Mick Grimshaw has served countless roles on the island: farmer, councillor, businessman – but he’s most renowned for his welcome. Ask anyone who’s sailed or paddled into Killiecrankie bay, and odds are it was Mick who sauntered barefoot and grinning up the beach to make them feel at home.

If you ask the locals about Mick Grimshaw, they will probably tell you a story.

Whether sharing a freshly caught crayfish, lending a hand to someone in need or welcoming strangers as though they have been coming to Flinders Island for years, Mick has earned a reputation as one of the island’s most familiar faces. A farmer, diver, sailor and lifelong advocate for the island, he believes the strongest communities are built on kindness, trust and a willingness to give without expecting anything in return.

“I believe generosity should be a religion.” It is a simple philosophy, but one that has shaped the way Mick has lived his life and the way he welcomes visitors to the island.

Time with Mick cannot really be planned or scripted. Stories by the water, a conversation that runs longer than expected, a glimpse of life lived close to sea and land: this is the kind of welcome Mick offers best. To spend time with him is to understand the warmth, humour and generosity that make Flinders Island feel unlike anywhere else.

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