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What’s Flowering at Paluma – Pastel Flower or Love Flower

On a recent trip up the Paluma Range Road local resident Jodie spotted the beautiful flowering herb below, growing along the roadside in deep shade towards the top of the range in the general area of Mountain Creek.

This is the Pastel Flower, also commonly called the Love Flower (scientific name Pseuderanthemum variabile).

It is described as a ‘small soft herb’ which grows in shady damp places, often near creeks or along gullies. It is said to be common and widespread in warmer rainforests from southeast New South Wales to Cape York in Queensland. In North Queensland it can be found growing at higher altitudes up to 900m. The plant grows only 15 to 30 cm in height and produces small heads of delicate flowers. The flower colour is variable, but most often they are white with a sprinkling of darker (purplish) spots on the lobes. It flowers over the spring and summer months. The opposite leaves are lance-shaped and often have a dark red blush on the under side.

Well spotted Jodie and thanks for sharing the Love (Flower)!

(References: Australian Rainforest Plants III, Nan & Hugh Nicholson 1991 and Native Plants Queensland Volume 1, Keith A.W. Williams 1979).

TMR Range Road Survey Works

Paluma Rainfall Update

Barry Smith, our weekday BOM rainfall recorder has kindly provided an update on the rainfall at Paluma for 2022, or lack thereof!

For the month of February we recorded 130.4 mm of rain, bringing the yearly total since 1st January to 484.4 mm.

So, if you were thinking it’s been a pretty dry ‘wet season’, you are right. But, this is one time I won’t be complaining about the lack of rainfall in the north, not when our friends and families in the southeast are dealing with disastrous floods.

Bush Walk to Platypus Hole and Forgotten Falls

Wilfred Karnoll and the Townsville Bushwalking Club would like to invite any interested Paluma residents to join a Bush Walk to Platypus Hole and Forgotten Falls on Sunday 6th March 2022. The details of this event and information has been provided by Wilfred below:-

When: Sunday 6th March, commencing at 8 am.

Where: Meet at 8 am at 24 Mount Spec Road, Paluma (Wilfred’s place).

What to Bring: Day pack with water bottle, food and snacks, sun screen, swimmers, a pair of sandshoes or crocs to wade across the creek (if you don’t want to get your hiking shoes wet) and camera/phone to take some memorable photos.

Cost: $5.00 per person to cover insurance with ‘Bush Walking Queensland’ as a temporary member for the day.

Booking: Please book with Wilfred, the team leader for the walk on Mobile 0447 822 626.

The walk starts at Clapham Junction on the Paluma Dam Road. From there we follow an old logging road on a ridge line between Williams and Echo Creek before turning off to drop down into Williams Creek to visit Platypus Hole. If we’re quiet we might see one of these elusive critters that give the big pool its name. We cross the creek and then proceed to the base of Forgotten Falls, which should be flowing nicely after the recent rains. Time for a swim and something to eat. We then climb to the top of the Falls, the brave ones can try a spot of rock scrambling, or you can follow the bush track beside the Falls. From there it’s an easy walk up to Chick’s Road and some waiting cars to return to the village. Whilst the walk is over some rough terrain, it is not too strenuous and not a full day walk, so anybody of a reasonable fitness level will be able to do it. It’s a great opportunity for Paluma residents to explore one of the little treasures in the area. We should be back in Paluma by mid afternoon, depending on walking speed.

Works Planned for Paluma Dam Road

On Monday (21 February) I heard a media release that the next stage of road upgrading works are soon to commence on the Paluma Dam Road. The following information has been sourced from the Townsville City Council website for the information of Paluma residents and users of both the Paluma Range Road and the Paluma Dam Road. For more information please contact Townsville City Council or Mendi Group direct.

Date published: TCC Website 18 February 2022

Townsville City Council has contracted local business Mendi Group to undertake the second stage of repairs to sections of Paluma Dam Access Road which were damaged during the 2021 wet season.

Council has received over $540,000 in funding under the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) to undertake the works.

Council Infrastructure Services Committee chairperson Kurt Rehbein said the first stage of the works were completed in late-2021 as part of Council’s annual maintenance of the road.

“Stage two will involve more detailed works to repair significant damage to a number of sections of drainage along the 11 km dirt stretch,” Cr Rehbein said.

“The works will include the addition of a new layer of gravel along the length of the road, or resheeting as it is commonly known.”

“Mendi Group will conduct the remediation works, which will support approximately 20 local jobs.

“The road will remain open for the duration of the works, however there may be some minor traffic delays and we thank the community for their cooperation and their patience as this work is completed.”

Works start next week and are expected to take three weeks, weather permitting.

Chinese New Year & the Year of the Tiger

The Chinese New Year was celebrated last Saturday evening at the Paluma Community Hall (19 February). The Hall was decorated with beautiful hanging Chinese lanterns as friends and neighbours gathered to mark the occasion with an amazing smorgasbord of Chinese dishes. Paluma’s cooks once again rose to the occasion with dishes to rival any restaurant in town. There was Vietnamese (Chinese) pork, Mongolian lamb, spring rolls, noodle salad, dumplings and of course, fried rice.

Many attendees embraced the theme of the night. The most impressive costume was Kathryn’s beautiful royal blue outfit, made by her own hand from Chinese silk. She was definitely the best-dressed on the night looking regal and resplendent. Some attendees acknowledged the ‘Year of the Tiger’ by wearing whiskers, furry ears and even tails.

The ‘Year of the Tiger’ painting kindly donated by Jennie Robinson was won by ‘Lucky Lynn Hyland’. We sold $128.00 worth of raffle tickets, so a big thank you to Jennie for her fund-raising donation and to Paluma residents for supporting the raffle.

A great deal of fun and laughter was had on the night. Thank you to Beth and Jim for kindly donating some fantastic decorations for the Hall. Barman Les excelled in his role as always and worked up a sweat over the course of the evening. Bruno locked himself out of the house before the evening was over, and was assisted in gaining entry by several surprisingly proficient ‘cat burglars’, one such burglar complete with furry ears and tail.

It’s never a dull moment at Paluma and Saturday night was no exception……!

Have you seen the Metallic Starling…?

Calling all Paluma bird-watchers……last weekend I twice sighted small flocks of Metallic Starlings (Aplonis metallica) amongst the rainforest trees in the village (mostly at the western end of Lennox Crescent).

There was no mistaking these birds as Metallic Starlings. They have a stunning black glossy plumage with a greenish and purple sheen and brilliant red eyes. They are a medium sized bird with a longish tail. No chance of a photo as they move like lightening in what is described as ‘small and fast moving flocks’.

This is the first time I have sighted these Starlings in the village, although as a relatively new resident (6 years at end of July) I wonder if other bird observers have spotted these birds on a more regular basis?

My research indicates that the Starlings arrive from New Guinea to breed in Northeastern Queensland in August and then depart again in March, which means they may be busy feeding on rainforest fruits before flying north for the cooler months?

Metallic Starling. Image reproduced from ebird.org

Post by Michele Bird

Chinese New Year Social this Saturday 19 February

It’s a new year and time to kick off the Paluma Village social calendar for 2022!

This Saturday evening 19 February, the first Social of the year will be held at the Paluma Community Hall. It’s the Chinese New Year celebration and the ‘Year of the Tiger’.

Everyone is welcome to join in the celebration commencing at 6.30 pm at the Hall. As always, please bring a dish to share – hot or cold, sweet or savoury. The theme of the night is all things Chinese, so perhaps test your culinary skills with a Chinese inspired dish? Last years banquet of Chinese dishes was remarkable, so let’s see if we can go one better this year? Ever reliable Barman Les will be on hand to serve low-cost beverages on the night.

Local artist Jennie Robinson was so inspired by the ‘Year of the Tiger’ she has created an amazing tiger portrait. Jennie has kindly donated her masterpiece to the Paluma community (PDCA) and so we will be holding a raffle for the painting on the night. Tickets are $1.00 each or 5 for $5.00 – absolute bargain. Please see Michele or Les next weekend for tickets – anytime on Saturday or on the night. The winner will be drawn at the Social.

Please come along to what will surely be another fun night at Paluma Village.

The ‘Year of the Tiger’ painting to be raffled at the Chinese New Year Social.

Special thanks to Jennie for donating her work to the Paluma community for fund raising.

Not Quite 100……?

Our weekday weatherman and rainfall recorder, Barry from PEEC, reports that Paluma received 98.8 mm in the BOM rain gauge over the past 24 hours to Wednesday morning (26 January). However, Barry notes that his Nylex rain gauge at PEEC recorded 106 mm in the past 24 hours.

Don from the outer Republic of Hussey Road reported 75 mm and he said that Hidden Valley reported 30 mm.

With the monsoon about, it looks as though there might be more rain to come. Here’s hoping the wet season has finally arrived.

Any other notable recordings in and around the village?

Don’s Birthday

Last Saturday (22/01/22) was Don Battersby’s birthday. Don is a long-time resident of Paluma, residing in what the locals call the ‘Republic of Hussey Road’. Don is well known for his generosity with both his time and knowledge. There is not much Don doesn’t know about the local bird life and walking tracks and he’s always willing to share this information with locals and visitors. He’s pretty good on the BBQ too and many a fund raising sausage-sizzle has been cooked by the ‘King of the BBQ’ himself. Don is always a keen volunteer for anything that needs doing in the village and he’s a regular ‘Go To’ bloke if you need a part or some ‘fix-it’ advice. If Don doesn’t have it in his shed, then you probably don’t need it! Don is passionate about his garden and his amazing anthurium collection. He most always has the kettle on the boil and he’s always good for a yarn if you need to catch up on the village news!

Many of Don’s friends joined him for morning tea at the Rainforest Inn on Saturday. We celebrated the occasion with a cuppa and some cake. Don’s cake was a ‘Black Forest Quad Cake’ – so named because it was decorated with a miniature replica of Don’s other favourite thing – his red quad bike.

Many Happy Returns Don. Thank you for all you do for us and we wish you health and happiness for the year ahead.