A Short History of the Paluma Community Hall

Article prepared & presented by Lynn Hyland for the Paluma Community  Centre 20th  Anniversary Morning Tea, Sunday 24th October 2021.

This is a short history of how the Paluma Community Centre came into being back in 2001.

Our earliest community association records date back to 1965 and it was in January of 1965 that electricity was connected to the then ‘Town Hall’ as it was fondly referred to. The exact date in 1946 of its construction is unknown, but it was a well patronised facility by the 1960’s. This hub of community life was constructed of bush timbers and corrugated iron. It had previously been the Recreational Building for the Medical Unit during the final years of World War 2. It had no windows or doors. On a misty day the cloud rolled into the open space via the rear ¾ wall. Seating was built in along the walls and the entrance was an open walkway. A hall user could access power by collecting the fuse from Ivy Cottage after signing for it. Social activities of the day took the form of dances, children’s fancy dress balls and bingo. The bar servery bench was also well used I believe.

Unfortunately Cyclone Althea was not kind to the Progress Hall and thanks to the efforts of the Rotary Club of Townsville West it was repaired in 1972. The operation of the reserve, that we now know as the Village Green was in the hands of of four local trustees who had control over activities on behalf of the Lands Department. They vetoed the community suggestion of installing a playground and establishing a small campground. It was mainly used as a golf course and that’s how they wanted it kept. Suddenly in the mid 90’s, the Paluma Progress Association (PPA) found that the trustees had relinquished their positions and it had reverted to the control of the Thuringowa Shire Council as their asset. Previously replacement trustees had been nominated by the PPA and readily accepted by the Lands Department. No such option had been offered.

To the dismay of the locals, we were informed that the Town Hall was to be demolished as it had been condemned. What a blow for this small community. In April 1983, the Paluma Rural Fire Brigade had been formed and  stored  its equipment on a share basis with the PPA in a small metal shed on the cement slab behind the present gazebo. Then in October 1989 a local Mt. Spec SES group was formed. For many years the SES operated out of the garage of the 1st Officer’s home, before moving for a short while to the closed Police Station office, until it was sold to James Cook University. A permanent base for SES was required.

The PDPA had been furiously fund raising through the annual Rainforest Festivals run by the community. They desperately wanted to have a new ‘Town Hall’. It looked for a while that the Village Green would be peppered with three new buildings. Some creative thinking came up with the concept of a shared facility, to be contained in one larger building fronting the main road and thus preserving the ambience of the Village Green. And so the project began under the guidance of a Building Management Committee.

Funding for the project was provided by the PDPA, Thuringowa City Council (SES), the Gleeson Family Trust, the Gaming Benefit Fund and the Casino Trust. The many volunteers who are named on our Honour Board, laboured over a number of years with many a Saturday working bee to allow the weekenders to contribute their time and effort too. The project was carried out under the umbrella of Tubman Homes with John, Mick Lewis acting as site supervisors as required. Work was often followed by a BBQ on the Green. The steering committee was charged with forming a Management Committee consisting of the three legal lessees – PDPA, Mt. Spec SES and Paluma Rural Fire Brigade and also forming a constitution.

The official opening  was to be on Sunday 21 October 2001, but the hall and services side were utilised prior to this date for minor socials, training and emergency events. The rush was on to complete the painting and fitting out in readiness for our Gala Social – the Centenary Ball to be held the night preceding the official opening ceremony the next day. WOW – what a celebration and did we scrub up well for the occasion. The start of a new century and the restoration of a community hub for the residents of Paluma was well and truly rejoiced. Many of you present today will have attended the many community dinners, overseas slide shows, bush dances, games nights, art exhibitions, markets, Anzac ceremonies and birthday celebrations of locals here in the hall. Both service groups have utilised the centre for training, running courses and district exercises. The centre’s true value has been appreciated at the time of major events such as land searches and rescues.

The Management Committee charged the PDCA with the role of supervising hall usage. Over the years our many regular hirers have given us a small income to supplement PDCA membership fees in meeting the costs of running the Centre. All three lessees contribute annually to cover the cost of electricity and rates. The PDCA covers the cost of the $20 Million Public Liability Insurance required under our lease agreement. The Centre is listed as a TCC asset and leased back to us at nil cost on a 30 Year Lease basis. Visitors are always amazed  that this facility was built by volunteer labour in such a small community. Even the Director General of Emergency Services, Michael Kinnane, who opened the Centre with Mayor Les Tyrell, was amazed by this revelation. Very few QFES units have access to such good facilities.

 Our regular community spring cleans and maintenance have kept the centre in good condition. From 2020 onwards this role will be carried out by TCC’s Infrastructure Department – we await action on an internal paint, floor restoration and external cleaning.  From time to time, PDCA grant applications have been successful. In July 2012, the Paluma History Project came to fruition through funding from Powerlink and we finally got some decent chairs through Queensland Community Country Bank. A number of history projects have evolved over the past nine years such as the Trees in Memory Grove; the Pioneer Honour Board; the Flight Sergeant Plant Memorial Service; the PDCA Past President’s Honour Board; the Opening of the Andree Griffin Walking Track; the Memorial Stone unveiling; and the Community Centre Construction Honour Board. The large historical photo collection is opened to the public from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm on Tuesdays between April and November. We have photographer Brian O’Leary to thank for the superb ‘Birds of Paluma’ DVD, of  which he has donated the rights to our community.

As we all know, communication is a problem in our area. In 2017, the installation in the Centre of a free WiFi service by TCC was a godsend to locals and tourists alike. Then in 2018, the long awaited Mobile Black Spot problem was finally overcome. As the hall became a well used facility and group sizes had increased, a desire to extend the Centre was expressed. A small group of PDCA members worked at a number of Northern Beaches Festival events and secured a share of the profits to be put away into a PDCA ‘Building Fund’ Account. The PRFB through community support had received funding from the many Paluma Push Bike Races and now that the Government was meeting new vehicle costs had a healthy bank balance. The brigade agreed to join forces with the PDCA in funding the rear extension to incorporate a small meeting room and realign the verandah area. They had not been able to contribute financially back in 1997 but could do so now. And so began the recent Centre extension project.

Unfortunately John Tubman’s health did not allow him to continue and a further Gaming Benefit Grant was obtained to meet the increased cost of a new builder. On 22 September 2018, the John Tubman Meeting Room was officially opened by John himself and the Centre Construction Honour Board unveiled.  This year (2021) sees the 25th Year of our annual Garden Competition and the new garden beds around the centre are looking good thanks to the many garden enthusiasts in Paluma. So 20 years on, the Centre is in regular use for major recreational events, community socials and celebrations and used by regular community groups and commercial hirers. The History Project continues to expand and the SES and PRFB are still functioning well despite their ups and downs in membership over the years. We live in a wonderful part of North Queensland’s Wet Tropics. The Paluma community welcomes visitors to our little bit of paradise and we are renowned for our helpfulness and friendliness. Long may it be so!

 HAPPY 20th ANNIVERSARY PALUMA COMMUNITY CENTRE

OUR COMMUNITY HUB

On Sunday 24th October 2021 the village of Paluma celebrated the 20th Anniversary of our Community Hall. A morning tea was held to mark this important occasion and was attended by some 50 people, including past and present residents. We were delighted to see the return of many past, long-time residents of Paluma whose families established and built the Community Hall. It was a great opportunity to acknowledge and thank these people and their extended families for their hard work in making the village what it is today.

The gathering was joined by Councillor Margie Ryder, Nick Dametto (Member for Hinchinbrook), Helaine Gordon (Area Director, Townsville Rural Fire Service) and Lewis O’Rourke (SES, Deputy Local Controller). Our many dedicated local and resident service volunteers from the Rural Fire Brigade and SES were also in attendance, since the Community Hall is the headquarters for both the Paluma RFB and the SES. Lynn Hyland provided a comprehensive history of the Hall and how it came to be in its present form.

All of the speakers on the day spoke warmly about Paluma and what our little village means to them. The common theme was COMMUNITY. Our sense of community at Paluma is no better represented than in the walls of our Community Hall. Yesterday was a glowing example that the community spirit is alive and well in Paluma. We work together to get things done and when it matters, we are there for one another. With enough community spirit you can even build a Hall!

The morning tea provided enough food to feed an army and the Hall was filled with lively chatter of days gone by and good things to come. Special thanks to the many volunteers who organised the event – you know who you are.

Here’s to the next 20 years of celebrating community in our village hub.

Text & Photos by Michele Bird

Reminder: Outer Limits Events – Dinner Under the Stars & Paluma Trail Run, 30 & 31 October

This coming weekend, 30 and 31 October, Outer Limits will host their annual Dinner Under the Stars on Saturday evening 30 October, to be followed by the Paluma Village Trail Run on Sunday 31 October.

Dinner under the Stars

Join us for an end of year celebration, the night before our last trail run for 2021. The Dinner Under the Stars is held on Saturday night, 30th October from 5.30pm onwards. The Feel Good Foodie will be set up at the Outer Limits Adventure Centre for a casual night out under the stars or as it is Paluma, it will most likely be in the clouds.

Paluma Village Trail Run

The final run in the Outer Limits Trail Run Series 2021. The Paluma Village Trail Run is our favourite event in the series, we have kept the best for last. It features amazing trails, taking you through the World Heritage listed rainforest in the most southern part of the Wet Tropics. This time of the year, Paluma Village is a great escape from the heat in Townsville.

For more details on both events and how to register, please go to the Outer Limits website.

Reminder: Paluma Community Hall 20th Anniversary Morning Tea

A reminder to all Paluma residents past and present that there will be a Morning Tea this Sunday 24 October at 10.30 am to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Paluma Community Hall.

We encourage everyone to attend to mark this important occasion and to learn some more about the history of our beloved Community Hall and also to acknowledge those members of our village community who were instrumental in establishing the Hall (in its past and present forms). Please come along and enjoy a cuppa and some cake. Everyone has a story or an experience about our beloved Community Hall and we encourage you to come along and share your memories and reminiscences.

Prior to the Sunday Morning Tea, we are calling for some keen volunteers from the community to help us give the Hall a clean so it looks its very best on Sunday morning. Please come along to the Hall at 9 am on Saturday morning 23 October. The more the merrier and the sooner we get the job done!

Reminder: Rainforest Track Working Bee this Saturday

A timely reminder that a Working Bee is to be held on Saturday 16th October, from 2pm to 4pm at the Rainforest Walking Track opposite the Community Hall.

Please come and join us with a wheel burrow, shovel, rake, and your enthusiasm to undertake some repair works on the track including the spreading of deco.

A refreshing drink will be made available at the Community Hall after the Working Bee. Please contact Wilfred  on 0447 822 626 for further information.

IF WE DON’T DO ANYTHING – WE WILL LOSE IT!

The Rainforest Walk is a short approximately 600m track that starts opposite the Community Hall, runs down to a small creek with evidence of stone pitching from the tin mining days and ends back on the main road opposite Sarah Swan’s Glass Art Studio. For many years this track has been maintained by QPWS, together with the ‘H Track’, but as a cost cutting measure the QPWS has decided to stop all maintenance on the Rainforest Walk because this track is not in the National Park. This track is situated on Unallocated State Land (USL). The ‘H Track’ is only 10% in National Park and 90% on the same block of USL, but QPWS are happy to continue to maintain the ‘H Track’……..You Figure It Out??!!

The Rainforest Walk is a very popular track and it is an invaluable tool to introduce anybody who can walk to the delights and diversity of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, and it is ideally located right in the middle of our community!

The start of the Rainforest Walking Track opposite the Community Hall.

After discussions within the group and getting the support of the USL Department, the Walking Track Volunteers (we look after over 100 km of walking tracks around Paluma, the Dam and Mount Spec) have decided to take on the responsibility to keep this track open and maintained to the same or better condition than when QPWS looked after it. We have already replaced a rotten board on one of the walk platforms and have begun to install galvanized chicken wire on the wooden platforms, as they were very slippery during wet weather (most of the time in Paluma). The biggest job on the maintenance list is the re-surfacing of large sections of the track with Deco, that has been dumped at each end of the track and needs to be taken by wheel burrow to the washed-out sections of the track. Whilst doing this, we will also install some drains across the track to channel rain water away from the track, rather than have it wash the Deco away again on the sloping sections of the track.

We will make a start on this work at a Working Bee to be held on Saturday 16th October, from 2pm to 4pm. We would like to appeal to all residents and community members to come and join us with a wheel burrow, shovel and rake, and a bit of elbow-grease!. Remember the saying – Many hands make light work!! A refreshing drink will be made available at the Community Hall after the Working Bee. Feel free to contact Wilfred  on 0447 822 626 if you have any questions.

Article by Wilfred Karnoll.

Sunday Mega-Market

The sun shone in Paluma last Sunday (3/10/21) and the final Paluma Community Market for 2021 was a resounding success. Crowds filled the hall to browse the stalls and the children’s playground, shade shelters and BBQ’s were filled with people enjoying the stunning Spring weather. All stallholders reported brisk trade and the sausage sizzle was a sell out. From plants to pineapples, gems and jewels, coffee and cake – the Paluma Market had something for everyone. Many visitors stayed on to browse the local art studios, enjoy lunch at the Rainforest Inn or take a walk in the cool mountain rainforest. Well done to the dedicated Paluma community volunteers who made it all happen.

All in all, a big day out in the little village of Paluma!

Reminder: The Last Paluma Market for 2021

The Queen’s Birthday weekend is the last Paluma Market for the year. It will be held on Sunday 3rd October from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm.

There will be a selection of stalls and the usual sausage sizzle. So, come up the mountain for the day and enjoy the cool ambience of Paluma. The kids can enjoy the playground while the adults scan the stalls in the hall for a bargain, enjoy a cuppa or a sausage or two.

Stall holders are welcome and should contact Lynn on 4773 7675 or eMail  lynnhyland@optusnet.com.au

See you at the Market.

Jack’s Awards

One of Paluma’s youngest residents has finished off the school year with some impressive awards.

Jack Appleton attends Ingham State High School and is finishing Year 12 in 2021. Recently Jack received two awards:- A Merit for Studies and the Subject Award for Certificate II in Automotive Studies.

Anyone who knows Jack, can attest to the fact that he has a remarkable ability to fix anything on wheels or with an engine! He is well known for gathering up all the unwanted bikes, scooters, motorbikes and even lawn mowers from around the village and Ingham township, to recycle the parts into contraptions that go – usually at full throttle and sometimes with a bit of noise!

His parents (Neil and Jennie) are most proud of his efforts at school this year. Mum Jennie might have to stop complaining now about all the ‘bits’ and ‘parts’ taking up space on the verandahs. I reckon it won’t be long before Paluma has its own mechanic on hand!

Congratulations Jack from all your friends and extended family at Paluma. Well done mate, we are proud of you!