Also known as Ivory Curl Flower and Spotted Silky Oak
Buckinghamia celsissima belongs to
the plant family Proteaceae and is endemic to the wet tropical rainforests of
North Queensland from near Cooktown to the Paluma Range. The species was described by Ferdinand von
Mueller in honour of his friend Richard Granville, 3rd Duke of
Buckingham from a collection made by John Dallachy in 1865.
It is a handsome tree, growing to about 30 metres and
may be buttressed. Foliage is dense with
glossy, dark green simple leaves, 8 to 16 cm long by 3 to 7 cm wide. The leaf
underside is whitish. Juvenile leaves
can have one or two lobes and foliage may be flushed with red during periods of
new growth.
Flowering shows the Buckinghamia celsisima in
its full glory as masses of fragrant white to cream drooping spikes cover the
tree. (A magnificent specimen is located
in the Trees of Memory grove at the foot of the Village Green). The flowers, up to 20 cm long, grow in
terminal racemes and are visited from dawn to dusk by bees and birds. The
flowering period is usually between January and May.
The green to brown fruit is a woody follicle or
capsule, 15 -30 mm by 12 -18 mm, which splits open along one side to release
three to six flat, narrowly winged seeds. Crimson Rosellas feast on the seeds.
Capsules are 15-30 mm long x 13-20 mm . Seads are 12-18 mm long
The tree is popular with gardeners as propagation from
cuttings is usually successful though slow but the seed is easy to germinate
and produces plants which will flower in three years. The tree is also grown as an attractive
street tree as it seldom reaches the same height as in its natural environment
and is also amenable to pruning.
Footnote: The
Village Green specimen, so glorious in mid-February, has suffered a battering from
the heavy rain over the weekend of 22/23 Feb, its blooms now rather bedraggled
but still beauriful..
Please find
below the Department of Transport and Main Roads finalised program for the
investigation and surveying works occurring on Mount Spec Road from Monday 24
February to Friday 6 March 2020. TMR have consulted with businesses and
residents to develop a schedule that best reflects the needs of the community
while still allowing for these works to be undertaken safely.
Geotechnical Investigations (Drilling works):
Monday 24
February to Thursday 27 February 2020
Work hours: 7pm – 5am (Night Works).
Traffic
changes: A full road closure is required during works (Emergency vehicles
excepted).
Surveying works: Monday 24 February to Friday 6 March 2020
Weekdays
only (Monday to Friday)
Work hours – 6am to 5pm (see breakdown below).
6am – 9am:
Stop/go traffic
controllers will be on site to direct traffic through the works site. Maximum
wait time for motorists < 30 seconds.
9am – 3pm:
Changed Traffic Conditions. Speed restrictions in place. Traffic Controllers in
place. Delays of up to 90 minutes.
TMR has
liaised with businesses in the Paluma area to confirm anticipated times of
travel through the works site. The consultant conducting the works has been
provided this timetable to ensure minimal delays to motorists travelling at
these times. Any unscheduled trips can expect delays of up to 90 minutes.
Businesses and residents should contact TMR on the details below for further
information.
3pm – 5pm:
Stop/go traffic
controllers will be on site to direct traffic. Maximum wait time for travellers
< 30 seconds.
Little Crystal Creek will remain open during the works.
TMR thanks
you for your patience and understanding while these works are being completed.
Should you have any further queries or would like to discuss any aspect of
these works, please do not hesitate to contact me on 1800 625 648.
Kind
Regards
Meghan
Customer
and Stakeholder Management (Northern) | North Queensland Region Program Delivery And Operations | Infrastructure Management &
Delivery Division |
Department of Transport and Main Roads
Floor 6 | Townsville Government Office
Building | 445 Flinders Street | Townsville Qld 4810
PO Box 1089 | Townsville Qld 4810
P: 1800 625 648 | F: (07) 4421 8711
E: engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au
W: www.tmr.qld.gov.au
The evidence given by Detective Gooch, Monday 28th December (before lunch)
As an aid to keeping track of the key characters in this drama see the table at the end of this post
Gooch, O’Driscoll and Raetz left Townsville
at 1:30pm on 9th December and travelled to Moongabulla Railway
Station, where they were met by a Main Roads employee with a vehicle. They were
driven to the scene of the crime, where they met O’Brien. Gooch and O’Brien had
a conversation. “Shortly after their arrival there was a heavy downpour of
rain”. Before leaving for Rollingstone, Gooch “made an inspection of the
locality”. O’Brien showed Gooch the uprooted tree and the barricade made of “a
number of green freshly-cut bough bushes”.
The next day, Gooch, O’Driscoll, Raetz and O’Brien
proceeded to Ollera Gorge, where Edmonds lived. There they met Edmonds, Edward
Gill, James Tier (“a half-caste”) and William Searle. Gooch told them all he
was making inquiries about the hold-up. When he told Edmonds “they had reason
to believe he knew something about it”, Edmonds laughed. When asked if he had
any guns, Edmonds answered in the affirmative, and produced a rifle, a
revolver, and a single barrel shot gun “which he stated belonged to a lady
friend of his in Townsville.” Gooch took possession of the firearms and 13
cartridges. Gooch also “took possession of a pair of dungaree trousers, a white
shirt, and a big-brimmed cowboy hat, which defendant admitted he had been
wearing on December 9. He also took possession of the coat shirt which was
damp.” [Author’s note: If there were two hats, was more than one person
involved in the hold-up? If only one bandit, wearing the brown hat, did it fit
Edmonds?] The clothes were tendered in court as Exhibit One. Gooch had
walked over to O’Driscoll and Raetz, who were “examining a motor car”. Raetz picked
up “a dirty white handkerchief in the back seat” with blood on it. Edmonds
admitted the handkerchief was his. He had hurt his finger and used the
handkerchief to bind it.
From Edmonds’ residence, they left to go to
Tealby’s, where Edmonds said he had left the horse he was riding on December 9th.
He had left home at 9:30am that morning, ridden the boundary fence and “put a
couple of mobs of horses across the creek”, changing horses at Tealby’s on the
way home. As they left for Tealby’s, Edmonds asked Tier “Is that mare of mine
shod?”, but Tier didn’t reply. At Tealby’s Edmonds identified his “baldy
chestnut mare” as the horse he’d been riding on the morning of December 9th.
Edmonds “led the mare around the yard, and also in the [addock, after which he
showed her tracks to Constable Rynne and the tracker”. From Tealby’s, Gooch, Raetz,
O’Driscoll, McDonald, Rynne, O’Brien, Miners, Edmonds and Sergeant Howard (who
was leading the mare) all proceeded to the scene of the crime on Mt. Spec Road.
Gooch told Edmonds that tracks had been
found in the gully and that Rynne and one the trackers had followed them to
Tealby’s gate. A broken twig showed where a horse had been led up the gully. Tracks
led out of the gully. The mare was walked alongside the tracks. “Defendant wanted
to have a look at the tracks, saying he was a better tracker than any nigger.
Defendant broke off a small twig and measured both tracks.” Gooch lifted the
mare’s hind foot and compared both sets of tracks, coming to the conclusion
that they were both made by the mare. Here defence counsel Roberts challenged
Gooch’s expertise in tracking. Gooch’s response is not recorded in the Bulletin’s
report.
Gooch continued his testimony, stating that
he had followed the tracks intermittently to Tealby’s house and then on to
Edmonds’ house. Returning to the scene of the ambush, Gooch informed Edmonds that
the hold-up had taken place at 10:45am on December 9th. O’Brien then
informed Edmonds that he had identified him as the person involved, which
Edmonds denied. Gooch reminded Edmonds that O’Brien had called out that it was
“Charlie Edmonds” as he was running away. Gooch told O’Brien Edmonds said he
was making a mistake about the identity of the perpetrator, but Constable
O’Brien did not agree. Gooch told Edmonds that the offender had been wearing a
coat shirt. Gooch asked Edmonds “to put it on and let Constable O’Brien have a
look at him. Defendant agreed to do so [Author’s note: under duress?], and
with witness [Gooch], walked into the bush, O’Brien staying on the road.
Constable O’Brien then came over and said there was no mistake and he was the
man all right”. Edmonds was escorted to Rollingstone, where the party stayed
overnight, arriving in Townsville on 11th December where Edmonds was
formally charged.
On the train south, Edmonds told Gooch he
could prove where he was on Wednesday morning. “He had been rounding up horses with
two girls”, but “he refused to disclose the identity of the girls”. Gooch had
asked Edmonds who had ridden the horse to Mutarnee, to which Edmonds replied
that one of the girls did “and he later took her home in his car”. Gooch had
seen a girl called Pearl Davies riding past the crime scene on the afternoon of
9th December, so returned to Mutarnee on the 16th to
interview both Pearl and Grace Davies. Gooch told Edmonds that if he had in
fact been out mustering horses at the time of the hold-up, he should not have
been arrested. However, the two Misses Davies denied mustering with Edmonds,
but Pearl did indeed ride Edmonds horse home. Edmonds had stated “there were
two other young women whom witness [Gooch] could interview, but he would
not disclose their names.”
At this point, Roberts stressed that “The
identification of the defendant is a very material thing. There were three men
in the car. Why didn’t you take Stewart out to this dress rehearsal?” Gooch
denied it was “a dress rehearsal”, adding that he had not involved the other
two men because they had said they could not identify him. Gooch took offence at
the suggestion there was any “underhand work in the case”, to which Roberts
replied, “I don’t say there was, but I am going to criticise your methods. At
Rollingstone on December 11, wasn’t Stewart asked to identify him?” Gooch was
unaware if this had happened and it was not in his presence. Roberts then
proceeded to challenge the necessity for identification to be made by a police
constable. Roberts noted that “The night they arrived at Mt Spec it rained
about one and a half to two inches. No plaster casts were taken of the horses’ [Author’s
note: plural?] as he did not think it was advisable.” Gooch admitted that
Edmonds was the first “suspect” he spoke to, and that Constable O’Brien had
given him a description of the man involved, “but definitely told witness [Gooch]
it was Charlie Edmonds.” Gooch was unaware that when O’Brien was first
making enquiries, he had “described the man as being of short build and wearing
a long khaki coat.”
Roberts continued his cross-examination of
Gooch. Edmonds “offered no resistance in searching his hut” on the Thursday
morning. The hut was half unroofed, a consequence of the storm the night
before, leaving everything wet inside. The hat found at the crime scene was not
tried on Edmonds. Edmonds did not give Gooch the revolver. Presumably Gooch was
also talking of Edmonds when the report continues “He did not suggest the gun
in his possession was the one that fired the shot and would not be tendered as
an exhibit”? Gooch did state that no cartridges of a shot gun were picked up [Author’s
note: Where and when? And by whom? Cartridges as compared to wads?]
Regarding the clothes in Exhibit One,
O’Brien had asked Edmonds how long it was since Edmonds had worn them, as they
were wet, but Gooch did not hear Edmonds’ reply. The trousers were hanging on a
line. Regarding the handkerchief, Gooch stated that Edmonds said it had been
used to wipe the windscreen of his car.
When they arrived on scene on December 10th,
Gooch “did not see any foot tracks up to where the horse was tied.” Gooch had
indicated to Edmonds the direction in which the man had fled – from the
barricade to the gully. Gooch claimed that Edmonds “did not tell him there were
no indications of a horse being tied to a tree in the gully.” Edmonds had asked
the tracker if two horses had gone up the gully, to which the tracker replied
in the negative. Gooch “did not have an argument with defendant regarding the
horse tracks.” Furthermore, “he [defendant, Edmonds] did not tell
witness [Gooch] there were two sets of tracks down the gully, and that
neither corresponded”. The court then adjourned for lunch.
It should be noted here that I have not accessed court documents but have reconstructed the arguments as best I can from the lengthy and detailed newspaper reports of the day. Accessing the court records is another project altogether.
This
instalment focuses on the first day of the court case against Charles Henry
Edmonds, “charged with having attempted to steal £391 19s. 5d, and with having
at the time being armed with a dangerous weapon – a shot gun”. (Daily
Standard, Brisbane, Wednesday 30th December 1931, p. 15) Plain Clothes
Detective, William John Gooch, was first to give evidence on Day One of the
hearing (Monday 28th December), followed by Patrick James Rynne, a
police Constable stationed at Ingham. We will come back to their evidence
later. First, let us hear some of the testimony of Constable Leonard Edward
O’Brien, who gave evidence on Day 2 (Tuesday 29th December).
O’Brien
was based at West End Police Station. He had been the armed escort to Mt Spec
once before and had known Edmonds for seven years. On 9th December,
O’Brien had met the Main Roads Paymaster, Michael Killoran, at the Commonwealth
Bank of Australia in Townsville, presumably in Flinders Street. At 8:30am, they
left for Mt Spec via rail motor. O’Brien was armed with a Police service
revolver and rifle, both loaded. Killoran was also loaded with a revolver. When
they arrived at Moongabulla Railway Station (Ollera Creek) at 10:30am, they
were met by a Main Roads driver, Harry Stewart in a utility truck. The bag
containing the money was placed in the bottom of the truck. The three men sat
in the seat of the ute, Stewart as driver, Killoran in the middle and O’Brien
on the passenger side. They called first at the pipeworks on Ollera Creek,
where Killoran paid two employees.
Continuing
along Mt. Spec Road, they passed through Tealby’s yard, then on for a further
mile and a half where a log lay across the road at a bend. The log was later
measured at thirteen feet. The tree looked as if it fallen over in recent wet
weather. Stewart drove up close to the log and O’Brien jumped out to inspect
it. They had not seen anyone up until then. O’Brien had holstered his revolver,
but the rifle was still in the truck. He didn’t have time to move the log,
being distracted by “a voice in the distance”, which called out “Put them up!”
O’Brien then noticed a man hiding “in some bushes about 15 yards off the road,
and slightly to the rear.” Much of the prosecuation’s case relied on O’Brien’s
description and identification of the perpetrator. This man was wearing “an old
brown coloured hat” and his face was covered “with a piece of material similar
to a handkerchief”. He was also wearing “a dirty jacket, similar to a shirt
coat or pyjama coat, which was hanging outside his trousers. There appeared to
be a bulk in the breast of his coat”.
Immediately after calling out for the armed
party to surrender, the bandit fired a shot. Stewart got out on the driver’s
side, while Killoran fell out of the other side, slightly wounded to the head.
O’Brien could not see what kind of gun it was. O’Brien “took cover from behind
the right hand mud guard and fired at the man with his revolver, at which the
man returned fire, the shot hitting the car.” O’Brien then fired two more shots
in quick succession, after which the bandit left the cover of the bushes and
headed for the hills. Grabbing his rifle from the ute, O’Brien fired three more
shots at the man, none of which appeared to have any effect, and followed him
for about 20 yards before Stewart called him back. The bandit was running away
from the Mt Spec Road, through thick undergrowth, and was making for a gully
that ran between the crime scene and the mountain. A total of eight shots had
been fired, two by the bandit and six by Constable O’Brien. Returning to the
truck, he found Killoran wounded, “a fresh wound on his head which was bleeding
and also found a hole in his hat which corresponded with the wound in his head.
The wound appeared to have been made by a pellet.” O’Brien did not examine the
utility truck for any damage. After he removed the log from the track, they
proceeded to the Main Roads camp at the bottom of the range. Camp No. 1 had
telephone communications, so contact was quickly made with Main Roads and
Police Inspector Loch in Townsville. Having handed over the payroll, O’Brien organised
a search party and travelled back to the scene of the crime in another Main
Roads vehicle, “arriving there shortly after mid-day and remaining there till
dark.” Following the course taken by the bandit, he found an old brown hat
which he later gave to Detective Gooch. O’Brien also found some wads from shot
gun cartridges. He was able to track where the bandit had run through the
undergrowth and stated that he had had “a clear view of the defendant when he
was running away for a couple of yards” and again when he left his barricade,
“in full view for at least 22 yards.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday
30th December 1931, p. 11)
“Bog Hollow”, the scene of the hold-up
Later in the afternoon, Police reinforcements arrived. Detective Senior-Sergeant O’Driscoll, Detective Gooch and Plain Clothes Constable Raetz arrived from Townsville; Constable Rynne and Acting-Sergeant McDonald arrived from Ingham. Two Aboriginal trackers came too. Before continuing with O’Brien’s testimony, we will look next at the evidence given by Gooch and Rynne. (See Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 29th December 1931, p. 5)
The Department of Transport and Main Roads has notified us that it will be conducting surveying works on Mount Spec Road, approximately mid-February through to early March. These works include full lane closures, likely from 9am to 3pm.
For further information contact:
Megan
Customer and Stakeholder Management (Northern) | North Queensland Region Program Delivery And Operations | Infrastructure Management & Delivery Division | Department of Transport and Main Roads Floor 6 | Townsville Government Office Building | 445 Flinders Street | Townsville Qld 4810 PO Box 1089 | Townsville Qld 4810 P: 1800 625 648 | F: (07) 4421 8711 E: engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au W: www.tmr.qld.gov.au
A long-time resident of both Paluma and Hidden Valley, Manuel Larrinaga, died on 10th May 2018, aged 69 years, after 3 months of acute cancer illness.
Manuel was born a Basque, within the spanish Francoist fascist State in 1949, into a family of long-established farmers just outside Guernica in the Basque Country, the site of the 26 April 1937 infamous Hitler/ Franco atrocity during the Spanish Civil War. (The subject of Picasso’s famous painting entitled “ Guernika” of the same year – see Wikipedia).
Manuel was one of 11 children, some of whom still live on the family farm, including Luciano, his elder brother with whom he fled to Australia, as a refugee, aged 16, to escape forced conscription into Franco’s army, which was yet another attempt by the The Fascist Dictator to suppress the Basque Culture which has a feisty independent democratic tradition going back several centuries!
Franco’s death in 1975 was marked in Guernica with great joy. Manuel, who covertly returned to Guernica for the expected occasion, would often recount how free refreshments flowed like water for days in Guernica in celebration of the Fascist Dictator’s demise, such was the not – forgotten Basque revulsion over his crimes. (google “ Guernika”)
Manuel himself passionately hated Franco, accusing him of thwarting his plans to become a Vet! Instead Manuel followed a life of very hard labour in the cane fields of NQ and construction work in Mt Isa and elsewhere in NQ from age 16 until he died 53 years later.
Manuel was a member of a cane- cutting gang established by Luciano in Ingham. He had to harden up from a wanna- be Vet student and despite weeping every night for two years from the painful consequences of manual cane cutting he became a very tough man excelling in Boxing and being a renowned hard manual worker , as well as a spell as a Pub bouncer keeping order among the thirsty cane cutters. Ingham Police dubbed him “The Bullfighter” while others called him “The Basque Terrorist”, titles Manuel proudly proclaimed!
The reality was that Manuel was a bit of a “softie” when it came to helping the less- fortunate. He also had strong views about injustice .
In 1976 he worked for Simon Carves Ltd in Mt. Isa in a multi-national gang constructing the famous smelter Smoke Stack during which time he was the macho man riding the crane loads as a rigger to the top of the stack as it rose to its 270 Metre height. His stories of pranks and escapades without safety harnesses on high were blood chilling and often led to acute anxiety attacks amongst the Health & Safety ground staff.
In 1978 he met Judy, his life partner of nearly 40 years and they ultimately moved to live firstly at Hidden Valley and subsequently to the Republic of Hussey Road where Manuel constructed a large “Yurt” for Judy (a large Decagon house of stringy bark slabs cut by Manuel) which he subsequently re-erected at Hidden Valley, near the Furber Homestead, after adding two wings…it is an impressive example of Australian Bush architecture which will some day end up in a glossy coffee table book on vernacular buildings of OZ.
Indeed, Many of his structures can be seen around our District. Manuel was an artiste with a chain saw and he could perform miracles with his “Skyhook” chain block and his trusty shovel severely worn down by the digging of numerous postholes over many years! Manuel produced a number of stringy bark slab tables which are memorials to his skill and labours in the forests around Paluma- Blackfriars – Mt Zero as a timber cutter and Mill worker with Mr. R. Brookes esq. (who can forget their red hair dye period?)
Manuel’s legacy is around us for all to see…including the Andree Griffin Walking Track sign and the “Trees in Memory ” slab both voluntarily erected by him.
No story about Manuel’s life is complete without mentioning his valiant attempts to conquer the English language! He could construct alleged English sentences and adapt words so that they were but a shadow of their intended meaning but still understandable with a little prodding, poking and requests for repetition from those of us who could not understand a single word of the truly ancient Basque Language. (Please note : not Spanish!)
Indeed, it has been suggested that Manuel communicated in Basque with an Australian accent! a very endearing aspect of his personality and perfectly understandable when one considers that his English language academy was the cane paddocks of Ingham where the tutors spoke only Basque, Spanish, Italian , Sicilian , Serbian , Croat and Irish!
His persona of a tough hard- working battler remain in the memories of those who knew him, especially the super-critical working people of The Valley who were in awe of his prodigious work ethic and physical toughness.
May his memory be long respected in this District as one of those many oppressed refugees who have made a huge contribution to our present day Australian Culture .
It is with sorrow that we report the passing of former Paluma resident, Jean Garrett on Christmas Day, 2019 after a long illness.
Jean had a long association with Paluma, visiting the village regularly from the time she was a teenager, coming on a motor cycle with her then boyfriend, Graham. They married in Perth, when Jean was 16, returning to Townsville soon after, and had a long and happy marriage.
Jean supported her husband’s enthusiasm for Speedway Side-car racing and over many years they travelled to many destinations to speedway meetings around the country with their children. They were a popular couple around the speedway, with many long-term friends.
Jean was a very capable woman with numerous other interests, especially within the Arts. She and Graham owned The Palms Art Gallery in Townsville, from which they also ran a framing business. Jean had a fine collection of porcelain, sculpture and prints. Jean was also a keen gardener. An absorbing interest was jewellery-making, at which she was very talented, creating unique and lovely pieces in her studio at their home. Jean’sjewellery was in demand at craft shops and markets.
Graham and Jean bought Mist Haven units from Cec and Lois Carpenter, and later the brick house in Lennox Crescent where Jean and Graham lived until Graham’s death in 2008. Jean was devastated by his death but remained here for several years. However, with declining health and missing Graham deeply, she sold the house and moved to Patterson in NSW to be nearer to her children and grand-children. Here, she quickly made friends and helped regularly in an art and craft shop until failing health forced her to retire.
Jean is remembered very fondly by her friends in Paluma and our sympathy is extended to her family in their sad loss.
A celebration of the lives of Graham and Jean and spreading of their mingled ashes, will be held by the family on 6th June in Paluma, where Graham and Jean had been so happy.
This post focuses on animals that either travel together by choice, or are obvious at the same time of year.
Both our
Eastern/ Golden Water Skinks and Red-bellied Black Snakes breed in the northern
“Spring” – or as soon as the weather warms up. In 2019, warm weather was early,
so both species have now given birth to their young. When I say “given birth”,
both the EW/G skink and the RBBS are live-bearers. They do not lay eggs as most
other reptiles do. Their young are born in membranous sacs, like that inside
the hard outer shell of a boiled hen’s egg, and not as tough as the usual
leathery reptile egg covering. Red-bellied black snakes have a pregnancy of
four to five months after mating and give birth to between 5 and 18 young
measuring around 28cm in total length. This is the same length as an adult
Eastern Water skink. These skinks also mate in Spring and give birth to about
nine young in Summer. Their young are much smaller than 28cm, and a favourite
food of the Red-bellied Black Snake.
So, if you
see pregnant Eastern/ Golden Water Skinks (obviously broad across the beam)
basking in the sun, or baby skinks, be mentally prepared to see some young
Red-bellied Black Snakes. Fortunately, they are a shy snake and will generally only
deliver a serious bite under severe molestation, still often delivering
a “dry bite”. Your best option is to leave them alone.
The
Australian Museum regards the Red-Bellied Black Snake as probably the least
dangerous elapid snake in Australia for its size. Despite the number of bites
received every year, very few human deaths have resulted. Most death records
date from early times when the snake’s identity was often unconfirmed. Many
bite victims experience only mild or negligible symptoms, however a number also
end up hospitalized. The health risks to children and pets are greater, due to
their smaller size. As individual reactions to envenomation can vary, all
suspected bites should be treated as serious and medical attention sought as
soon as possible.
Another set
of fellow travellers, by choice this time, are the White-rumped Swiftlets and
White-throated Needletails, small flocks of which have been seen hawking for
insects together above the forest canopy. Apparently, they sense changes in
barometric pressure and fly in front of approaching storm fronts. The Swiftlet
is resident in Australia, while the Needletail breeds in northern Asia and
flies south each year, reaching northern Australia early October. The
Needletail stay for the Wet, then flies “home” in March.
Another
pair of fellow-travelling species are the Figbirds and Olive-backed Oriole
(which looks similar to an immature Figbird). Our rusty fig is in full fruit,
so we have Figbirds visiting. Only a very small flock so far this year, but they
are accompanied by at least one Oriole – more often heard than seen.
One of the funniest, and short-lived pairings, was that of an immature Pied Currawong and a family flock of Crimson Rosellas. The Currawong only arrived in numbers locally in the mid-1980s and a few have remained as permanent residents. However, I have never seen a breeding pair with a chick until this year. They are obviously breeding here as well now. Initially grey and white in colour, the young Currawong is now looking more “adult”. Its parents obviously thought their job was done, because after a couple of weeks of feeding their whinging offspring, they abandoned it to its own devices. In desperation, the young Currawong attached itself to a group of Crimson Rosellas, unusual considering that Currawongs will take nestlings of all sorts of species as food. Bill watched a Crimson Rosella stare down the young Pied Currawong, then bounce over and give it a severe peck! We haven’t seen the Currawong hanging around with the Rosellas since.
Colwyn recently posted her observations on the first crops of mushrooms “popping up” around the village. Over the last few weeks even more have been springing up around the forest walking tracks and many of them are delightfully photogenic although they can be frustratingly difficult to identify. Here is a collection from the last month that Andi Cairns and I have seen out on the tracks. The identifications are made with a fair degree of confidence (and a large measure of hubris) but we would welcome any comments on our identification efforts.
Mycena haematopus – Bleeding Fairy Helmet
This gorgeous mushroom gets its somewhat macabre common name from the fact that it will ooze a red/purple juice if squeezed or cut (especially at the base of the stem). If the name puts you off you can always opt for its alternative common name: Burgundydrop Bonnet. It is widespread and common in Europe, North America and also recorded in SE Asia and Australia.
Photo by Jamie Oliver
Filoboletus manipularis – no common name
Depending on which reference you use this delightful
clumping mushroom, frequently found on
logs and trees, can be named Filoboletus, Favolaschia or Mycena. It differs
from other clumping fungi on trees in that it has a reticulate pattern of pores
under that cap instead of linear gills.
Photos by Jamie Oliver (left) & Will Cairns (center, right )
Wikipedia claims that it is bioluminescent but the specimen shown on the tree trunk did not show this trait (the mushrooms were rotting by the time I (JO) went back to check.
Dacryopinax spathularia – Fan-shaped Jelly Fungus
This is a beautiful and common fungus which can be found as small yellow/orange blades poking out of cracks in dead wood or as larger convoluted fans. It will even grow on polyester rugs, so you might just find it in your house if we ever get a proper wet season here in Paluma!
Photo by Jamie Oliver
Wikipedia states that this species is edible and is a component of the Asian vegetarian dish called Buddha’s Delight. But PLEASE DO NOT EAT this unless you independently confirm its identity
Crust Fungi, or Corticoid Fungi
These are not often mentioned in books or online and are a diverse group of fungi with superficially similar form (encrusting) but which can belong to any of 18 different taxonomic orders. On consultation with an expert colleague of one of us (AC), Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher, “ This is a skin, patch or Corticoid fungus, which are super-tricky [to identify] and we don’t have many experts in Australasia. Microscopic characters are likely needed [to confirm identification].” To the untrained eye this one could easily be taken for a lichen, so confirming that it is actually a type of mushroom is some progress.
Photo by Will Cairns
Galerina patagonica – no common name
A beautiful clumping mushroom that grows on rotting logs, it belongs to a group with highly toxic species that unfortunately bear a strong resemblance to some hallucinogenic Psilocybin mushrooms. So if you are looking for an alternate view of reality – beware.
Photos by Will Cairns
This species has not been formally recorded in north Queensland before, although there are some photos on Flickr that were taken in Cairns that are identified as C. patagonica.
Cyptotrama asprata (Golden Scruffy Collybia)
This distinctive and beautiful orange mushroom can be found along the H-track as well as other local tracks. It grows on dead wood and is found worldwide in the tropics.
Photo by Jamie Oliver
Leucocoprinus fragilissimus (Fragile Dapperling)
This dainty (and fragile) mushroom starts off with a rounded convex cup that becomes flat then slightly convex with age. It is quite common on local forest tracks. Even a gentle touch is likely to damage the cap. It is found on all continents.
Photo by Jamie Oliver
Laetiporus sp – Shelf fungi
I was impressed by the size and colouration of this shelf fungi on the Andreé Griffin Track. I am not certain of the species but it is a member of the Polyporace which includes a variety of shelf and bracket fungi.
Photo by Jamie Oliver
Another smaller species of Laetiporus (L. sulphureus) is yellow to brilliant orange and is likely to be seen around the tracks as the wet season progresses (I have seen it once this year but did not photograph it). Despite its distinctive colour, which would provide good material for a common name, L. sulphureus is called Chicken of the Woods, apparently because, like many unfamiliar foods, it “tastes like chicken”. However there are reports that it can cause tummy ache, so I suggest you stick to real poultry unless you really know your mushrooms.
Photo by Jamie Oliver (taken on the H-Track in 2014)
While we are showing photos of fungi that, while not seen by us this year, have been recorded in the past, this stunning Anemone stinkhorn (Aseroe rubra) was seen by Will and Andi in 2004 along the track to Witts Lookout.
Photos by Andi Cairns
Be on the lookout for these and other marvellous mushrooms as you stroll along our local tracks.
Text by Jamie Oliver and Andi Cairns; photos as per captions
Further Reading
Some references for those who would like to try their own identifications, or just learn more about Australian Mushrooms:
Fuhrer, B, (2004). A Field Guide to the Fungi of
Australia. (now out of print, but might be in
some libraries)
Young, T & Smith, K (2004). A Field Guide to
the Fungi of Australia. UNSW Press
Facebook
identification sites prefer a photo of the under-surface of the mushroom cap
and (if possible) a spore print (this may be too much information!). It is also
a good idea not to touch fungi with bare hands — it’s better to use a
disposable glove or tissue to turn over a mushroom cap, and always wash hands
after touching fungi.
By 2:31pm on the afternoon of 9th
December 1931, Main Roads Brisbane office was in receipt of the following
telegram, sent from Main Roads Townsville:
ATTEMPTED HOLDUP
MOUNT SPEC THIS MORNING BETWEEN MOONGOBULLA AND JOB FULLSTOP KILLORAN VERY
CLIGHTLY WOUNDED HEAD FULLSTOP PAY INTACT FULLSTOP POLICE HAS MATTER IN HAND
The Police responded in force, joining “a
number of civilians….mostly walking about with guns”. (Brisbane Courier,
Wednesday 30th December 1931, p. 9) Main Roads Commission
Overseer, Wilfred Hector McClelland, had called for volunteers. In fact,
Constable O’Briennoted in his March 1932 report to the Townsville
Police District (West End Station) that “about 30 men from Mt. Spec relief
works…joined in the search, which commenced at about 12:30pm and terminated at
dusk on the 9th Dec. and a further search was made the next day”. (Copy
of Police correspondence No. 162/32, dated 22nd March 1932, held in
Main Roads Archives, Brisbane) The large party of volunteers was joined by
ten Police employees. Sergeant McDonald, Constable Rynne and “A Tracker” came
down from Ingham. The police contingent from Townsville was led by Detective
Senior Sergeant O’Driscoll and consisted of Detective Gooch, Plain Clothes
Constable Raetz, Acting Sergeant Miners, Constable Howard, and “A Tracker”. Constable
O’Brien provided local knowledge of “the country in the vicinity of the
hold-up…[as it]…was thickly timbered and fairly soft.” (Brisbane Courier,
Wednesday 30th December 1931, p. 9)
Edmonds was remanded to appear before Mr.
Geo. A Cameron, Police Magistrate, on Friday morning 18th December.
Sub-Inspector Blackmore applied for a further remand. Mr. G. V. Roberts, of
Roberts, Leu and North, appeared for the accused, offering no objection to the
request for more time on behalf of the Police. Roberts did request “that the
time be made convenient for the defendant, who resided on the Ingham line”. (Townsville
Daily Bulletin, Saturday, 19th December 1931, p.6). The
magistrate extended bail to noon on Thursday 24th December.
Obviously, time got away in court on Christmas Eve, for Edmonds’ next
appearance was remanded again to Monday 28th December.
Detective Constable Gooch was first to give
evidence. Gooch had “proceeded to Mount Spec and viewed the site of the
hold-up…[where]…he saw an uprooted tree about 14 feet long and about six inches
thick, also a number of freshly cut bushes, about 14 yards from the road, built
up in the shape of a barricade.” The following morning, Gooch and other
police went to Edmonds’ residence at Ollera Gorge, where they found him in
company of Edward Gill, James Tier, and William Searle. When asked if he had
any guns, Edmonds laughed and replied, “Sure, I have got rifles and
ammunition here”, handing over rifles, a single-barrelled shotgun belonging
“to a lady friend in Townsville” and the Colt revolver. Gooch took
possession of a dirty white coat and a shirt, which Edmonds claimed belonged to
his father, and pair of blue dungaree trousers and another shirt which Edmonds
said he was wearing the previous day. Gooch saw other police searching a car
parked in the shed, from where they retrieved a dirty white handkerchief that Edmonds
admitted was his. The police party then proceeded to Tealby’s farm and saw the
mare which Edmonds said he’d been riding. From Tealby’s, they went back to the
scene of the hold-up, where Gooch told Edmonds that the trackers had followed
the tracks of a horse in a gully for about 130 yards, then on to the gate at
Tealby’s. (Telegraph, Brisbane, Monday 28th December 1931, p. 1.)
The Sydney Sun newspaper of the same
datedetailed some “sensational evidence” under the banner “MOVIE
METHODS Prisoner Dressed Up at Crime Scene”. Constable O’Brien recounted
how he’d exclaimed “That’s Charlie Edmonds” on the day of the hold-up.
Edmonds had told O’Brien on the day of the hold-up that O’Brien was mistaken.
Despite protests from the defendant’s counsel, Edmonds had agreed “without
hesitation” to a “dress rehearsal” and “donned a suit found in
his hut and walked from the spot where the shots had been fired”. Evidence
was also given that “hoof-marks near the scene were, after measurement,
provided identical with those of Edmond’s mare.”(Sun, Sydney, Monday 28th
December 1931, p. 9)
No other potential suspects were identified
or paraded in the manner detailed above. Neither the driver Harry Stewart nor
the paymaster Michael Killoran were asked to identify Edmonds as the “bandit”.
Identification rested on the word of Constable O’Brien alone. (Townsville
Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 29th December 1931, p. 5) The case was
adjourned to the following day.
