustrated by her quick action following a fire in the building that now houses Café Roma.
Within hours of the fire breaking out in the upstairs portion of the building, Ms Murphy had set up a table to raise funds for the recovery effort, utilising raffle prizes donated by local businesses.
To address the immediate loss of the local bakery, she helped establish a temporary bakery in an empty shop across the road.
That initiative remains active today, providing a popular local mix of baked goods, coffee and Vietnamese cuisine.
As she looks around the town, Ms Murphy is delighted by the diverse culinary options now available within walking distance of the Village Green, including authentic Greek, Indonesian, Egyptian and Italian food prepared by residents from those cultures. She also points to local favourites like Café Chez Joe, which produces pizzas using local ingredients in an authentic oven, and the homemade cakes at Angela McCamley and Lilli’s Effloresce Flowers.
Beyond events and dining, Ms Murphy is deeply involved in local advocacy and community welfare.
She transports local wildlife, has volunteered at the annual Opera by the Lakes for the past four years, supports Annie’s Cottages, and works with the Bloodhounds – a local fundraising group active for 30 years that recently raised funds for the Bairnsdale Hospital through a calendar featuring local women.
However, Ms Murphy is also vocal about the challenges facing the growing township.
A primary concern is the lack of public transport connecting Metung to Swan Reach on the highway, where commuters can access buses running between Lakes Entrance and Bairnsdale.
“Some Metung people are constrained by the distance, but there’s nothing to fill that gap at present,” Ms Murphy said, emphasising a connecting service would allow older or isolated residents to independently attend medical appointments and social outings.
Disaster resilience is another priority.
Ms Murphy actively encourages local businesses to display resilience posters outlining emergency contact information, and she has called on the local council to deliver on its promise of generators to establish emergency mobile phone charging stations.
As Metung continues to grow, attracting a mix of younger families alongside its established population, Ms Murphy believes that active engagement remains the key to maintaining the town’s cohesive, supportive spirit.
For her, contributing to the community is not just a service, but the most reliable path to shared happiness.
