Posts – Page 69 – Paluma – our village in the mist

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

by Linda Venn

It should be noted here that I have not accessed court documents but have reconstructed the arguments as best I can from the lengthy and detailed newspaper reports of the day. Accessing the court records is another project altogether.

This instalment focuses on the first day of the court case against Charles Henry Edmonds, “charged with having attempted to steal £391 19s. 5d, and with having at the time being armed with a dangerous weapon – a shot gun”. (Daily Standard, Brisbane, Wednesday 30^th December 1931, p. 15) Plain Clothes Detective, William John Gooch, was first to give evidence on Day One of the hearing (Monday 28^th December), followed by Patrick James Rynne, a police Constable stationed at Ingham. We will come back to their evidence later. First, let us hear some of the testimony of Constable Leonard Edward O’Brien, who gave evidence on Day 2 (Tuesday 29^th December).

O’Brien was based at West End Police Station. He had been the armed escort to Mt Spec once before and had known Edmonds for seven years. On 9^th December, O’Brien had met the Main Roads Paymaster, Michael Killoran, at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Townsville, presumably in Flinders Street. At 8:30am, they left for Mt Spec via rail motor. O’Brien was armed with a Police service revolver and rifle, both loaded. Killoran was also loaded with a revolver. When they arrived at Moongabulla Railway Station (Ollera Creek) at 10:30am, they were met by a Main Roads driver, Harry Stewart in a utility truck. The bag containing the money was placed in the bottom of the truck. The three men sat in the seat of the ute, Stewart as driver, Killoran in the middle and O’Brien on the passenger side. They called first at the pipeworks on Ollera Creek, where Killoran paid two employees.

Continuing along Mt. Spec Road, they passed through Tealby’s yard, then on for a further mile and a half where a log lay across the road at a bend. The log was later measured at thirteen feet. The tree looked as if it fallen over in recent wet weather. Stewart drove up close to the log and O’Brien jumped out to inspect it. They had not seen anyone up until then. O’Brien had holstered his revolver, but the rifle was still in the truck. He didn’t have time to move the log, being distracted by “a voice in the distance”, which called out “Put them up!” O’Brien then noticed a man hiding “in some bushes about 15 yards off the road, and slightly to the rear.” Much of the prosecuation’s case relied on O’Brien’s description and identification of the perpetrator. This man was wearing “an old brown coloured hat” and his face was covered “with a piece of material similar to a handkerchief”. He was also wearing “a dirty jacket, similar to a shirt coat or pyjama coat, which was hanging outside his trousers. There appeared to be a bulk in the breast of his coat”. Immediately after calling out for the armed party to surrender, the bandit fired a shot. Stewart got out on the driver’s side, while Killoran fell out of the other side, slightly wounded to the head. O’Brien could not see what kind of gun it was. O’Brien “took cover from behind the right hand mud guard and fired at the man with his revolver, at which the man returned fire, the shot hitting the car.” O’Brien then fired two more shots in quick succession, after which the bandit left the cover of the bushes and headed for the hills. Grabbing his rifle from the ute, O’Brien fired three more shots at the man, none of which appeared to have any effect, and followed him for about 20 yards before Stewart called him back. The bandit was running away from the Mt Spec Road, through thick undergrowth, and was making for a gully that ran between the crime scene and the mountain. A total of eight shots had been fired, two by the bandit and six by Constable O’Brien. Returning to the truck, he found Killoran wounded, “a fresh wound on his head which was bleeding and also found a hole in his hat which corresponded with the wound in his head. The wound appeared to have been made by a pellet.” O’Brien did not examine the utility truck for any damage. After he removed the log from the track, they proceeded to the Main Roads camp at the bottom of the range. Camp No. 1 had telephone communications, so contact was quickly made with Main Roads and Police Inspector Loch in Townsville. Having handed over the payroll, O’Brien organised a search party and travelled back to the scene of the crime in another Main Roads vehicle, “arriving there shortly after mid-day and remaining there till dark.” Following the course taken by the bandit, he found an old brown hat which he later gave to Detective Gooch. O’Brien also found some wads from shot gun cartridges. He was able to track where the bandit had run through the undergrowth and stated that he had had “a clear view of the defendant when he was running away for a couple of yards” and again when he left his barricade, “in full view for at least 22 yards.” (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 30^th December 1931, p. 11)

Later in the afternoon, Police reinforcements arrived. Detective Senior-Sergeant O’Driscoll, Detective Gooch and Plain Clothes Constable Raetz arrived from Townsville; Constable Rynne and Acting-Sergeant McDonald arrived from Ingham. Two Aboriginal trackers came too. Before continuing with O’Brien’s testimony, we will look next at the evidence given by Gooch and Rynne. (See Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 29^th December 1931, p. 5)

Notice of Range Road Closures (February-March 2020)

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has notified us that it will be conducting surveying works on Mount Spec Road, approximately mid-February through to early March. These works include full lane closures, likely from 9am to 3pm.

For further information contact:

Megan

Customer and Stakeholder Management (Northern) | North Queensland Region
Program Delivery And Operations | Infrastructure Management & Delivery Division | Department of Transport and Main Roads
Floor 6 | Townsville Government Office Building | 445 Flinders Street | Townsville Qld 4810
PO Box 1089 | Townsville Qld 4810
P: 1800 625 648 | F: (07) 4421 8711
E: engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au
W: www.tmr.qld.gov.au

Vale Manuel Larrinaga 1949 – 2018

The Basque Man of Paluma and District.

A long-time resident of both Paluma and Hidden Valley, Manuel Larrinaga, died on 10th May 2018, aged 69 years, after 3 months of acute cancer illness.

Manuel was born a Basque, within the spanish Francoist fascist State in 1949, into a family of long-established farmers just outside Guernica in the Basque Country, the site of the 26 April 1937 infamous Hitler/ Franco atrocity during the Spanish Civil War. (The subject of Picasso’s famous painting entitled “ Guernika” of the same year – see Wikipedia).

Manuel was one of 11 children, some of whom still live on the family farm, including Luciano, his elder brother with whom he fled to Australia, as a refugee, aged 16, to escape forced conscription into Franco’s army, which was yet another attempt by the The Fascist Dictator to suppress the Basque Culture which has a feisty independent democratic tradition going back several centuries!

Franco’s death in 1975 was marked in Guernica with great joy. Manuel, who covertly returned to Guernica for the expected occasion, would often recount how free refreshments flowed like water for days in Guernica in celebration of the Fascist Dictator’s demise, such was the not – forgotten Basque revulsion over his crimes. (google “ Guernika”)

Manuel himself passionately hated Franco, accusing him of thwarting his plans to become a Vet! Instead Manuel followed a life of very hard labour in the cane fields of NQ and construction work in Mt Isa and elsewhere in NQ from age 16 until he died 53 years later.

Manuel was a member of a cane- cutting gang established by Luciano in Ingham. He had to harden up from a wanna- be Vet student and despite weeping every night for two years from the painful consequences of manual cane cutting he became a very tough man excelling in Boxing and being a renowned hard manual worker , as well as a spell as a Pub bouncer keeping order among the thirsty cane cutters. Ingham Police dubbed him “The Bullfighter” while others called him “The Basque Terrorist”, titles Manuel proudly proclaimed!

The reality was that Manuel was a bit of a “softie” when it came to helping the less- fortunate. He also had strong views about injustice .

In 1976 he worked for Simon Carves Ltd in Mt. Isa in a multi-national gang constructing the famous smelter Smoke Stack during which time he was the macho man riding the crane loads as a rigger to the top of the stack as it rose to its 270 Metre height. His stories of pranks and escapades without safety harnesses on high were blood chilling and often led to acute anxiety attacks amongst the Health & Safety ground staff.

In 1978 he met Judy, his life partner of nearly 40 years and they ultimately moved to live firstly at Hidden Valley and subsequently to the Republic of Hussey Road where Manuel constructed a large “Yurt” for Judy (a large Decagon house of stringy bark slabs cut by Manuel) which he subsequently re-erected at Hidden Valley, near the Furber Homestead, after adding two wings…it is an impressive example of Australian Bush architecture which will some day end up in a glossy coffee table book on vernacular buildings of OZ.

Indeed, Many of his structures can be seen around our District. Manuel was an artiste with a chain saw and he could perform miracles with his “Skyhook” chain block and his trusty shovel severely worn down by the digging of numerous postholes over many years! Manuel produced a number of stringy bark slab tables which are memorials to his skill and labours in the forests around Paluma- Blackfriars – Mt Zero as a timber cutter and Mill worker with Mr. R. Brookes esq. (who can forget their red hair dye period?)

Manuel’s legacy is around us for all to see…including the Andree Griffin Walking Track sign and the “Trees in Memory ” slab both voluntarily erected by him.

No story about Manuel’s life is complete without mentioning his valiant attempts to conquer the English language! He could construct alleged English sentences and adapt words so that they were but a shadow of their intended meaning but still understandable with a little prodding, poking and requests for repetition from those of us who could not understand a single word of the truly ancient Basque Language. (Please note : not Spanish!)

Indeed, it has been suggested that Manuel communicated in Basque with an Australian accent! a very endearing aspect of his personality and perfectly understandable when one considers that his English language academy was the cane paddocks of Ingham where the tutors spoke only Basque, Spanish, Italian , Sicilian , Serbian , Croat and Irish!

His persona of a tough hard- working battler remain in the memories of those who knew him, especially the super-critical working people of The Valley who were in awe of his prodigious work ethic and physical toughness.

May his memory be long respected in this District as one of those many oppressed refugees who have made a huge contribution to our present day Australian Culture .

Michael Drew

Vale Jean Garrett

It is with sorrow that we report the passing of former Paluma resident, Jean Garrett on Christmas Day, 2019 after a long illness.

Jean had a long association with Paluma, visiting the village regularly from the time she was a teenager, coming on a motor cycle with her then boyfriend, Graham. They married in Perth, when Jean was 16, returning to Townsville soon after, and had a long and happy marriage.

Jean supported her husband’s enthusiasm for Speedway Side-car racing and over many years they travelled to many destinations to speedway meetings around the country with their children. They were a popular couple around the speedway, with many long-term friends.

Jean was a very capable woman with numerous other interests, especially within the Arts. She and Graham owned The Palms Art Gallery in Townsville, from which they also ran a framing business. Jean had a fine collection of porcelain, sculpture and prints. Jean was also a keen gardener. An absorbing interest was jewellery-making, at which she was very talented, creating unique and lovely pieces in her studio at their home. Jean’sjewellery was in demand at craft shops and markets.

Graham and Jean bought Mist Haven units from Cec and Lois Carpenter, and later the brick house in Lennox Crescent where Jean and Graham lived until Graham’s death in 2008. Jean was devastated by his death but remained here for several years. However, with declining health and missing Graham deeply, she sold the house and moved to Patterson in NSW to be nearer to her children and grand-children. Here, she quickly made friends and helped regularly in an art and craft shop until failing health forced her to retire.

Jean is remembered very fondly by her friends in Paluma and our sympathy is extended to her family in their sad loss.

A celebration of the lives of Graham and Jean and spreading of their mingled ashes, will be held by the family on 6^th June in Paluma, where Graham and Jean had been so happy.

Nature Notes – Fellow Travellers

This post focuses on animals that either travel together by choice, or are obvious at the same time of year.

Both our Eastern/ Golden Water Skinks and Red-bellied Black Snakes breed in the northern “Spring” – or as soon as the weather warms up. In 2019, warm weather was early, so both species have now given birth to their young. When I say “given birth”, both the EW/G skink and the RBBS are live-bearers. They do not lay eggs as most other reptiles do. Their young are born in membranous sacs, like that inside the hard outer shell of a boiled hen’s egg, and not as tough as the usual leathery reptile egg covering. Red-bellied black snakes have a pregnancy of four to five months after mating and give birth to between 5 and 18 young measuring around 28cm in total length. This is the same length as an adult Eastern Water skink. These skinks also mate in Spring and give birth to about nine young in Summer. Their young are much smaller than 28cm, and a favourite food of the Red-bellied Black Snake.

So, if you see pregnant Eastern/ Golden Water Skinks (obviously broad across the beam) basking in the sun, or baby skinks, be mentally prepared to see some young Red-bellied Black Snakes. Fortunately, they are a shy snake and will generally only deliver a serious bite under severe molestation, still often delivering a “dry bite”. Your best option is to leave them alone.

The Australian Museum regards the Red-Bellied Black Snake as probably the least dangerous elapid snake in Australia for its size. Despite the number of bites received every year, very few human deaths have resulted. Most death records date from early times when the snake’s identity was often unconfirmed. Many bite victims experience only mild or negligible symptoms, however a number also end up hospitalized. The health risks to children and pets are greater, due to their smaller size. As individual reactions to envenomation can vary, all suspected bites should be treated as serious and medical attention sought as soon as possible.

Another set of fellow travellers, by choice this time, are the White-rumped Swiftlets and White-throated Needletails, small flocks of which have been seen hawking for insects together above the forest canopy. Apparently, they sense changes in barometric pressure and fly in front of approaching storm fronts. The Swiftlet is resident in Australia, while the Needletail breeds in northern Asia and flies south each year, reaching northern Australia early October. The Needletail stay for the Wet, then flies “home” in March.

Another pair of fellow-travelling species are the Figbirds and Olive-backed Oriole (which looks similar to an immature Figbird). Our rusty fig is in full fruit, so we have Figbirds visiting. Only a very small flock so far this year, but they are accompanied by at least one Oriole – more often heard than seen.

One of the funniest, and short-lived pairings, was that of an immature Pied Currawong and a family flock of Crimson Rosellas. The Currawong only arrived in numbers locally in the mid-1980s and a few have remained as permanent residents. However, I have never seen a breeding pair with a chick until this year. They are obviously breeding here as well now. Initially grey and white in colour, the young Currawong is now looking more “adult”. Its parents obviously thought their job was done, because after a couple of weeks of feeding their whinging offspring, they abandoned it to its own devices. In desperation, the young Currawong attached itself to a group of Crimson Rosellas, unusual considering that Currawongs will take nestlings of all sorts of species as food. Bill watched a Crimson Rosella stare down the young Pied Currawong, then bounce over and give it a severe peck! We haven’t seen the Currawong hanging around with the Rosellas since.

Linda Venn

More Wet Season Mushrooms

Colwyn recently posted her observations on the first crops of mushrooms “popping up” around the village. Over the last few weeks even more have been springing up around the forest walking tracks and many of them are delightfully photogenic although they can be frustratingly difficult to identify. Here is a collection from the last month that Andi Cairns and I have seen out on the tracks. The identifications are made with a fair degree of confidence (and a large measure of hubris) but we would welcome any comments on our identification efforts.

Mycena haematopus – Bleeding Fairy Helmet

This gorgeous mushroom gets its somewhat macabre common name from the fact that it will ooze a red/purple juice if squeezed or cut (especially at the base of the stem). If the name puts you off you can always opt for its alternative common name: Burgundydrop Bonnet. It is widespread and common in Europe, North America and also recorded in SE Asia and Australia.

Filoboletus manipularis – no common name

Depending on which reference you use this delightful clumping mushroom, frequently found on logs and trees, can be named Filoboletus, Favolaschia or Mycena. It differs from other clumping fungi on trees in that it has a reticulate pattern of pores under that cap instead of linear gills.

Photos by Jamie Oliver (left) & Will Cairns (center, right )

Wikipedia claims that it is bioluminescent but the specimen shown on the tree trunk did not show this trait (the mushrooms were rotting by the time I (JO) went back to check.

Dacryopinax spathularia – Fan-shaped Jelly Fungus

This is a beautiful and common fungus which can be found as small yellow/orange blades poking out of cracks in dead wood or as larger convoluted fans. It will even grow on polyester rugs, so you might just find it in your house if we ever get a proper wet season here in Paluma!

Wikipedia states that this species is edible and is a component of the Asian vegetarian dish called Buddha’s Delight. But PLEASE DO NOT EAT this unless you independently confirm its identity

Crust Fungi, or Corticoid Fungi

These are not often mentioned in books or online and are a diverse group of fungi with superficially similar form (encrusting) but which can belong to any of 18 different taxonomic orders. On consultation with an expert colleague of one of us (AC), Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher, “ This is a skin, patch or Corticoid fungus, which are super-tricky [to identify] and we don’t have many experts in Australasia. Microscopic characters are likely needed [to confirm identification].” To the untrained eye this one could easily be taken for a lichen, so confirming that it is actually a type of mushroom is some progress.

Galerina patagonica – no common name

A beautiful clumping mushroom that grows on rotting logs, it belongs to a group with highly toxic species that unfortunately bear a strong resemblance to some hallucinogenic Psilocybin mushrooms. So if you are looking for an alternate view of reality – beware.

This species has not been formally recorded in north Queensland before, although there are some photos on Flickr that were taken in Cairns that are identified as C. patagonica.

Cyptotrama asprata (Golden Scruffy Collybia)

This distinctive and beautiful orange mushroom can be found along the H-track as well as other local tracks. It grows on dead wood and is found worldwide in the tropics.

Leucocoprinus fragilissimus (Fragile Dapperling)

This dainty (and fragile) mushroom starts off with a rounded convex cup that becomes flat then slightly convex with age. It is quite common on local forest tracks. Even a gentle touch is likely to damage the cap. It is found on all continents.

Laetiporus sp – Shelf fungi

I was impressed by the size and colouration of this shelf fungi on the Andreé Griffin Track. I am not certain of the species but it is a member of the Polyporace which includes a variety of shelf and bracket fungi.

Another smaller species of Laetiporus (L. sulphureus) is yellow to brilliant orange and is likely to be seen around the tracks as the wet season progresses (I have seen it once this year but did not photograph it). Despite its distinctive colour, which would provide good material for a common name, L. sulphureus is called Chicken of the Woods, apparently because, like many unfamiliar foods, it “tastes like chicken”. However there are reports that it can cause tummy ache, so I suggest you stick to real poultry unless you really know your mushrooms.

Photo by Jamie Oliver (taken on the H-Track in 2014)

While we are showing photos of fungi that, while not seen by us this year, have been recorded in the past, this stunning Anemone stinkhorn (Aseroe rubra) was seen by Will and Andi in 2004 along the track to Witts Lookout.

Be on the lookout for these and other marvellous mushrooms as you stroll along our local tracks.

Text by Jamie Oliver and Andi Cairns; photos as per captions

Further Reading

Some references for those who would like to try their own identifications, or just learn more about Australian Mushrooms:

Facebook Mushroom Sites:

Australia & New Zealand Fungus Identification

SEQ FUNGI

Queensland Mycological Society

Fuhrer, B, (2004). A Field Guide to the Fungi of Australia. (now out of print, but might be in some libraries)

Young, T & Smith, K (2004). A Field Guide to the Fungi of Australia. UNSW Press

Facebook identification sites prefer a photo of the under-surface of the mushroom cap and (if possible) a spore print (this may be too much information!). It is also a good idea not to touch fungi with bare hands — it’s better to use a disposable glove or tissue to turn over a mushroom cap, and always wash hands after touching fungi.

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

by Linda Venn

By 2:31pm on the afternoon of 9^th December 1931, Main Roads Brisbane office was in receipt of the following telegram, sent from Main Roads Townsville:

ATTEMPTED HOLDUP MOUNT SPEC THIS MORNING BETWEEN MOONGOBULLA AND JOB FULLSTOP KILLORAN VERY CLIGHTLY WOUNDED HEAD FULLSTOP PAY INTACT FULLSTOP POLICE HAS MATTER IN HAND

The Police responded in force, joining “a number of civilians….mostly walking about with guns”. (Brisbane Courier, Wednesday 30^th December 1931, p. 9) Main Roads Commission Overseer, Wilfred Hector McClelland, had called for volunteers. In fact, Constable O’Briennoted in his March 1932 report to the Townsville Police District (West End Station) that “about 30 men from Mt. Spec relief works…joined in the search, which commenced at about 12:30pm and terminated at dusk on the 9^th Dec. and a further search was made the next day”. (Copy of Police correspondence No. 162/32, dated 22^nd March 1932, held in Main Roads Archives, Brisbane) The large party of volunteers was joined by ten Police employees. Sergeant McDonald, Constable Rynne and “A Tracker” came down from Ingham. The police contingent from Townsville was led by Detective Senior Sergeant O’Driscoll and consisted of Detective Gooch, Plain Clothes Constable Raetz, Acting Sergeant Miners, Constable Howard, and “A Tracker”. Constable O’Brien provided local knowledge of “the country in the vicinity of the hold-up…[as it]…was thickly timbered and fairly soft.” (Brisbane Courier, Wednesday 30^th December 1931, p. 9)

Edmonds was remanded to appear before Mr. Geo. A Cameron, Police Magistrate, on Friday morning 18^th December. Sub-Inspector Blackmore applied for a further remand. Mr. G. V. Roberts, of Roberts, Leu and North, appeared for the accused, offering no objection to the request for more time on behalf of the Police. Roberts did request “that the time be made convenient for the defendant, who resided on the Ingham line”. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Saturday, 19^th December 1931, p.6). The magistrate extended bail to noon on Thursday 24^th December. Obviously, time got away in court on Christmas Eve, for Edmonds’ next appearance was remanded again to Monday 28^th December.

Detective Constable Gooch was first to give evidence. Gooch had “proceeded to Mount Spec and viewed the site of the hold-up…[where]…he saw an uprooted tree about 14 feet long and about six inches thick, also a number of freshly cut bushes, about 14 yards from the road, built up in the shape of a barricade.” The following morning, Gooch and other police went to Edmonds’ residence at Ollera Gorge, where they found him in company of Edward Gill, James Tier, and William Searle. When asked if he had any guns, Edmonds laughed and replied, “Sure, I have got rifles and ammunition here”, handing over rifles, a single-barrelled shotgun belonging “to a lady friend in Townsville” and the Colt revolver. Gooch took possession of a dirty white coat and a shirt, which Edmonds claimed belonged to his father, and pair of blue dungaree trousers and another shirt which Edmonds said he was wearing the previous day. Gooch saw other police searching a car parked in the shed, from where they retrieved a dirty white handkerchief that Edmonds admitted was his. The police party then proceeded to Tealby’s farm and saw the mare which Edmonds said he’d been riding. From Tealby’s, they went back to the scene of the hold-up, where Gooch told Edmonds that the trackers had followed the tracks of a horse in a gully for about 130 yards, then on to the gate at Tealby’s. (Telegraph, Brisbane, Monday 28^th December 1931, p. 1.)

The Sydney Sun newspaper of the same datedetailed some “sensational evidence” under the banner “MOVIE METHODS Prisoner Dressed Up at Crime Scene”. Constable O’Brien recounted how he’d exclaimed “That’s Charlie Edmonds” on the day of the hold-up. Edmonds had told O’Brien on the day of the hold-up that O’Brien was mistaken. Despite protests from the defendant’s counsel, Edmonds had agreed “without hesitation” to a “dress rehearsal” and “donned a suit found in his hut and walked from the spot where the shots had been fired”. Evidence was also given that “hoof-marks near the scene were, after measurement, provided identical with those of Edmond’s mare.” (Sun, Sydney, Monday 28^th December 1931, p. 9)

No other potential suspects were identified or paraded in the manner detailed above. Neither the driver Harry Stewart nor the paymaster Michael Killoran were asked to identify Edmonds as the “bandit”. Identification rested on the word of Constable O’Brien alone. (Townsville Daily Bulletin, Tuesday 29^th December 1931, p. 5) The case was adjourned to the following day.

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

by Linda Venn

Charles Henry Edmonds was a well-known horseman, stockman and drover aged 34. He currently lived at Ollera Gorge. Charles was a widower with one child who lived in Aitkenvale, Townsville, where Charles was well-known, having been in Townsville for about ten years. He had never been in trouble with the Police before. Despite this, Charles was detained on Thursday night, 36 hours after the attempted robbery. He was brought to Townsville on Friday afternoon, presumably by rail, as the highway did not exist at that time. Charles’ mare was also brought to Townsville Friday night, as evidence. In Townsville, Charles was formally arrested on two charges.

Charles’ first court appearance was on Saturday morning, 12^th December 1931. All the newspaper reports (often reprinted verbatim across Brisbane, regional Queensland and in other states) mention that Charles’ “appearance in the Police Court this morning drew a big crowd”. (Sunday Mail, 13 December 1931, p. 4) The Brisbane Truth of the same day carried the headline “BANDITRY CHARGE” above a photograph of Detective Senior-Sergeant O’Driscoll, who was wearing a very spivvy hat. (Truth, 13 December 1931, p. 15). The Brisbane Daily Standard of the following day carried the headline “THE BOOTY WAS BIG”. Not talking about anyone’s derriere here, but the amount the ‘bandit’ had attempted to get away with – £391 19s 5d!

The first charge was settled that day and related to Charles being in possession of an unlicensed Colt revolver. Sub-Inspector Blackmore gave evidence that when questioned at his house near Rollingstone, the defendant had handed the revolver to Detective O’Driscoll. It was in his pack saddlebag and was fully loaded in all six chambers. Charles pleaded guilty to possession of the unlicensed revolver. He had enquired of a Constable Crunkhorn regarding a licence but had left on a droving job before actually applying for one. Charles’ defence counsel, Mr. T. M. Barry, noted that a droving job warranted the carrying of a firearm. Barry also said that the defendant “was a man of high reputation, having been employed as a cattle buyer and drover by prominent firms”. (Sunday Mail, 13 December 1931, p. 4) Acting Police Magistrate W. E. McKenzie imposed the minimum fine of £10 in default three months imprisonment.

On the more serious charge, of attempting to steal while armed with a shotgun the sum of £391 19s 5d from the Main Roads Commission (previously Main Roads Board) Paymaster, Michael Killoran, Charles Henry Edmonds was remanded for a week on a self surety of £100 and another of £100 (or two of £50). Police Prosecutor Sub-Inspector Blackmore did not oppose bail. Reports of Charles’ next court appearance on Saturday 19^th December on the attempted robbery charge were eagerly awaited.

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

by Linda Venn

The construction of the Mount Spec Road as a Great Depression unemployment relief project is well-known and is one of several reasons that the Road was given State heritage listing on 10^th November 2008. Surveying of the road began in 1928-1929 and was completed in early 1931 as construction commenced. During the five years it took to build a trafficable track to within a kilometre of the newly gazetted township of Paluma (possibly ‘Windy Corner’), unemployed men worked on short-term rotations under the supervision of a small permanent staff from the Main Roads Board (later Commission). As far as I can ascertain, there were four main camps along the length of the road, with many smaller camps in between, adjacent to specific parts of the project like an arched culvert. While construction obviously started at the bottom of the range near the railway station at Moongabulla, it leap-frogged these smaller, time-consuming projects. The masonry arch bridge at Little Crystal Creek, for example, took months to complete, with access to works above the gorge via a temporary timber bridge.

When I had the pleasure several times of meeting and interviewing Linda McClelland, she detailed some memories of each of the four major camps. By the time the road reached Cloudy Clearing (Paluma), Wilfred and Linda McClelland had five children living in tents or later, a ‘tent house’ located where 31 Lennox Crescent is today. If you ever visit Mount Isa, one such tent house is preserved there as a heritage building.

Linda McClelland remembered each main camp for the significant events that took place there. Camp No. 1 was roughly near the old ‘quarry’ at the very bottom of the range itself. Camp No 1 had a payroll hold-up!

On Wednesday 9 December 1931, Pay Clerk Michael Killoran and driver Harry Stewart drove the Model T Ford utility from the camp to Moongabulla railway siding, where they collected the payroll and its police escort Constable Len O’Brien. As the men working on the road were about to be stood down for the Christmas season, the payroll was almost four hundred pounds (£391 19s 5d). In the Great Depression, this was a considerable sum of money, and all in cash.

On their journey back towards Camp No. 1 at the base of the range, they found the track blocked by a felled tree. This was in an area of ti-tree swamp that Linda called ‘Boggy Hollow’. Without knowing exactly where ‘Boggy Hollow’ was, I lean towards it being the patch of ti-trees opposite the Ponderosa Road intersection. I shall let the Townsville Daily Bulletin, 10 December 1931 tell the beginning of the story.

The party got out…to remove the obstacle and just as they were about to do so, a voice called on them, “Put up your hands.” The party then looked around to see where the strange voice had come from, and observed a man partly concealed behind some rocks and bushes, with a shot gun pointed at them. As they demurred in complying with his peremptory demand, he fired two shots at them in their direction. One of the pellets struck Mr. Killoran just above the temple, but no injury resulted. The offender then made off into the bush, but Constable O’Brien fired some shots at the retreating figure without effect.

Townsville Sketchers visit Paluma

Today the Paluma Pottery hosted a group of artists from the Urban Sketchers Townsville Group for lunch.

The group made a day of it, stopping at little Crystal Creek to sketch the only functional stone arch bridge in Queensland, and then visiting Len Cook in Paluma. Its great that Len is continuing to encourage artists working with various media to come up to the village and enjoy the mountain air, although today was not a good example of our normally cool temperatures!

A sample of one of the sketches by Alison McDonald is shown here. More examples of the results of their visit can be seen on their facebook page.