Our local member for Hinchinbrook, Nick Dametto, has written to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, the Honourable Brent Mickelberg regarding urgent safety concerns about the Paluma Range Road.
Fairy Falls completed roadworks. Image from Michael Drew
We thank Nick for bringing the safety issues regarding our coastal access road to the Minister’s attention. Thanks also to Michael Drew for forwarding Nick’s letter for this post. I’ve inserted the letter as three images below. Please forgive the formatting but we wanted quick and easy access for all to read.
One of the highlights of the Tropical BBQ last Saturday evening (aside from the excellent food and wonderful company) was the announcement of the winners of this year’s Garden Competition. As usual, Bunnings supplied both the prizes as well as the judges (Dee and Ange) for the competition. Despite a gruelling schedule of inspections from early morning to late afternoon, the judges’ enthusiasm for the wonderful variety of floral displays and landscaping never abated. In fact, they insisted on creating a new prize this year so that the 5 acre blocks also had a highly recommended garden (in previous years we only gave a highly commended prize for a village garden). We are very grateful to Bunnings for the ongoing support for this competition.
The winners this year are listed below along with comments from the judges.
Best 5 acre garden: Bobbi Parker
This garden made us feel like we were children on an a hunt through a magical forest and finding a secret cabin, everything was so well thought out. From the fairy gardens to the signage throughout, it truly was a magical experience
Highly Commended 5 acre garden: Don Battersby
We simply could not overlook the amazing abundance of spectacular anthuriums in a single location, we loved chatting to don about his beauties. The passion he has for his plants is very obvious and we look forward to seeing his orchids in bloom.
Best Residential Garden: Michele Bird
This garden immediately makes you want to grab a cuppa, maybe a book and never leave. We could easily have stayed forever, surround by the natural sounds of the rainforest and all its beauty.
Highly Commended Residential Garden: Glenda and Nick Van Rhynswood
What a spectacularly well thought out and maintained garden. The wide variety of plants and colours made for a captivating viewing experience.
Best Commercial Garden: Gumburu
This immaculately kept grounds was such a pleasure to view, it is very apparent that a lot of love and dedication are required to maintain this absolute gem.
Best display or unique plant: Peter and Dorothy Klumpp
Klump: The beautiful bed of multi coloured Anthuriums was a sight to behold, whilst the hints of Greek architecture throughout was so fun and playful. None of us were game to climb the tree-house ladder though
Congratulations to all the winners, and to all of our talented gardeners throughout
the village and blocks who have helped to make Paluma such an amazing and visually spectacular place to live in and visit.
A public meeting is to be held at the Paluma Community Centre at 10am for all ratepayers to discuss the setting of the 2025 fire levy. This will be followed by the PRFB AGM.
The Spotted Catbird (Ailuroedus maculosus) is an unmistakable part of the soundscape of upland rainforests in northeast Queensland. Its eponymous call is indeed very catlike, but despite its aural ubiquity it is rather secretive and is frustratingly difficult to spot in the foliage of the middle forest canopy.
It took me many visits up to Paluma after I first arrived in Australia to finally spot the bird that I had heard repeatedly on every visit. Now that I have a house in Paluma with a bird feeder, I get great views every morning.
This main call is used by a mating pair to establish and defend a territory.
Spotted Catbird territorial cat-like call (recording by Andrée Griffin
Pairs and groups also communicate with each other using a softer single-note call that is often heard but seldom associated with the catbird to non-birders.
Spotted Catbird single note call and other growling calls (recording by Andrée Griffin)
The Spotted Catbird is one of 10 species of catbirds (genus Ailuroedus), which can be found only in New Guinea and Australia. Two species are endemic to Australia (Spotted and Green Catbirds), while a third occurs in the Cape York rainforest and New Guinea.
Like our previous bird of the month, catbirds belong to the bowerbird family (Ptilonorhynchidae). However, unlike all other bowerbirds, they are much less flamboyant in both their plumage and behaviour. Catbirds have a relatively subdued colouration, usually a mix of green on the back and cream to tan mottling on the undersides, with males and females looking alike. They also eschew the hectic and showy romantic antics of other male bowerbirds that build elaborate bowers or stages and compete fiercely to attract multiple mates. Instead, catbird males are monogamous (stick with a single partner) and share parental duties at the nest.
The Spotted Catbird eat mostly fruit supplemented by insects – and the occasional nestling or eggs of smaller birds. Like other bowerbirds, they are very long-lived, with one tagged individual recorded over 19 years! They live mainly above 900m and are relatively sedentary, travelling no more than 2km (typically 70m) to forage for food. Pairs of birds defend a territory of about 1.6ha during the breeding season (August to March).
In the valley or village on the weekend of the 7-8th December? Heading to the Paluma tropical Xmas BBQ (or even if you’re not)? Why not make a day of it on the Saturday and join us for an update on what’s been happening at Mount Zero-Taravale Wildlife Sanctuary in 2024.
The deets (more details in poster below): Saturday 7th December, 10am – 1:30pm. Catering supplied, and for anyone keen, an optional tag along trip to check out feral predator-free exclosure fence – home to a growing population of endangered Northern Bettongs.
The PDCA’s end of year function, the Tropical Christmas BBQ, will be held on Saturday December 7th from 6:30 – 10pm. Bring along whatever you wish to cook on the bbq and a side to share. Or, you may wish to bring a dessert to share instead of a side, it is up to you. The bar will be open of course. It is time to kick back and welcome in the silly season.
Also, as is Paluma tradition, this year’s garden competition winners will be announced at the bbq. The judges, Angela and Dee from North Shore Bunnings, spent a very full day on Monday with Jamie, looking at all participants’ gardens. This was Dee’s first time in Paluma and both judges were thrilled to be up here enjoying the climate and the interesting plants it allows to grow as compared to Townsville. We ensured they had a lovely lunch and break so they didn’t wear out completely. It was fabulous to see quite a few Cairns Birdwing caterpillars munching away on the aristolochia vine.
Dee, Angela and Jamie enjoyed lunch in the cool on the hall verandah.
On Sunday December 8, a public meeting is to be held at the Paluma Community Centre at 10am for all ratepayers to discuss the setting of the 2025 fire levy.
Come along and also find out what the brigade is up to over a cuppa and a piece of cake. If there are any queries in the lead-up to the meeting, please contact Sonya Bryce, Treasurer / Secretary of Paluma Rural Fire Brigade on (0474) 324153.
The Annual General Meeting of the Paluma Rural Fire Brigade will follow on from the morning tea for those who are interested.
