This weekend (7 November) one of Paluma’s long-time residents – Wilfred Karnoll – will celebrate his 70th birthday.
2021 has been a somewhat challenging year for Wilfred, but like everything else he has taken the ‘bull by the horns’ and just got on with things. Wilfred is a long-serving member of the PDCA and he is a consistent volunteer for just about everything in and around the village. He undertakes an array of regular maintenance work at the Community Hall and Village Green and he has been instrumental over many years in keeping our rainforest walking tracks in good condition. In more recent times, he has led a team of dedicated volunteers to re-open and make safe the Paluma Village to Hussey Road walking track and he currently has his sights set on upgrading the Rainforest Walking Track (between the Community Hall and the western end of the Village). There is not much that Wilfred doesn’t know about the walking tracks and trails around Paluma and across the Southern Wet Tropics region!
Wilfred is always ready to lend a hand and he is pretty good with the chain-saw, whipper snipper and a spot of heavy lifting. He will be the first to offer assistance when needed and he is particularly handy during Working Bees at the Community Hall for everything at height and well above the reach of the rest of us. Who needs a ladder when Wilfred is around.
Wilfred is a great friend and neighbour to have – even if he doesn’t always appreciate the therapeutic benefits of listening to AC/DC on the stereo at volume 50 on a Saturday night (ooops)!!
Cheers Wilfred and Happy Birthday To You from your friends at Paluma.
Text & Photo by Michele Bird
Happy Birthday Wilfred!