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Vale Viv Atkinson

To those newer to our community, Viv lived at 19 Mt Spec Road from the mid-1980s until around 2010.

During her years in Paluma, Viv gave generously to the community, serving for many years as Treasurer of the then Paluma Progress Association, helping secure funding for important local projects. 

Alongside Mick, Viv later built and operated the Rainforest Inn, welcoming many visitors to our beautiful village.

Viv truly loved Paluma and its people. She especially cherished the opportunity to create a cool-climate garden filled with many beautiful flowering plants, which brought her great joy and was admired by many.

She will be warmly remembered as a valued member of the Paluma community to all those who knew her.🌷

Jodie Pace

Paluma Bird of the Month, May 2026 – Scarlet Honeyeater

During the last two weeks, I have been hearing the faint, high-pitched, wispy warble of the Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta), a consistent but relatively rare visitor that feeds on flowering trees, often high up in the canopy. Houses that offer a view of tree canopies in flower may provide a glimpse of this strikingly coloured little bird. Len Cook’s front verandah is one of the few places I have been able to get a good view in the past, but so far this year it has been heard but not seen. It is the male that catches the attention of birdwatchers, with it brilliant red head and neck, set off by black back and whitish underparts.

Photo by David Ongley, Birds of the World

Scarlet Honeyeater call recorded by Krzysztof Deoniziak at Barron Gorge NP
Male Scarlet Honeyeater Photo by Julie Clark, eBird

The female is rather drab and brown with a cream belly and sometimes a reddish flush around the face.

Female Scarlet Honeyeater photo by Chris Wiley eBird

The Scarlet Honeyeater is the smallest Australian honeyeater (Family Meliphagidae) and can be found in open eucalypt woodlands, wet sclerophyl forests and riverine Melaleuca habitats. It feeds predominantly on nectar from flowering trees, with insects and fruit only occasionally eaten. Most feeding occurs above 10m in the canopy. It occurs along eastern Australia from Cooktown to northeastern Victoria. In the far north, its range overlaps with the quite similarly coloured Red-headed Myzomela, which is mainly found across northern Australia.

The brilliant plumage of the Scarlet Honeyeater has made it a well-recognised bird to many Australians. Early colonists gave it various names, including Bloodbird and Little Soldier (in reference to its similarity to English redcoat soldiers). The officially recognised common name, used predominantly outside Australia, is Scarlet Myzomela.

The genus Myzomela is the largest in the honeyeater Family, containing 41 species distributed from Indonesia to Australia and the Pacific Islands. Australia has only 3 species, and two occur in Paluma: the Dusky Honeyeater and Scarlet Honeyeater. The name refers to this group’s feeding method of sipping or “sucking” honey-rich nectar from flowers. It is derived from two old Greek words: “myzo”, meaning to suck or suckle; and “meli”, meaning honey.

Text by Jamie Oliver; Photos and recording as indicated in the text

References used:
Birds of the World
Wikipedia
Google search for the etymology of Myzomela

Call for Volunteers for Bush Dance and Markets in June

In preparation for the Wattle n Gum Bush Dance (June 27) and the Paluma Winter Market (June 28), we require help to prepare food, cook and serve at the two sausage sizzles.

Any donations of baked items, cakes, biscuits, scones, whatever your signature dish, and preserves for the PDCA run stall would be appreciated. We’ve had some wonderful and delicious creations at previous markets that sold very well. Please let someone on the PDCA committee know if you can help out in any way at these two events.

Paluma Winter Market – June 28

Following the bush dance, the PDCA will host the Paluma Winter Market on Sunday, 28th June from 9 am till 1 pm.

Sausage sizzle, produce, plants, home-made preserves and baked items, books, needle crafts, tea, coffee and cake will be available on the day.

Any enquiries about having your own stall, please contact Wilfred on 0447 822 626.

Wattle n Gum Bush Dance Returns to Paluma in June

With the opening of the range road, the annual Wattle n Gum Winter Solstice Bush Dance and BBQ is back on the Paluma Calendar. 

It will be held at the Paluma Community Hall on Saturday, June 27th.  This is one of our most popular events of the year, and there is always an eager group of dancers and bush music enthusiasts to encourage the band.  It will be great to see all the locals come along to enjoy an afternoon of dancing and laughter. The band will have a caller to teach everybody the dance steps – so no excuses about not knowing the dance steps or having two left feet, everybody, young and old can have a great time! The BBQ will start at 12 noon with the band commencing at 1pm.

Range Road Update on length restrictions

From Ross Murray, who has been in contact with TMR regarding length restrictions.

Hi All,

I have been advised of the clarification for larger vehicle/trailer configurations requesting access on the Paluma Range road. Any resident or contractor seeking access with a vehicle/trailer combo which is longer then a 4×4 + box trailer requires prior approval from the Northern Engagement Engineers. We have been advised that an email to the Northern Engagement Team (engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au) is required, which will be forwarded to the TMR Engineers for approval.

We are to provide the dimension of the vehicle plus trailer combined. The length x width; weight of trailer including the equipment being carried. The least disruptive times for transporting of equipment will be advised during the approval process. This is due to the varying tasks and restrictions each day carried out by CMC contractors.        

TMR are recommending that those seeking access should have prior experience or skills in navigating the Range Road. The approval will be determined by TMR Engineers, though email contact will be provided from the Northern Engagement Staff.

It was brought to my attention that there are a number of residents (including myself) wishing to hire High-Lift Tree Pruning Equipment. This equipment hire will definitely require prior approval for Range Road access, due to a trailer being 5.5 m in length, and weighing over 3 tonnes. It was suggested the back road access to Paluma maybe required or considered with this equipment. I advised that it would not be a viable option due to the varying conditions of the road, and the extra costs for fuel and equipment hire.

Kind Regards,

Ross