At the heart of the Little BIG House is a strong sense of community, and Kerrie has been instrumental in fostering that spirit. As one the earliest volunteers in the Little BIG House and one of the dedicated hosts of the Seniors Group, Kerrie plays a key role in creating a welcoming space for older adults to meet and connect. If she wasn’t already donating enough time, she has also started to support the Coworking Monday event as well.

Her contributions extend beyond hosting, she was also part of the first-ever Little BIG House Management Committee in 2024. Having a background in running a small business in Summer Hill, Kerrie has used her knowledge and local connections to guide and support the Little BIG Foundation. She has given the committee a new appreciation of the local business integration and how the Little BIG House can both better fit into the local surrounds and add value to it. Kerrie is also a savant of Summer Hill and Inner West knowledge having lived most of her life here. She has strong community connections and an unmatched knack for knowing all the local hidden gems!

A Group Built on Friendship

The Seniors Group began as an informal coffee gathering among local residents and has since evolved into an inclusive space for seniors across the Inner West. There are no structured activities—just a welcoming environment where people can engage in conversation and build friendships naturally. This casual, pressure-free approach has allowed the group to thrive, fostering genuine connections among its members.

Kerrie understands the challenges associated with retirement and the need to stay connected to community and purpose. Along with the other leaders, Kerrie maintains a warm and inviting space for the local community and helps seniors regularly connect with others. 

We know this group is one of the standouts at the Little BIG House by the feedback we receive:

“It is harder to make friends as you get older and move around but having the Little BIG as the hub for the community you don’t have to go looking for friends, you just have to show up to an event.” Survey Respondent, 2024.

“Joining the Seniors group has been a lifesaver for me. My husband isn’t well and the fortnightly coffee date is an opportunity for me to step out of my caring role and connect with others.” Survey Respondent, 2024.

Finding social connection later in life can be challenging, and the Seniors Group provides an opportunity for older adults to feel seen and supported. Beyond the scheduled meetups, friendships extend into daily life, with members checking in on one another, planning outings, and celebrating milestones together. This sense of belonging aligns with the Little BIG House’s mission—creating spaces where people can form lasting relationships and combat social isolation.

As the Seniors Group continues to grow, one challenge remains—encouraging more men to participate. While attendance is mostly female, Kerrie sees potential in targeted outreach, finding a male co-host, or creating new ways to engage a broader audience. She remains optimistic that the group will evolve to meet the needs of even more seniors in the community.

Kerrie’s commitment to fostering connection has made the Seniors Group more than just a social event—it has become a source of friendship, support, and belonging for many attendees. Through her dedication, the sense of community at the Little BIG House continues to strengthen.

Join the Seniors Group

The Seniors Group meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 10 AM – 11:30 AM at the Little BIG House. No bookings are required—just drop in, grab a coffee, and enjoy the company.

Interested? Watch this video on our Seniors Group.

Bob Bush Leadlights

If you have been around the area for a while, you might have known Kerrie and her husband Bob as prominent artisans and small business owners in Summer Hill for decades. Together they ran Bob Bush Leadlights, a stained-glass studio on Smith Street, Summer Hill. Much of their work can still be seen in homes in the area today. We feel Kerrie was destined to be a volunteer for our mission after finding out the shop even provided lead lighting classes, bringing creative together and improving their skills. After an almost 40-year run, Bob and Kerrie Bush eventually retired and closed the shop in 2019, marking the end of an era.

A Lifetime of Volunteering & Leadership

Kerrie has a long history of community involvement, having taken part in sports clubs, and volunteering for the Chamber of Commerce in Summer Hill to name a few. Kerrie Bush became a leading figure in the local business community through her work with the area’s Chamber of Commerce. She served as President of ASHBiz (Ashfield Business Chamber) – the chamber representing businesses in Ashfield, Summer Hill, and Haberfield – during the late 2000s and 2010s. Kerrie worked tirelessly advocated for local traders and worked to improve the business environment. In this role, Kerrie helped organise vibrant events like the multi-suburb Feast of Flavours food festival series, drawing crowds and celebrating the area’s diversity. She has always been a vocal advocate on policy issues affecting local commerce.  Whether it was parking issues at Ashfield town center or more flexible outdoor dining regulations across the Inner West, Kerrie has been a strong voice making all our lives easier and more livable.

Her leadership experience made her a valuable addition to the Little BIG House Management Committee, where she helped shape the foundation’s growth and direction. Her dedication to bringing people together has been a driving force in making the Seniors Group and the Little BIG House a vibrant community hub.

And we aren’t the first to notice how wonderful Kerrie is. Inner West Council honored Kerrie Bush with a Highly Commended Senior Citizen of the Year award in 2017.

Life Beyond the Seniors Group

Outside of her role at the Little BIG House, Kerrie enjoys traveling with her husband, particularly to Europe. Rome holds a special place in her heart, and their trips often include visits to art galleries and museums. A fan of Caravaggio’s paintings, crime novels, and a well-made Aperol Spritz, she balances her love for culture with simple pleasures and family.

Read more about Kerrie here:

I’ve been a Little BIG Volunteer for…

Since almost the very beginning.

My role with the Foundation is…

I co-host the Seniors coffee mornings and have recently become a volunteer at co-working Mondays.

Last year I was part of the inaugural Management Committee for Little BIG House. I found it a very worthwhile experience. I loved working with the other 4 members assessing incoming event ideas and making sure they were a good fit for the Little BIG House and it’s mission. I did feel this year it was time for me to make way for some new faces and I think the new committee is doing a great job.

I volunteer because…

I volunteer for a number of reasons. I love meeting new people. I believe in giving back to the community, though in reality, I feel I get more out of it than I actually give. I have made wonderful friendships from volunteering. I love the feeling of making a difference to people’s lives.

I specifically volunteer at LBH because I think the work the Foundation is doing is playing a very important part in our community. Alleviating loneliness is a wonderful goal. Even those people who live at the Flour Mill but don’t attend anything at LBH seemed to have been touched by the Foundation’s aims. The Flour Mill feels like a kinder community than other housing developments because of a conscious effort to bring people together. There is a kindness that sounds it.

The top thing on my bucket list is…

The top thing on my bucket list is travel and art related. I aim to see every known Caravaggio painting in person. I have about 10 to go.

I’m most grateful for…

I am most grateful for my husband surviving a major health scare last year. We are both still well enough to travel and do the things we love.

The last little BIG thing / action I did for someone else or receive from someone was…

The Last Little BIG thing I did for someone was to make time to have coffee with a neighbour who was waiting on some urgent medical results. I had another appointment that morning but I made the effort to be around earlier than my usual time in the coffee shop.

I am also the recipient of many Little BIG actions. Our neighbours seem to be happy to help each other in small ways e.g. checking to see if any of the parcels in the foyer belong to anyone living on the same floor then delivering them to the resident’s door. While my husband was sick, I had a number of residents offering assistance in many ways (driving me to the hospital, doing my shopping etc.).