Posts – Page 64 – Paluma – our village in the mist

Bud Jones – The man of flowers

Paluma’s very long – term resident, Bud Jones, was a lover of flowers .

Bud resided on HusseyRoad from the 1940s until his death about 20 years ago. He owned three leasehold blocks totalling 15 acres on which he and his wife Nancy lived in a succession of dwellings with their two children before partially building a brick house at no 7 where he started a flower farm business featuring Gladioli of many hues.

He also planted many native flowering trees which still stand today as well as a number of exotics of which the Tibouchina Astonville pictured ( above/ below ) is a luminous example. Indeed , this tree is believed to be the progenitor of the many Tibouchinas around the Village. Whilst the naming of the Village Green after Bud was repealed some years ago his “budding” legacy can be seen in the numerous gladioli and rain lillies popping up around the District.

Well done Bud!

Text & Photo by Michael Drew

What’s this Curious Critter ?

Just recently, Paluma residents Jodie and Danno discovered a very curious insect had taken up residence in their Smith Crescent home.

Take a look at this creepy crawly! The photo is a bit blurry, but those big hairy legs are very clear.

Can anyone provide an identification or any insight into what it is?

Rainforest Biodiversity: 5 easy species at a time. Part 1 – Birds

by Jamie Oliver

Introduction

Rainforests are the most biologically diverse of all terrestrial habitats, and the number of different species in just a small plot of forest can be huge. For the interested amateur, identifying the myriad of rainforest plants and animals can be challenging! We don’t know exactly how many species of plants and animals live in the rainforests of the Queensland Wet Tropics – for some groups e.g.fungi, some insect families, there may actually be more undescribed species than ones that have been formally identified. It is likely that during a short 15 min walk along Paluma rainforest tracks you could be passing several hundred different species of plants and animals. Some of these are large and conspicuous while others could require much closer inspection (and perhaps a hand lens) to identify.

Paluma is located at the southern end of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The WTWHA contains at least 663 vertebrate animal species, and invertebrate fauna is the richest in Australia. Land snails alone are represented by 222 species. It is estimated that the Wet Tropics probably has around 40,000 species of insect, including 230 butterfly species and 135 dung beetle species. Plant diversity is equally remarkable with 2,800 species of vascular plants – 700 of which are only found in the region[1].

All this seems very impressive but it leaves the casual visitor somewhat overwhelmed – to the point where any interest in identifying species can be lost in the enormity of the task.

The purpose of this series of posts is to enable even the most casual and inexperienced visitor to identify the five most common and distinctive species from each of 10 or so groups of plants and animals. By breaking the task down in to 5 easy species from each group a weekend visitor with a keen interest in the task might become familiar with 10 or 20 different rainforest species, and after a few such visits might claim knowledge of 50 or more species!

We will start with one of the easiest groups (birds) and then move on to other groups that may require a little more effort and patience. By the end of this series we hope to have compiled an online and downloadable guide to the 50 most common and easily identified species around Paluma village.

[1] https://www.wettropics.gov.au/biodiversity , https://www.wettropics.gov.au/insects

Birds

Birds are one of the most conspicuous rainforest animals and many of them are quite easy to identify, so it is appropriate to start our ‘5 easy species’ series with this group. The five birds listed here were chosen because they are very common around Paluma roads and walking tracks at most times of the year. They are also easy to identify from photos and descriptions. All of these birds are less common down on the coast and thus contribute to the feeling that you have entered a whole new environment when you take the drive up to Paluma.

1. Lewin’s Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)

Lewin’s honeyeater is commonly seen flitting among low branches of trees and shrubs along road edges or in open picnic areas. While its soft green and grey colouring does not make it stand out, the yellow half-moon cheek patch and its staccato call make it easily to identify.

Lewin’s Honeyeater call. (recording by Andrée Griffin)

It is also a very common visitor to bird feeders around the village. A related species, the yellow-spotted honeyeater, can also sometimes be found in the village. It has a more rounded cheek patch and its call is very different (not staccato).

2. White-cheeked Honeyeater (Phylidonyris niger)

This strikingly bold black and white honeyeater is smaller than the Lewin’s and can be found flitting amongst shrubs and trees, feeding on flowers. It has a large white cheek patch and yellow streaks on the wings. It is one of the most common birds to visit bird feeders around the village. Here it displays a surprisingly bold demeanor, chasing much larger birds away from the food on offer.

3. Brush Turkey (Alectura lathani)

This large black bird with a mostly bald red head is commonly seen around picnic areas, roadsides and along rainforest tracks where it uses its feet to scratch the leaf litter in search of insects. During the breeding season (August to December), males develop gorgeous yellow neck wattles to attract females. Eggs are buried in large mounds of leaf litter built and tended by the male. The heat of decomposition of litter in the mound provide the warmth needed to incubate the eggs.

4. Crimson Rosella (Platycerus elegans)

This beautiful crimson and blue parrot is commonly seen around Paluma but almost never in the nearby coastal areas. It is found in trees or shrubs, as well as on the ground when grass seed is available. The head and breast are deep red, while its back is red with blue mottling. The tail, wings and throat are blue. While this species of Rosella is found in forests throughout southern Queensland and the southern states, in north Queensland it is restricted mostly to Paluma and the Tablelands. The only other parrot of this size in the area with predominantly red colouration is the King Parrot, which is red and green, instead of crimson and blue.

Crimson Rosella calls (recording by Andrée Griffin)

1. Chowchilla (Orthonix spaldingii)

You are more likely to hear this bird than to see it. In the early mornings and evenings the forest often resounds with the raucous sounds of family groups of Chowchilla calling back and forth.

Chowchilla chorus around Paluma (recording by Andrée Griffin)

It is a small brown bird with mostly inconspicuous colouration – the female has a lovely orange chestnut throat, while in the female it is white. Both sexes have a distinctive white eye ring. During the daytime they are mostly silent but can still be heard, and with a bit of luck, seen scratching around in the leaf litter beside village walking tracks. It stays almost entirely on the ground although it will fly when disturbed.

There are many other species of birds that occur in Paluma, and lots of them are both common and easy to identify. Visit the Birds section of the website to learn more about what can be seen in the area.

Paluma History Stories: “Robbery Under Arms” – Part Fourteen

by Linda Venn

Click here for a list of key characters in this story

Continuing Edmonds’ evidence in his defence, Tuesday 5^th January 1932

On the Thursday morning, 10^th December, Edmonds was repairing the roof of his hut that had been damaged in the storm and heavy rain of the day before, when four police arrived. While there, the police “examined clothes and ammunition”. (Daily Standard, Brisbane, Wednesday 6^th January, p. 2) This was when Detective Gooch took possession of Edmonds’ eight firearms, including the unlicensed revolver and a single-barrelled shotgun. (Brisbane Courier, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 14) Constable O’Brien spoke to Edmonds first, and Edmonds admitted making a comment that O’Brien had been lucky the previous day.

Edmonds continued his description of the police visit that morning. He had “informed the party they were welcome to have a look around….O’Brien took a silk shirt hanging on the line, but did not say anything about it. He also removed a khaki shirt coat hanging on the wall which defendant told O’Brien belonged to his father, and which defendant had never worn in his life. He was then called over to the car shed, where he admitted a handkerchief found in the car belonged to him.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 7) Edmonds claimed that “nothing was said of the hold-up while the police were there.” (Telegraph, Brisbane, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 9)

Edmonds was then taken via Tealby’s to the scene of the hold-up about 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Edmonds continued, describing the police examination of the horse tracks.

“There was a fresh track coming from the road into Tealby’s and Gooch, Rynne and the tracker were satisfied that it was the track of the chestnut mare. He (Edmonds) asked them to measure the track of the mare. They did and said it was exactly the same. He (witness) told the police that the track was identical with that of the mare ridden by Murray that morning. His (Edmonds’) mare had been along the road the previous day, when he came from his hut to Tealby’s.” (Telegraph, Brisbane, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 9)

(Author’s note: Edmonds had left his mare at Tealby’s, which was between his hut and the hold-up scene. His mare had therefore come from the opposite direction on the day of the hold-up.)

At the scene of the hold-up, Edmonds “was unable to see the tracks alleged by the police but could see fresh bootmarks.” The Brisbane Courier briefly reports on the activity at the scene of the hold-up, but does include Edmonds quoting Detective O’Driscoll when he and Edmonds “disagreed over the track marks at the side of the gully. Detective O’Driscoll said, ‘Charlie, don’t think we are putting anything over you with these tracks.’ The tracks they followed were not the tracks of the chestnut mare. They measured the tracks with a piece of stick, and they were identical with that of a mare ridden by Murray that morning.” (Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 14.)

The Townsville Daily Bulletin records this section of Edmonds’ evidence in more detail, and is worth repeating in full:

“the police pointed out to him where a horse had been tied up, in the gully. The country was heavily timbered. He told Detective Sergeant O’Driscoll he could not detect any horse tracks, only fresh boot tracks. He did not consider a horse was tied to the tree. Detective-Sergeant O’Driscoll then pointed to some fresh tracks, adding that it was where the horse had left the gully, but defendant argued there were two sets of tracks there, and was emphatic about it.

Detective-Sergeant O’Driscoll stated to defendant that they were not endeavouring to put anything over him in regard to the tracks. He had been amongst stock in the bush all his life. Acting-Sergeant Rynne or Detective Gooch suggested measuring the tracks, and he suggested they measure the mare’s hoof and the tracks, which they did. The original tracks were made in black loose sand on the bank of the gully, and heavy rain had filled the tracks, and made the outside of them much bigger, and when they were measured the tracks were not similar. They measured the mare’s tracks and compared them with the inner Imprint of the old track, and said they -were similar, but he disagreed with them. When they had the argument about the tracks, they said they would keep going, and about 80 yards from the first tree, they came to another tree where Detective Gooch said another horse had been tied up. He (Edmonds) said It was possible but they were still in the tracks of two horses. Asked to show them the tracks defendant did so, and the blacktracker said there also appeared to be two tracks there, but Acting Sergeant Rynne disagreed with him.

They followed the tracks round the fence up the hill. When they returned to the flat country again, Detective Gooch intimated to Acting-Sergeant Rynne that they were still on the track, but there were numerous tracks there.

They continued on for a further 100 yards, but Acting Sergeant Rynne told them It was not the track they followed the previous evening. After argument they followed the track, a little further, where Rynne Indicated he had lost the track the previous evening, but it had been, picked up that morning. They followed the track to Tealby’s, where they lost It, and defendant picked it up for them. They were not the tracks of the chestnut mare.

It had been stated in previous evidence that the tracks were found at Tealby’s gate, but this was impossible owing to the rain. Here they again measured the tracks and the mare’s foot, and stated they were the same. They lost the tracks for 10 or 15 yards. He (Edmonds) told them the track which they stated was that of his mare belonged to a horse ridden by Kelly Murray. His mare had been on the track the previous day. They returned to the scene of the hold-up between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in a lorry. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 7)

Mt Spec Road geotechnical investigations

The Department of Transport and Main Roads would like to advise that geotechnical inspections for Mount Spec Road will commence this Monday 30 March 2020 until Thursday 9 April 2020.

Geotechnical inspections will occur from the gates at the bottom of the range through to the start of Paluma Village.

Monday 30 March 2020 to Thursday 9 April 2020

Work Hours: 7.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Sunday

Weather conditions permitting

During the inspections, road users are advised of changed traffic conditions including single lane closures, speed reductions, roadwork signage and on site traffic controllers to safely guide motorists through the inspection area and keep workers safe. Please slow down when travelling through the inspection area – road safety is your responsibility too.

Mount Spec Road will be reduced to single lane width through the inspection area. To minimise disruption, the inspections have been planned in stages with advanced warning signs to notify road users of these changes, however some delays may still be experienced. On occasion, full lane closures will be required throughout the works where there will be no access between the Bruce Highway and Paluma via Mount Spec Road. The wait time during these full road closures can be up to 15 minutes, please factor this additional travel time into your journey.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Customer and Stakeholder Management Team on 1800 625 648.

Customer and Stakeholder Management (Northern) | North Queensland Region
Program Delivery And Operations | Infrastructure Management & Delivery Division |

Department of Transport and Main Roads

Paluma History Stories: “Robbery Under Arms” – Part Thirteen

by Linda Venn

Click here for a list of key characters in this story

Edmonds’ evidence in his defence, Tuesday 5^th January 1932.

Charles Henry Edmonds entered the witness box on Tuesday morning, stating that he was “a drover, 34 years of age, residing at Ollera Gorge on the Ingham line for the past 15 months, prior to which he had resided in Townsville for about 10 years.” (Telegraph, Brisbane, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 9.) Edmonds had an occupation lease there of 22 square miles, with a right to 12 miles of Tealby’s country till the end of the year, on which he ran cattle and kept his droving plant. (Cairns Post, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 3; Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p.7.)

Edmonds “produced a plan of the locality showing the different roads from Moongabulla to Mt. Spec, also marking the scene of the hold-up, which occurred on Timbergetters’ road, which is usually used by employees on the main roads.” Brisbane Courier, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 14.) Edmonds explained that “the road from Moongabulla used by the escort was a timber getters’ road and really a bush track.” (Telegraph, Brisbane, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 9.) Edmonds was therefore familiar with the scene of the hold-up, explaining that it was “two and a half miles from his hut, which was a mile and a half from Tealby’s, the latter place being about one mile and a quarter from the scene.” (Telegraph, Brisbane, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 9; Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p.7.) The relative locations of these places were all marked on his plan.

Edmonds then detailed his movements on the day before the hold-up. As previously heard, Edmonds had driven his car to the Main Roads office with Davies. Edmonds had previously lent Davies “a couple of gallons of benzine”, which Davies planned to replace by getting fuel from Main Roads, but that system was no longer in place and no fuel was forthcoming. (Cairns Post, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 3) Davies then made a phone call to McDonald and went to McDonald’s place a mile away. Edmonds couldn’t drive Davies there, being low on fuel. While waiting for Davies to return, Edmonds was asked into the office by Herbertson who asked him to deliver a couple of letters going to Melrose and Fenwick’s manager. There they had a general conversation, with others present including Stewart and Hammett. Edmonds was happy that “what Mr. Herbertson had said of the conversation was substantially correct.” (Telegraph, Brisbane, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 9.) While waiting for Davies, Edmonds helped unload a truck. He and Davies left the Main Roads office on Davies’ return.

Edmonds then detailed his movements on the day of the hold-up. About 8 a.m. on 9^th December, Edmonds had ridden with Searle in the direction of Tealby’s to where Tear was camped, about half a mile away. Tear had permission to camp on Edmonds’ place, but was not currently his employee. Tear had already left. Searle continued down the road, but Edmonds crossed Ollera Creek. Later that morning, “he rode the boundary fence…in the opposite direction to the scene of the hold-up. He noticed a mob of wild horses grazing with his horses, and he sorted them out, after which he returned to his camp about 10:14 a.m. He had a drink of tea, and had a conversation with a man named Gill, after which he left the camp, for Mutarnee. It was in the vicinity of 10:30 when he spoke to Gill.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 7) The Telegraph reported that Edmonds stated he had “returned to camp between 10 and 10:15, having a drink of tea and a conversation with a man named Gill.” (Telegraph, Brisbane, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 9.) Edmonds had asked Gill to ask Tear (a former employee) to wait for him., checking his watch as he left his camp. It was 10:30.

Edmonds “looked for some of his cattle on the way then went to Tealby’s to get a horse.” (Telegraph, Brisbane, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 9.) Edmonds rode down the track to Tealby’s “to get a horse for a man who was coming down on the train….He rode a chestnut mare to Tealby’s and left her in the paddock.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 7) The Cairns Post confirmed that this chestnut mare was the one outside in the Court House yard. (Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 3) Edmonds spoke to Jim Murray at Tealby’s then they both left for Mutarnee. Passing the scene of the crime, Edmonds had noticed a number of tracks “and remarked to Murray that someone had been having trouble with a car.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 7) The Telegraph noted Edmonds as saying that “somebody apparently had a puncture.” (Telegraph, Brisbane, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 9.) The Daily Standard reported that Edmonds “had remarked on the tracks: that apparently someone had had trouble, perhaps a puncture. Murray made the same observation.” (Daily Standard, Brisbane, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 2.) “They apparently were both of the same mind.” (Cairns Post, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 3)

Edmonds and Murray rode on to Mutarnee through “a heavy storm”, but Edmonds’ friend never arrived on the train. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 7) Edmonds then proceeded to the Mutarnee Post Office, “where he first heard of the hold-up from the post-mistress.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 7) The Telegraph identified the post-mistress as a “Miss Cavill”. (Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 9.) This is likely to have been one of the daughters of ‘Pop’ and Grace Cavill of the ‘Cavilcade’ guesthouse, now belonging to Wilf Karnoll. From the Post Office, Edmonds rode to Davies’ place, leading the spare horse which he left at Davies. Miss Davies rode the spare horse back to Edmonds’ hut late in the afternoon, when there was more heavy rain, so he drove Miss Davies home. In the afternoon, Edmonds had seen “a man named Murray and another named Ashley, who told him they were looking for bushrangers.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 7) Ashley is called ‘Ashman’ in the Telegraph. (Wednesday 6^th January 1932, p. 9.)

Rainforest Tree of the Month, March 2020 – Cardwellia sublimis

This tree is also known as the Northern Silky Oak or Bull Oak.

Two seasons ago, after the rainy season, many patches of the rainforest floor were covered in what appeared to be leafy green butterflies. Close inspection showed that they were actually the seedlings of the northern Silky Oak (Cardwellia sublimis). The seeds of this species are flat and ovate, and when they germinate the two halves of the seed (cotyledons) split apart to become green pseudo-leaves, with the stem of the seedling in the middle. After a month or so the first true leaves develop and the butterfly shape is lost.

A mature Bull Oak on Lennox Crescent. In the forest the tree is taller and more slender.

Despite the fact that these were a common sight, none of us managed to capture the full splendour of this display on a camera so the picture of a solitary seedling here does not do justice to what we saw. The display has not been repeated in subsequent years. Perhaps next year?

Sublimis derives from Latin, meaning tall and lofty and Cardwellia sublimis is indeed that, growing to a tall and shapely 35 metres. It is the only species in its genus and is endemic only from the Big Table-land near Cooktown to the Paluma Range, growing at altitudes up to 1300 metres. The tree was named by Ferdinand von Mueller in honour of Edward Cardwell, Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1864 to 1866. The type specimen was collected by John Dallachy in Rockingham Bay. Its name in the local Dyirbal language was ‘jungan’.

The compound leaves have 6 to 20 leaflets arranged in pairs on short stalks. They are about 20 cm long. The upper surface of the leaf is glossy dark green and glabrous (hairless), while the underside is covered in minute rusty coloured hairs.

The fragrant white or cream flowers grow in terminal racemes or spikes, crowning the tree spectacularly from October to December. Then, in January, standing proud on long stems above the tree canopy, the large oval seedcases are silhouetted against the sky. When ready, these capsules crash to the ground or (with a startling bang) onto a house roof, opening to release 6 to 12 winged, flat seeds. The empty seed capsules, or follicles, split along one side only. They are brown and woody and lie like miniature cobblestones on a bumpy pavement but they quickly decompose back into the soil. Seeds of Cardwellia sublimis are eaten by Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Bush Rats and Giant White-tailed Rats.

The dark, oak-like timber of this tree is highly regarded and sought after for furniture and cabinet making. It once made up 15% of all timber production in the area.

Text and sketch by Colwyn Campbell;
Photos by Colwyn Campbell and Jamie Oliver

Paluma History Stories: ‘Robbery Under Arms’ – Part Twelve

by Linda Venn

Click here for a list of key characters in this story

Concluding the evidence for the prosecution on Monday 4^th January 1932

The timekeeper, Francis John Herbertson, was next to give evidence. Herbertson knew Edmonds only “slightly, in all seeing him on three occasions”. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 3) On December 8^th, he had been in his office at Mt. Spec when Edmonds and a man named Davies had arrived in a Ford car. Davies at the time was a Main Roads employee. He came into the office to ask permission to use the telephone, with Edmonds waiting until he’d finished. Edmonds came into Herbertson’s office where they had a general conversation, mostly about Edmonds starting a butchering business locally. The overseer, McClelland, had come into the office while Edmonds was there and Edmonds had asked McClelland to sell him four gallons of benzine, but McClelland refused. Roberts’ cross-examination elicited the information that Main Roads had previously had a policy of selling fuel to employees at cost price. Edmonds had made a casual remark about the number of employees on the Mt. Spec Road project, and that tomorrow’s pay would be a big one. Davies returned and both men left towards Moongabulla. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 3)

Last to take the stand for the prosecution was James Murray, a labourer residing at Mutarnee. James Murray had known Edmonds for about 12 months. On the morning of the hold-up, he had gone to Tealby’s to get a horse, arriving between 7 and 8 a.m. Edmonds had arrived at about 11:30 a.m., “on a little chestnut mare which had a bit of a sweat up”. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 3) Edmonds asked Murray where he was going. Murray was going home, but waited until Edmonds changed horses, turning the mare into Tealby’s paddock. Murray wanted to towards Rollingstone, but Edmonds wanted to go towards Mt. Spec, which Murray agreed to. They left together about 11:40 a.m. Edmonds was only at Tealby’s for about ten minutes. A couple of miles later, Edmonds had remarked “that someone had had a puncture.” This was near the scene of the crime. The tree lying across the road Murray recognised as one he had personally cut down “some two years ago.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 3)

At this point, “His Worship called the witness to order on his behaviour in Court, and ordered him to restrain his language.” Unfortunately, we don’t know what Murray said or did to earn Cameron’s rebuke.

Continuing, Murray stated that they arrived home about 12:30 p.m. Edmonds had been wearing “a blue shirt and dungaree trousers, with a cowboy hat.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 3) Murray had recognised the mare as the one ridden by Edmonds, but said “the mare did not appear distressed.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 3) Murray could not account for Edmonds changing horses to go to Mutarnee. Under cross-examination by Roberts, Murray stated that Edmonds said he was going to meet the train, but did not mention anything about the Mt Spec pay having arrived on time.

This concluded the case for the prosecution. Roberts contended that the only evidence was that of O’Brien, therefore no prima facie case existed. His Worship disagreed. Roberts then entered a plea of not guilty and pointed out he would call Edmonds and a witness for the defence on Tuesday and then ask for an adjournment until Friday, “to get further witnesses from the country.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 3)

The Court then adjourned until 10:30 a.m. Tuesday 5^th January.

Reminder – Annual General Meeting This Saturday, March 21.

Don’t Forget – this Saturday we have our PDCA Annual General Meeting with election of Committee Members. There is a free lunch at at 12 pm, followed by our meeting at 1pm.

Please note that annual subscriptions are now due ($45). If you forgot to pay your dues last year don’t fret, we will graciously accept back-payments as well as current subscriptions dues!

Please use the nomination form to nominate someone to the Committee.

Members (and prospective members) are advised that the Annual General Meeting of the Paluma & District Community Association Inc. will be held on:

Saturday March 21, 2020 at 12pm for a BBQ lunch followed by the AGM at 1pm in the Community Hall

Nominations are open for all Executive Committee positions. Nominations should be forwarded to the Secretary to arrive no later than Friday, March 6th 2020. Please use the nomination forms, which can be downloaded here.

Positions are:

President,
1 or 2 Vice-Presidents
Secretary
Treasurer
General Committee members (numbers flexible)

Members are reminded that Annual Subscriptions are now due and should be paid prior to the commencement of the AGM. Membership is available in two classes, these being Ordinary & Family. All classes attract the same subscription fee of $45.00 Please use the subscription form here to submit your dues. New members are more than welcome and should use the same form.

Please note that you must be a PDCA member to nominate someone to the Committee or vote for any Committee member.

The AGM will be followed immediately by a normal General Meeting with with the new Committee.

AGM AGENDA

Opening – circulation of attendance sheet
Apologies
Minutes of previous AGM April 20th, 2019
President’s Report
Treasurer’s report
Election of Officers for 2020-2021
Election of Auditor for 2020-2021
Close of Annual General Meeting

Normal General Meeting Agenda

Open General Meeting
Proposed Events/Fund-raising for the coming year
Any other business
Close of General Meeting

Paluma History Stories: ‘Robbery Under Arms’ – Part Eleven

by Linda Venn

Click here for a list of key characters in this story

More evidence from the hearing on Monday 4^th January 1932

Next to take the stand was Julia Martha Elizabeth Tealby, wife of Mr. Vivian Tealby. Julia Tealby stated that she resided at Moongabulla and that she knew Edmonds. James Murray, a labourer from Mutarnee, had come to her house at 7:30 a.m. on December 9^th and stayed there. Edmonds had ridden up about 11:30 a.m. Julia Tealby was ironing at the time, but she saw Edmonds go up to the cow-yard where Murray was. She confirmed that Edmonds “had several horses running at her place”. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 3) She had not noticed the condition of the horse, but Edmonds was wearing a blue shirt. At 11:45 a.m., Edmonds left “riding a horse and leading another, and Murray left with him.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 3)

The following day, Edmonds had asked her what time it was that he had arrived at her house Wednesday morning and she had told him 11:30. Magistrate Cameron asked Mrs. Tealby “whether the mare he (Edmonds) rode on December 9 was the one the police took away”, but she had not taken any notice. Questioning by defence counsel George Roberts confirmed that Edmonds came to Tealby’s on a daily basis, “and there was nothing whatever to arouse her attention on that morning”. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 3)

Henry Harrington (‘Harry’) Stewart, the Main Roads Commission driver on the day of the hold-up, was next to give evidence. Stewart stated that he knew Edmonds. It was Stewart’s duty to meet the rail motor at Moongabulla every second Wednesday and drive the paymaster to Mt. Spec. Stewart’s evidence regarding the details of the hold-up corroborated that of Killoran and O’Brien. Stewart was also unable to identify Edmonds as the bandit: “As the man ran away witness’ (Stewart’s) view was obscured by the undergrowth, but he noticed the man was wearing a long coat as he knelt behind the ambush. He would not say the defendant was the man he noticed behind the ambush, although he considered the man would be about 5ft. 9in. or 5ft. 10in. and would weigh in the vicinity of 12st. 10lbs.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 3) “The bandit…was wearing a slouch hat, and his face was partly covered by a dirty coloured handkerchief, similar to the handkerchief produced in court.” (Telegraph, Brisbane, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 1)

Stewart had seen Edmonds at the Main Roads Mt. Spec office on the Tuesday before the payroll hold-up. Edmonds was speaking to Herbertson, the Main Roads timekeeper. “It was a general conversation, during which he (Edmonds) remarked on the amount of pay that would be coming out.” Edmonds had also asked McClelland, the overseer, “for four gallons of benzine as he (defendant) was proceeding to Townsville the next day”. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 3) Stewart had never seen Edmonds at the office before. Edmonds’ request for fuel was denied.

The cross-examination by Roberts, focused on the identification of Edmonds as the culprit. Stewart stated that “he had known Edmonds for 10 years, but had only seen him on and off since his employment at Mt. Spec. He was never asked to identify defendant as the man who held them up,” even though Edmonds was on the hotel verandah while Stewart was also at Rollingstone. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 3) He had been asked by police if he could identify the bandit when he was running away, but he could not. Stewart had gone back to the scene of the crime “with the intention of searching for defendant’s body” as he thought that “when O’Brien fired his third shot…the bullet had found its mark”. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 3) O’Brien searched for tracks but found only boot tracks. Stewart was of the opinion that everyone in the district would know that the pay car ran every alternate Wednesday. Although the shots did not come from different angles, and Stewart “could not say the general opinion was there were two men in the hold-up, but he personally thought so.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 5^th January 1932, p. 3) Sub-Inspector’s cross-examination focused on whether Stewart would notice that the vehicle had a front flat tyre, which we know it eventually did, and that the tyre with bullet hole was seized as evidence.