The Australian town where everyone has each other's backs.

There’s something special about this little country town.

Sure, you might not be able to get your lightly-roasted, cold-drip coffee in the morning. And it might be 300 km to the nearest bikini wax. But there’s something about Theodore in Queensland that leads its inhabitants to call it the happiest town in Australia.

This week on The Well, Robin Bailey and Rebecca Sparrow are doing a happiness check-up to see how their strategies for well-being have fared over the past five weeks. In episode three they looked at the lessons they could learn from the people of Denmark, the happiest place in the world.

But listener Fleur Anderson called up to say just how wrong they were and introduce us to Theodore – the happiest little town in Australia, and possibly the world.

The Danes are known for their sense of community and belonging, but Fleur says if you want the Danish experience, don’t get on a plane. Just head to the country.

Mum to seven-year-old Tilly and three-year-old Munro, Fleur has laid down roots in the tiny Queensland town with its population of 500 and it sounds too good to be true.

“I think Theodore is definitely the best place to live in Australia,”  says Fleur, “I enjoy a fantastic sense of community in my town.”

“I can text the bus driver that picks up my kids to say I’m running late or if we aren’t going to be there. I can leave my child in the car if he is sleeping – GASP – while I quickly check my mail box at the post office.”

This little guy entered big boy status today by taking the school bus to his first day of Kindy! Very pleased with himself. #busboy #officialbigkid #nothatdoesnotmeanyoucandrivenow

A photo posted by fleuranderson (@fleuranderson) on Apr 25, 2016 at 5:00pm PDT

Fleur’s three-year-old son even takes the bus to kindergarten on his own, “something I wouldn’t feel safe to do in the city,” she says. 

The help you get in a small town is unparalleled and it’s true what they say, it takes a village to raise a child.

“There’s a lot of ‘I’ll take Cooper to Tennis with my kids while you do your groceries, would you mind dropping Tilly home after swimming on Wednesday?” says Fleur. 

“There is that community thing, when something is going wrong for somebody everyone pitches in.”

#tillyslemonadestand #killingit

A photo posted by fleuranderson (@fleuranderson) on Apr 20, 2014 at 5:06pm PDT

If it sounds idyllic, it’s because it is. In country towns there’s room to breathe and the hectic hustle and bustle of the city seems worlds away. People move more slowly, simply because there’s no need to hurry. “There’s no traffic,” says Fleur, “It only takes five minutes to get anywhere.’

The only downside to small town living? “Everyone knows your business. It’s very hard to have an affair,” laughs Fleur.

For more happiness hacks, subscribe to The Well in iTunes, or listen to the full episode below.