Author: Admin4

Paluma Push

The ‘Back Up’ crew arriving at Check point 1, Paluma Dam

The annual Paluma Push in the bush is over for 2024 and was a really successful event for all involved. Sam and Aline’s crew and the local volunteers ensured as smooth a run as possible for all participants. Members from our community who manned checkpoints along the various routes enjoyed one of Paluma’s perfect blue sky winter days. Some of volunteers saw quite a bit of action whilst others simply pointed the way. All were acknowledged and appreciated by many of the entrants as they passed by.

These ‘tykes on bikes’ were keen to get pedalling.
Great to see the older ones as support at the back of the mob.
These 70km entrants were all smiles as they came through Check point 1.

It seems it was a more health conscious group this year as Wilfred says the PDCA Bar at Hidden Valley didn’t sell as much as usual. Regardless, the approximate profit for the fabulous efforts of the PDCA volunteers was around $2000. The PDCA is VERY grateful to those who made the time to enjoy the atmosphere which is always fantastic down at the finish line and who put time into service through helping out at the bar. The ‘heavy lifters’ involved in the set up and pack up of the bar are especially deserving of our gratitude.

The Legend who rode this bike in the 42KM was too fast for this photographer to catch in action!

We have some barstock left over for those needing to drown their blues (pardon the pun) after the ‘big game’ between Qld and NSW. We are willing to sell at cost price to our community members. Anyone interested in buying any of these are to contact Wilfred on 0447 822 626. The following sixpacks are available as of the publication of this post:

  • 5 x Jim Beam & cola $23 each
  • 2 x Jack Daniels & cola $29 each
  • 8 x Bundaberg rum & coke $23 each
  • 16 x Coopers pale ale $15
Very proud of this ‘Wise Wizard’ finishing his first 53km in The Paluma Push.

Text: J. Poletto and W. Karnoll

Images: J Poletto

Winter Frolics in the Village

Wattle ‘n’ Gum hitting their stride in this country hall

The PDCA wishes to thank everybody for their efforts last weekend, helping out at the annual bush dance and the Markets.

Music and dance bringing joyous folk together

There were those generous with their time who were manning stalls, making cole slaw and slicing onions, cooking and serving sausages, cooking and baking for our cake and preserves stall, running the bar and stalls, setting up and cleaning, purchasing products and helping out in other ways to make it a great success.

Paluma’s very own “Jam Corner” 😉


Our treasurer Wilfred Karnoll has banked $1600 (with a few expenses to come out of that) but it still leaves a healthy profit for the PDCA and the community. GIVE YOURSELVES A BIG PAT ON THE BACK!!!

Text by: W. Karnoll (minor edits, J. Poletto)
Images: Jill Meads

Winter on the Mountain

This article (with minor edits) was published as “Paluma in the Clouds” in the Rollingstone Rag June edition.

The iridescent midnight blue of a mature male satin bowerbird.
Photo by J.Oliver

The Satin bowerbirds, a common resident in the village at this time of year, have been numerous and active.  The bower in our front garden has been freshened up by a male satin bower bird and is once again decorated in fresh blue pieces to attract the many local females.  There is much competition and amorous calling ensuring the bower birds of both sexes work up a large appetite.  The glorious shiny black males and stripy legged females come into our bird feeder keen and hungry.  I’ve counted ten on some mornings, jostling for space to snatch a tidbit.

A newly renovated bower with all the expected blue accoutrements. Photo by J. Poletto.

There have been two new welcome upgrades to our community.  Firstly, we’re grateful to the Townsville City Council for providing a doggie poo bag dispenser next to their bins near the community hall.  Locals and visitors alike will be most appreciative of the facility.  Also, there has been a recent upgrade to our telecommunications by Telstra and we now have 5G on the mountain. 

The doggy poo dispenser is conveniently located next to the council refuse bins near the hall.

Talking about wagging tails… WaG…aka The Wattle and Gum Bush Band will be providing a fun afternoon of bush dancing and music in the Paluma community hall on Saturday June 22nd from 12pm – 4pm.  The PDCA bar and BBQ will be open from 12pm with the bush dance starting at 1pm. A gold coin donation for entry to the dance is requested.  It will be great fun for friends and family and a brilliant way to warm up on a chilly day. Many locals have enjoyed this event and highly recommend it.

Wattle n Gum in full throttle last year at the hall. Photo by A. Brown.


Our upcoming June Market on Sunday 23rd of June is one of our most popular of the year.  As usual, the sausage sizzle will be running and stalls with baked goods and preserves (all homemade), crafts, art, fresh produce and many other items will be open to punters from 9am to 1pm.    There is also the possibility we may be treated to some folk music from members of the infamous Wattle and Gum bush band. Fingers crossed they won’t be worn out from the dance the day before. It promises to be a market with fabulous atmosphere and goodies, but you may need to don your beanie as it could be a little chilly.  Also, any locals available to help on the day, please contact Wilfred Karnoll. Your support for our community events is much appreciated and essential to its success.

Don in the ‘driver’s seat’ of the PDCA BBQ during a previous market. Photo by J. Poletto

From June, the Paluma History Display will be changing its opening times to the public from a Wednesday to every Saturday from 10am to 12pm at the Paluma Community Centre when there are no other events requiring the hall. Entry is free and tea/coffee will be available. 

Text by J. Poletto

Paluma Winter Sunday Market – a call-out to our village bakers

The Paluma Community Winter Sunday Market is fast approaching on Sunday June 23rd.  This is a call-out for Paluma’s Kitchen Rockstars to make, shake and bake home made goodies to sell for our community’s (PDCA) fund raising.

If you are interested in doing some baking and donating your goods for sale at the Winter Sunday Market then please read on…..

Here’s what to do:-

  1. Please divide your baked goods into small batches for sale. We suggest batches of 2, 4 or 6 individual pieces as this has worked well at previous markets.
  2. Please add a sticker or other suitable label outlining the contents of your baked goods. You will need to add this label to EVERY individual batch of goods. This is required for health & safety reasons.
  3. Please plate the goods (in batches) and secure with glad wrap or suitable packaging. (We have previously used paper plates and glad wrap and this works well).
  4. Please add a price sticker to your goods, with what you think is a fair and reasonable price for your baked delights. We can provide price stickers if needed.
  5. Please deliver your goods to the Community Hall on Sunday morning 23rd June at 8.30 AM (for a 9 am market start).
  6. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done!😊

If you have any questions or need any further information, please contact Wilfred Karnoll by email: Wilfred.suzanne@bigpond.com or phone 0447822626

Previous cake stalls have been a roaring success. All contributions are very much appreciated.

TGIF! It’s Social drinks time!

Our monthly Social Drinks evening is THIS coming Friday, June 7th at the Community Hall. The Bar opens at 6pm. If you’re lucky, there may be a demonstration on how to use our latest facility provided by the council. What’s that you ask? Well come along and find out. 😜

Bring some nibbles to share if you’d like.

Paluma History Project Update

From the beginning of June the history display day will change to a Saturday from 10am – 12pm. This is to take advantage of the increased visitor numbers in the village of a weekend.


Also, this gives the opportunity for those community members who are not usually in the village during the week to be able to participate in the History project. This is a way you (and a mate) can contribute to our mountain top community in a way that isn’t physically demanding.


If you’re interested, please come along to the hall on a Wednesday from 11am – 1pm for the rest of May and whoever is manning the display will be able to show you what is involved. We will have a roster there you can register your name or please contact any PDCA exec committee member to register your interest. Any time you have available would be most appreciated.

Part of Paluma’s history… who remembers this day?

Paluma History Display

First open day for 2024

April 10 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

If you’re a resident up for the day or one of our (lucky) lovely permanent residents in Paluma village, come and take a look at what happens during our History Project display day. Every Wednesday from March till November we open up the Community Hall and set out a variety of displays and resources that document the rich history of the region.

There are fact sheets and a dvd about the history of Paluma for viewing. You may learn something about where you live and even have some fabulous ideas on how to improve our display. We love feedback but we also would love some help.

We are needing interested volunteers to help with keeping the display open. Come along during April and May to see how it all works as there will be a range of people there who are experienced in manning our display. They will happily show you the ropes if you think you’d like to give it a go. Check with the person ‘on duty’ to see which dates during the year you may be free to support.

At the very least, come along and have a cup of coffee or tea  and a chat with our local history enthusiasts.