Posts – Page 40 – Paluma – our village in the mist

Paluma After Dark Club

Saturday Night, 8 pm, Potters Park. Bring a torch

For a small community, Paluma could be said to have a fairly active schedule of evening events throughout the year, but on most nights the village is pretty quiet – in terms of human activity. However this statement belies the fact that our village and surrounding forest have a very active and often noisy nightlife.

Over the last year or so, following the lead of my son Michael, I have been taking nighttime walks through the village local tracks to see what I could see and hear. With the help of a head torch, binoculars and a frog call recording app on my iPhone I have been able to identify most of the more common and easily detected animals.

Common sightings include bandicoots, Pademelons, barred frogs (on wet nights) native rats. Less common to rare, and mostly not yet seen by me at night are Dingos, pythons, nightigers, Feather-tailed gliders, Possums, and even (over a decade ago) a spotted-tailed quoll.

Common sounds include 2 species of frog (again on wet nights), the thumps of unseen Pademelons retreating into the forest, and the piercing buzz of cicadas (as yet unidentified), Babook owls and Lesser Sooty Owl

Not every evening walk results in a sighting, although after heavy rain, frogs are just about guaranteed. And of course the tiny gleaming eyes of wolf spiders and the ever-present sound of cidadas mean that no night walk is without signs of life.

I am keen to continue to go on a regular night walks around the village and perhaps along the road out to the Dam this year. I invite anyone who is interested to join an unofficial “Paluma After Dark Club” and spend an hour or so every couple of months to see what we can record and discover. The inaugural walk will be this Saturday evening (February 26). Meet at Potters Park opposite 27 Lennox Cr at 8 pm.

Bring a head torch, preferably a bright one that can be focused to a narrow beam. Binoculars are also surprising useful to identify mammals and night birds once they are in the beam of a spotlight.

If the first event garners sufficient interest, we might also consider bringing some experts on specific groups up to give us a talk and a guided walk.

Text and Photos by Jamie Oliver

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.

New Defibrillator at the Community Hall

ATTENTION ALL PALUMA RESIDENTS

A new Defibrillator is now installed at the Community Hall.

The unit is in a cabinet which is mounted on the outside wall of the Community Hall, next to the main entry door to the Hall. Please take a look at the photographs below to familiarise yourself with the location of the unit.

New signage indicating that the unit is available at the Community Hall will be installed at the front and side of the Hall.

The cabinet is unlocked and it is alarmed (with a siren). The siren will go off as soon as the cabinet is opened, but it stops again when the door is shut. We are hoping that the siren/alarm will deter any would-be vandals from interfering with the unit.

May we please request that if any nearby residents hear the alarm going off that they investigate to either provide assistance in a genuine emergency, or chase away any idiots or vandals who might be interfering with the unit.

We are hoping that the current arrangement will work and that vandals will refrain from interfering with the Defibrillator. The preference is that we do not lock the cabinet, as this would mean that in an emergency people would have to seek out the key or the security code to get access to the unit. This delay could potentially mean the difference between saving a life, or having the worst happen.

We are relying on the eyes and ears of the Paluma community to be watchful and vigilant in protecting this unit.

The best outcome is that the Defibrillator sits idle, mounted on the wall for many years to come and that we never have to use it!

Over to you Paluma community!

Thank you Wilfred for providing the photographs and information for this post.

Colwyn’s Birthday Celebration

Last Saturday (15 January 2022) Colwyn Campbell’s family and friends joined her at Paluma to celebrate her 80th birthday. It was a great party and Colwyn enjoyed every minute.

Colwyn has a special message for everyone following the event:-

What better way to celebrate an 80th birthday than with family and dear friends. My sincere thanks to you all for sharing my day, for your company and good wishes. Thank you Jennie and Neil for providing such a pleasant venue, Lynda and Michele and all you other magic elves who plotted and planned so secretly and orchestrated my party. Thank you to Don and Sonya for the wonderful flowers decorating the inn. Thank you to all the kind and thoughtful people who bought me gifts. I had a wonderful day and am quite overwhelmed by it all. Thank you so much everyone.
♥️♥️♥️ Colwyn.

Congratulations to the Klumpps

A little bird told me that congratulations are in order for one of Paluma’s nicest couples – Peter and Dorothy Klumpp. This coming weekend the Klumpps will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Everyone who knows the Klumpps will agree that Peter was obviously ‘punching way above his weight’ when he snared the beautiful Dorothy all those years ago. We don’t know how Dorothy has survived Peter’s (weird) sense of humour and practical jokes for all these years. She is surely in line for a medal.

With all sincerity to the dear Klumpps, your friends and extended family at Paluma wish you hearty congratulations, best wishes and much love on your 50th anniversary. And a toast to the next 50 years to come!

The Klumpps on their wedding day……..oops, sorry I meant St. Paddy’s day!

Text & Photo by Michele Bird (or as Peter calls me, the ‘Hummingbird’).