Posts – Page 39 – Paluma – our village in the mist

Portrait of a Python

This is a story about a painting of a python.

Long-time resident of Paluma Colwyn Campbell is a renowned artist whose life’s passion has been to paint and capture on canvas the wonders of nature and the natural environment. Her rainforest paintings inspired by the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and other places across northern Australia have been exhibited several times in Darwin and throughout North Queensland.

In 1995 whilst living in Darwin, Colwyn spent just over a year creating a rainforest-inspired painting of a large python or carpet snake. Colwyn says that the painting was basically inspired by her love for the rainforests of Australia and the creatures of the forest. Her chosen theme for her artwork in 1995 was to paint snakes! The result of Colwyn’s long year of painting is an enormous and impressive piece of artwork, measuring nearly 2 metres in height and more than 2.5 metres in width.

The full canvas of Colwyn’s stunning representation of a python in the rainforest.

Colwyn exhibited her painting at an art show in Darwin in 1996. A close friend of Colwyn’s purchased the painting and he has enjoyed it in his home in Darwin for the past 25 years. In recent months, Colwyn’s friend has moved house and in down-sizing to an apartment he no longer has the room to hang this rather sizeable artwork. The painting was offered back to Colwyn and was subsequently rolled up and shipped to Townsville.

The rolled canvas made its way to Geoff Jensen at Top Frames in Townsville and it has been expertly stretched and mounted on a frame. The immense size of the framed artwork meant that it was a challenge to transport it to Paluma. None of us could fit it safely in our vehicles and Geoff recently made a special trip up the range in his large van to deliver the work to Colwyn.

In a remarkably kind gesture, Colwyn recently gifted the artwork to Wilfred who shares her love of the rainforest and the natural environment. Wilfred and Suzanne plan to hang the painting at the Cavilcade Guesthouse for locals and visitors to admire and enjoy for years to come. Indeed, there are probably few homes in Paluma that would have a wall big enough to accommodate this stunning but particularly large painting!

A more detailed view of the painting and the python.

It seems rather fitting that this splendid painting of a python will hang in Paluma to be enjoyed by many. Pythons are of course common in our village and the surrounding wet tropics rainforest. We see them on a regular basis, especially in the warmer months of the year. A sighting always generates great news, excitement and wonder amongst the local community. These amazing creatures are also of immense cultural significance to Aboriginal people and the original inhabitants of the wet tropics rainforest region.

The Paluma village lies within the homelands of the Nywaigi People. The Nywaigi People along with their neighbours to the south, the Gurambilbarra Wulgurukaba People from Ross River to Rollingstone and the neighbours to the east, the Manbarra People from the Palm Island Group and offshore islands, share a common creation story. The central creation story and myth cycle is focused on Gabul – the carpet snake, whose travels between the Herbert River and the Ross River created the coastline, the eastern coastal ranges and the offshore islands in Halifax Bay and Cleveland Bay. From the Traditional Owners point of view, Gabul created this landscape and Gabul looks after this country.

It’s great to know that Colwyn’s painting inspired so many years ago in Darwin will now hang in Paluma. It has travelled a long way to be here. Thanks to Colwyn’s generosity, we will have the opportunity to admire this artwork into the future and we have our own rather unique representation of ‘Gabul’ to remind us of the immeasurable natural and cultural values of this place. As Colwyn transitions to living on the coast in the coming months, we also have a rather special reminder of our talented friend, a mentor for many and a stalwart of this little community.

Text & Photos by Michele Bird with the kind permission of Colwyn Campbell & Wilfred Karnoll.

The 2022 Paluma Social Calendar

The 2022 Paluma Social Calendar is out and it promises to be a jam-packed year of social events and activities. We have tried to cater for all interests with a diverse range of events planned over the course of the year. Whether you’re into dancing, dining, fungi, frogs, cycling, cooking, yarning, relaxing, running, raging, bird watching, bocce, gardening, history, hiking, table tennis, trivia, nature or the arts, there is surely something for everyone to participate in and enjoy. If you can’t find something to do at Paluma, then you’re just not trying!

In addition to the PDCA Social Events, there are the many other activities going on around the village from time to time with the Townsville Bushwalking Club, the Paluma After Dark Club, Outer Limits Adventures and other group activities. We will endeavour to let you know about these events as they come up over the course of the year.

The PDCA Social Sub-Committee is always happy to hear from Paluma residents with suggestions for future events and activities. We’d love to hear your ideas, so please let us know by having a chat with Lynda, Michele or Lynn.

Below is a quick snapshot of some of the many activities on the 2022 Paluma Social Calendar. Stay tuned to the website for regular reminders and updates throughout the year.

Join in people. You only live once and what a great place to live!

Planned Social Events in 2022

Saturday 19 March 6.30 PM – St. Patricks Night

Saturday 23 April 12.00 PM – PDCA Annual General Meeting & Free BBQ Lunch

Saturday 7 May 5.00 PM – Games Night with Captain Klumpp & Sausage Sizzle

Saturday 14 May 4.00 PM – Watercolours & Wine Workshop with Colwyn Campbell

Sunday 17 April – Paluma Market

Saturday 25 June 12.00 PM – Bush Dance with Wattle n Gum & BBQ Lunch

Sunday 26 June – Paluma Market

Sat/Sun 16 & 17 July – Paluma Push (Outer Limits Event)

Saturday 30 July 6.30 PM – Trivia Night hosted by Lynda Radbone

Saturday 20 August 6.30 PM – Back to the 50’s Night

Saturday 17 September 6.30 PM – International Night

Sunday 2 October – Paluma Market

Sat/Sun 29 & 30 October – Paluma Trail Run (Outer Limits Event)

Saturday 12 November 6.30 PM – Monsters and Mayhem on the Mountain

Saturday 10 December 6.30 PM – Tropical BBQ

Reminder: St. Patrick’s Day Social

Well it’s that time of the year again. In the middle of March it’s time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The Paluma community will hold a Social on Saturday 19th March to acknowledge St. Patrick’s Day and all things Irish. The celebrations will kick off at 6.30 pm at the Community Hall.

Come as you are, or come dressed in your best resplendent Irish gear. Everyone will be green with envy!

Please bring a dish to share. Savoury or sweet, hot or cold. It can be an Irish-inspired dish if you choose. Everybody’s favourite leprechaun Les Hyland will be at the Bar to serve low cost beverages.

Everyone is welcome, especially newcomers to the village. Come and meet your new friends and neighbours and enjoy some good conversation and fun, Paluma-style. See you there!

A Walk on the Wild Side….

Last Sunday morning (6 March 2022) saw 22 people congregate outside the old Cavilcade Guesthouse, the occasion being a bush walk organised by the Townsville Bush Walking Club under the leadership of Wilfred Karnoll to Platypus Pool and Forgotten Falls. Even at 8 am the temperature was already rising, so after doing the administrative tasks some ten vehicles headed out to Chick’s Road which was the planned end point of the bush walk. Five cars were left at Chick’s Road and the other five transported the walkers to the start point at Clapham Junction, about 4 km along the Paluma Dam Road.

We headed off and about 200 metres in along the track we admired the ‘Grandfather Tree’, a giant Eucalypt some 2 metres in diameter at the base. Unfortunately Cyclone Yasi took off most of its crown, as it was well above the canopy of the surrounding rainforest trees. What is left standing of this majestic tree is still very impressive and it must be of considerable age.

We continued along the old logging road, first through rainforest then into more open sclerophyl forest with casuarinas, turpentines, stringy barks and rose gums the dominant tree species. From the logging road we turned onto a narrow bush track that took us down to Williams Creek and the Platypus Pool, so-named after the little critters that supposedly live in it. Unfortunately we didn’t see any platypus on the day, but perhaps 22 pairs of boots and lots of lively conversation gave them ample warning to go into hiding. It was time for a well earned refreshing swim and an early lunch to recharge weary bodies.

We then continued on to Forgotten Falls, one of the tributaries of Williams Creek. Unfortunately our wet season (what wet season you might ask?) hasn’t replenished the water flow over the big rock face and there was only a trickle at this time. In a good wet season there is a spectacular waterfall at this location. The temperature of the water in the pool at the base of the falls was too warm for even the keenest of dippers, as no refreshment was to be gained from it. The big exposed rock shelf above the falls heats up what little water comes down to make it rather uninviting just now.

After taking some photos, onwards and upwards. A few keen walkers scrambled straight up the rock face, whilst the majority chose the safer track beside the falls. From there it was up a steady rise to the top of the plateau and along an undulating logging track, past an old sawmill site, still covered by lots of saw dust and discarded timber off-cuts. The cars were a welcome sight after hot and trying bush walking conditions.

A special mention and a big pat on the back to local Paluma resident Bruno, who in his mid-eighties never missed a beat all day and left some of the younger walkers well behind. Like they say – age is just a number! It was great to see some of the local Paluma residents joining in the walk to enjoy some of the unique treasures near our little village.

Article by Wilfred Karnoll and Photos provided by Jill Meads

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.

A quiet night, with a luminous discovery

The inaugural Paluma After Dark walk around the Village occurred after several hot and dry days and my expectations for sighting of larger vertebrates were not high. There was a group of 5 including Julie Bligh, Juanita and two day-visitors (Russel and Joel) from Townsville who decided to delay their return in order to join us. Our brief walk took us out along the Witt’s Lookout track for ~100m and then to McClelland’s Lookout and the lower car park before returning to Potters Park via Lennox crescent.

There was plenty of eyeshine to be seen reflecting back from our torches, but they were almost exclusively from small wolf spiders roaming the ground in search of prey, and various moths resting on leaves. There were no frogs calling and only a few crickets faintly chirping. We were buzzed by several small insectivorous bats swooping past the street light at the back of Lennox Cr, but they were too fast-moving to identify.

Andi Cairns made a suggestion in the post for this event that we should bring UV lights to look out for fluorescent lichen, and Juanita was able to scrounge up 4 small lights from COVID RAT tests we have purchased. These were great fun to use on leaves and trunks, revealing distinctive red colours to the undersurfaces of some leaves and complex multicoloured patterns on trunks. No distinctly fluorescent lichens were found, but the highlight of the night came when Julie noticed that one of the thick smooth green vines that occur along village tracks (White Supplejack) was glowing brightly in the UV light and looking like some otherworldy snake winding its way up to the forest canopy. Words can’t really do it justice so I hope the picture shows why it was it was so memorable.

A White Supplejack Vine (*Ripogonum album*) fluorescing under UV light

You can never tell what interesting things will present themselves when you go out into the rainforest so I encourage everyone to come along on our next night walk in about 2 months. UV torches will be part of our standard kit from now on!

Text and photos by Jamie Oliver

Return of the Hercules Moth?

We have had two previous posts in 2020 and 2021 celebrating observations of the world’s biggest moth (Coscinocera hercules) here in Paluma. This wet season there have been two further reports from Michele Lando and Barry Smith. Comments from previous posts suggest that this striking moth used to be quite common in Paluma some twenty years ago but are now a rare sight.

Perhaps the local population is on the rise? It is plausible that the proliferation of preferred food plant (Bleeding Heart trees – Homalanthus novo-guineensis) around Paluma since cyclone Yasi (2011) has provided an increase in the food source for the caterpillars. There are some empirical data to support this notion. A quick look at records from the Atlas of Living Australia shows the number of records of the Hercules Moth in Queensland has increased substantially since about 2011, which is the year that Yasi hit Queensland.

*Recorded observations of Hercules Moth (primarily in Queensland) since 1991.*
*Source: Atlas of Living Australia*

This type of observational data needs to be interpreted very carefully, however, since it is also possible that the increase since 2011 is simply due to an increase in the number of people recording observations in the popular iNaturalist app.

If you see any more of these wonderful creatures around Paluma, please let Michele Bird or Jamie Oliver know.

Text by Jamie Olver, Photos as indicated

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.