A Short History of the Paluma Community Hall

Article prepared & presented by Lynn Hyland for the Paluma Community  Centre 20th  Anniversary Morning Tea, Sunday 24th October 2021.

This is a short history of how the Paluma Community Centre came into being back in 2001.

Our earliest community association records date back to 1965 and it was in January of 1965 that electricity was connected to the then ‘Town Hall’ as it was fondly referred to. The exact date in 1946 of its construction is unknown, but it was a well patronised facility by the 1960’s. This hub of community life was constructed of bush timbers and corrugated iron. It had previously been the Recreational Building for the Medical Unit during the final years of World War 2. It had no windows or doors. On a misty day the cloud rolled into the open space via the rear ¾ wall. Seating was built in along the walls and the entrance was an open walkway. A hall user could access power by collecting the fuse from Ivy Cottage after signing for it. Social activities of the day took the form of dances, children’s fancy dress balls and bingo. The bar servery bench was also well used I believe.

Unfortunately Cyclone Althea was not kind to the Progress Hall and thanks to the efforts of the Rotary Club of Townsville West it was repaired in 1972. The operation of the reserve, that we now know as the Village Green was in the hands of of four local trustees who had control over activities on behalf of the Lands Department. They vetoed the community suggestion of installing a playground and establishing a small campground. It was mainly used as a golf course and that’s how they wanted it kept. Suddenly in the mid 90’s, the Paluma Progress Association (PPA) found that the trustees had relinquished their positions and it had reverted to the control of the Thuringowa Shire Council as their asset. Previously replacement trustees had been nominated by the PPA and readily accepted by the Lands Department. No such option had been offered.

To the dismay of the locals, we were informed that the Town Hall was to be demolished as it had been condemned. What a blow for this small community. In April 1983, the Paluma Rural Fire Brigade had been formed and  stored  its equipment on a share basis with the PPA in a small metal shed on the cement slab behind the present gazebo. Then in October 1989 a local Mt. Spec SES group was formed. For many years the SES operated out of the garage of the 1st Officer’s home, before moving for a short while to the closed Police Station office, until it was sold to James Cook University. A permanent base for SES was required.

The PDPA had been furiously fund raising through the annual Rainforest Festivals run by the community. They desperately wanted to have a new ‘Town Hall’. It looked for a while that the Village Green would be peppered with three new buildings. Some creative thinking came up with the concept of a shared facility, to be contained in one larger building fronting the main road and thus preserving the ambience of the Village Green. And so the project began under the guidance of a Building Management Committee.

Funding for the project was provided by the PDPA, Thuringowa City Council (SES), the Gleeson Family Trust, the Gaming Benefit Fund and the Casino Trust. The many volunteers who are named on our Honour Board, laboured over a number of years with many a Saturday working bee to allow the weekenders to contribute their time and effort too. The project was carried out under the umbrella of Tubman Homes with John, Mick Lewis acting as site supervisors as required. Work was often followed by a BBQ on the Green. The steering committee was charged with forming a Management Committee consisting of the three legal lessees – PDPA, Mt. Spec SES and Paluma Rural Fire Brigade and also forming a constitution.

The official opening  was to be on Sunday 21 October 2001, but the hall and services side were utilised prior to this date for minor socials, training and emergency events. The rush was on to complete the painting and fitting out in readiness for our Gala Social – the Centenary Ball to be held the night preceding the official opening ceremony the next day. WOW – what a celebration and did we scrub up well for the occasion. The start of a new century and the restoration of a community hub for the residents of Paluma was well and truly rejoiced. Many of you present today will have attended the many community dinners, overseas slide shows, bush dances, games nights, art exhibitions, markets, Anzac ceremonies and birthday celebrations of locals here in the hall. Both service groups have utilised the centre for training, running courses and district exercises. The centre’s true value has been appreciated at the time of major events such as land searches and rescues.

The Management Committee charged the PDCA with the role of supervising hall usage. Over the years our many regular hirers have given us a small income to supplement PDCA membership fees in meeting the costs of running the Centre. All three lessees contribute annually to cover the cost of electricity and rates. The PDCA covers the cost of the $20 Million Public Liability Insurance required under our lease agreement. The Centre is listed as a TCC asset and leased back to us at nil cost on a 30 Year Lease basis. Visitors are always amazed  that this facility was built by volunteer labour in such a small community. Even the Director General of Emergency Services, Michael Kinnane, who opened the Centre with Mayor Les Tyrell, was amazed by this revelation. Very few QFES units have access to such good facilities.

 Our regular community spring cleans and maintenance have kept the centre in good condition. From 2020 onwards this role will be carried out by TCC’s Infrastructure Department – we await action on an internal paint, floor restoration and external cleaning.  From time to time, PDCA grant applications have been successful. In July 2012, the Paluma History Project came to fruition through funding from Powerlink and we finally got some decent chairs through Queensland Community Country Bank. A number of history projects have evolved over the past nine years such as the Trees in Memory Grove; the Pioneer Honour Board; the Flight Sergeant Plant Memorial Service; the PDCA Past President’s Honour Board; the Opening of the Andree Griffin Walking Track; the Memorial Stone unveiling; and the Community Centre Construction Honour Board. The large historical photo collection is opened to the public from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm on Tuesdays between April and November. We have photographer Brian O’Leary to thank for the superb ‘Birds of Paluma’ DVD, of  which he has donated the rights to our community.

As we all know, communication is a problem in our area. In 2017, the installation in the Centre of a free WiFi service by TCC was a godsend to locals and tourists alike. Then in 2018, the long awaited Mobile Black Spot problem was finally overcome. As the hall became a well used facility and group sizes had increased, a desire to extend the Centre was expressed. A small group of PDCA members worked at a number of Northern Beaches Festival events and secured a share of the profits to be put away into a PDCA ‘Building Fund’ Account. The PRFB through community support had received funding from the many Paluma Push Bike Races and now that the Government was meeting new vehicle costs had a healthy bank balance. The brigade agreed to join forces with the PDCA in funding the rear extension to incorporate a small meeting room and realign the verandah area. They had not been able to contribute financially back in 1997 but could do so now. And so began the recent Centre extension project.

Unfortunately John Tubman’s health did not allow him to continue and a further Gaming Benefit Grant was obtained to meet the increased cost of a new builder. On 22 September 2018, the John Tubman Meeting Room was officially opened by John himself and the Centre Construction Honour Board unveiled.  This year (2021) sees the 25th Year of our annual Garden Competition and the new garden beds around the centre are looking good thanks to the many garden enthusiasts in Paluma. So 20 years on, the Centre is in regular use for major recreational events, community socials and celebrations and used by regular community groups and commercial hirers. The History Project continues to expand and the SES and PRFB are still functioning well despite their ups and downs in membership over the years. We live in a wonderful part of North Queensland’s Wet Tropics. The Paluma community welcomes visitors to our little bit of paradise and we are renowned for our helpfulness and friendliness. Long may it be so!

 HAPPY 20th ANNIVERSARY PALUMA COMMUNITY CENTRE