Author: Admin4

And the winner is…

There were a lot of winners at our recent “Game On!” night at the community hall enjoyed by a rowdy crowd of enthusiastic participants, not least, our SES and RFS groups.

Sam presenting cheque to Lyn Hyland
Sam presenting cheque to Charlie Allen
Sam and Charlie

Sam Steadman of Outer Limits Adventure Fitness at the start of the evening, presented $2, 323 cheques to EACH of our local SES and RFS (Paluma and Waterfall Creek) branches in recognition of their support of the recent Mike Carney Paluma Push event. In his speech, Sam said he was happy to give back to our community that provides such a fabulous location and support for this annual event. Having this kind of event that promotes our location nationwide as one to enjoy healthy outdoor activities in a beautiful environment and which helps to grow our essential services at the same time, is definitely a winner!

The games were officially opened by Peter Klump (who seemed to be channeling Bjorn Borg) as names were drawn out of the “boy and girl buckets” to find out who our games partner was going to be. He gave us a rundown on rules and a rousing pep talk and then we were off to our first 15 minute round of foozball, table tennis, indoor bowls, darts, knock-em-downs or hole-in-one golf. It was a lot of fun, a lot of laughs and a great event that encouraged locals to mix it up and get to know each other a little better.

Scoring was monitored to ensure all was fair by Les as recorded by Peter. After some heated and very close competition and triple checking of scores, the champion pair of the night was announced. Mark Crisp and Julia Anderson very happily received their gold trophy and chocolates as their just reward as champions of Game On! for 2023. Great sporting spirit was shown throughout the games including the young accomplished golfer, Kian, who coached his opponents on form to help achieve their hole in one.

Not to be forgotten, our wonderful volunteers including Lyn Hyland who capably organised the sausage sizzle enjoyed prior to the games whilst Lynda Radbone once again had the bar in hand with the delicious addition of spiced mulled wine. The many helping hands on the night cleaning up was appreciated in addition to Wilfred, Colin and Jill Mead as well as Peter and John Klump who were seen by this author in the clean up the day after.

We are lucky to have Peter and Dorothy Klump who have successfully organised this community event for the past three years and we are all very much looking forward to the 2024 games!

Looks like these blokes are getting in some practice already for next year!!

Text and Photos by Juanita Poletto

Push in the Bush Done and Dusted

Photo by Jamie Oliver

The dust ( or rather mud) has well and truly settled for those who recently participated in the Mike Carney Toyota Paluma Push on the weekend of July 15th and 16th. Muscles have recovered and the joy of crossing the finish line is a fond memory along with many formed around the warmth of the bonfire at the Hidden Valley Cricket Oval.

Photo by Len Cook

Paluma village was inundated with rubber, spokes and lycra but mostly smiles and laughter as people prepared for the start of their race. The beauty of the rainforest trails and bush land makes for a truly unique cross country mountain bike race which even had some of our local residents registered as participants including Rob, Sandi and Jamie. All of whom finished their designated distances hale and hearty!

The RFS and SES volunteers plus a few ‘local’ volunteers assisted with registration and monitoring various checkpoints along the routes and were able to enjoy viewing and encouraging the participants going hell for leather along the trails.

Seeing the youngsters set on doing their best in their very own race is possibly my fondest memory of Paluma Push 2023.

Paluma Push is such a great event for our village and a credit to Outer Limits Adventure for again bringing life to our sleepy little misty village on the mountain.

Text and photos (except where indicated) by Juanita Poletto

Vale Ross Eberle

Ross Wells Eberle passed away after a long illness on Friday, June 9th with his family by his side. He was a loving husband, Father, Father-in-Law and Pop as well as a great mate to those who knew him here on the mountain.

Ross and Denise purchased their property on Hussey Road about 20 years ago. They both became well known in the community and Ross was an active member of the Paluma Rural Fire Brigade. Ross worked at the Townsville General Hospital as an orderly and was very active in motor sports. He drove rally cars and enjoyed the thrill of trail bike riding.

A keen fisherman, he loved travelling and camping. He has left his loving wife, Denise, with many fond memories of their adventures together.

Ross’s life was celebrated at Woongarra Crematorium Chapel on June 19th. Our thoughts and hearts go out to Denise, Ross’s family and friends.

Len Cook and J. Poletto