Caption: Former Sunshine Coasters Rollo Dixon and Maggie Counihan on their motorbike in Siem Reap in Cambodia. By Richard BruinsmaA former Sunshine Coast couple who are now dedicated to helping underprivileged children in Cambodia are proof that unexpected twists and turns in life can subsequently reveal to us new life purposes.Maggie Counihan and her partner Rollo Dixon these days spend several months each year in the country’s second largest city, Siem Reap, where they bring fun and laughter to young children by teaching them English with a little help from their ukuleles.They also provide the underprivileged children of one of the local schools with breakfast one morning each week.  Caption: Maggie and Rollo hand out breakfast to the children.“It’s tremendously rewarding,” Maggie explains with her trademark bright smile. “I just can’t keep away. It’s my heart country. “Some countries call you. I think this one called me.”The couple are both in their seventies, and took big steps of faith in the past decade to sever ties with the traditional western way of life.The doors to Cambodia really opened up as a result of ukulele lessons started in Buderim five years ago under the tutorship of local personality Ken O’Flaherty.Caption: Ken O'Flaherty catches up with his friends and one-time students Rollo Dixon and Maggie Counihan at the Kenilworth Ukulele Fest.“I was struggling for a while, but I persisted and it did eventually fall into place,” Rollo said.“It’s like anything; it’s hard at the beginning and then it all kicks in.”Maggie couldn’t resist also giving it a go.“When I saw Rollo having so much fun, I said, ‘I want to do this too’, so I went off the guitar and onto the uke and have never gone back. It’s so versatile.”The duo also took courses in TESOL - Teaching English as a Second Language.They have for several years now frequented the Cambodian schools – with the ukuleles in hand - to share their joy for life and the fondness for the music. All the while, their relaxed musical visits help the youngsters learn English.“We went there for three or four weeks in 2014, and we went to a few schools, and we had a good time, and we knew if we kept on with it, it would work,” Rollo said.“The kids welcome anything that’s different, that’s why they like our classes; we’re there to have fun.” Caption: Rollo Dixon teaches Ukulele to a Cambodian student.The couple has sold virtually all their possessions - apart from several boxes of photographs, books and clothing – and now live simply and use much of their income to provide for the children.Maggie had lived a fairly typical life, including bringing up a family, before deciding to go backpacking around the world alone when she turned 60. She subsequently wrote a book about her adventures – “Backpacking to Freedom; Solo at Sixty” – which sold out.A second book – “Bring on the Birthdays; Ageing with Adventure” – is almost sold out and the couple is selling the final copies at $5 each to fund ongoing work in Cambodia.Rollo, a former accountant, also was attracted to the simple life and to helping others.The couple have now sponsored three young Cambodian children, have frequented the orphanages of well-known Australian Geraldine Cox, and are happiest allowing life to take them where ever it leads.They are currently house sitting in Buderim and took time out to renew acquaintances at the Kenilworth Ukulele Fest. But they will soon be back on the road, and back in Cambodia around July.“I think your life flows a little better if you don’t have too tight a plan. Keep it loose,” Rollo said.Before Maggie added: “We try very much to live for the moment; We’re just two people who love what we’re doing.”And you can bet the Cambodian children love it too.