Posts – Page 90 – Paluma – our village in the mist

Magical Mystery Tour to Paluma

Last Saturday (4th August) Paluma was part of a ‘Mystery Tour’ run by the Sunshine Coast company, Sinclair Tour and Travel. A group of 31 happy travellers stopped in at the Rainforest Inn for morning tea which included scones, caramel tarts and other treats made by Jennie and Neil. The group is enjoying a 5-day tour of North Queensland having visited Mackay, Airlie Beach, Townsville and now Paluma.

Happy travellers at the Rainforest Inn. Can you spot the Paluma local in the photo?

Peter Sinclair, the organiser and owner of the tour company, admitted that this was his first visit to Paluma after having driven past the turn-off on the Bruce Highway many times since the 1970’s. The group enjoyed their visit and noted that the highlights were the beautiful drive up the Range Road, the cool mountain air and the delicious caramel tarts! Peter says that now he has discovered Paluma he will certainly come back.

Rainforest Tree of the Month – August 2018 Gympi Gympi (Stinging Tree)

Gympi Gympi (Dendrocnide moroides)

The Gympi Gympi is also known as the Stinging Tree, and is said to be one of the world’s most venomous plants. Those unlucky enough to have suffered a major sting claim the pain is the most excruciating of any they have endured.

A small stinging tree with ripe berries found beside Chicks Rd. Photo by Charlie Allen

World-wide there are 37 species of stinging tree with 6 in Australia. The Dendrocnide moroides has the worst sting. The tree is often described as a shrub but can grow to a height of 4 to 5 meters. It tends to grow in open, disturbed sites such as a cyclone damaged area or in a clearing where a tree has fallen. They like sunny, but sheltered areas and are often found along walking tracks or the edges of streams. The Gympi Gympi is found from Gympie in Southern Queensland to Cape York Peninsular and is very common in the Atherton Tablelands. It is generally not common along any of the Paluma walking tracks that have a complete rainforest canopy, but small plants can spring up quite rapidly in damaged areas exposed to sunlight.

The leaves of the Gympi Gympi, carried on long, hairy stalks are finely serrated and heart-shaped. They are covered in fine stinging hairs which give the leaves a furry appearance. The fine silica hairs break off when touched and embed in the skin. They act like syringes and continue to inject venom for several days. Even dead leaves are capable of inflicting a sting. The pain experience depends on the amount of contact with the leaves but also varies between people. A brief brush with a leaf can lead to significant but bearable localized (surface) pain, but extensive contact (especially in sensitive areas of thin skin) can be excruciating, often with extreme reactions like swelling and profuse sweating. The pain reduces over time but can linger for over a month. Rubbing the skin exacerbates the situation as it breaks the hairs, leaving the points embedded in the skin. Also, contact with cool water leads to recurrence of pain days or weeks after the event. Unfortunately for those stung, there is no truly effective treatment although shaving the affected area and then daubing it with a weak solution of hydrochloric acid or full strength house-hold vinegar can help to alleviate the worst of the pain. This treatment is only for the strong-minded since it causes the pain to significantly increase for several minutes before acting to reduce it.

The chemicals contained in the venom are not completely understood but it is suggested that a peptide called moroidin could be responsible for the pain. Some birds, mammals and insects appear to be immune to the venom as many eat the fruit and leaves without harm. The fruit is edible to humans brave enough to sample them and are quite pleasant in flavor – just be careful not to touch the leaves or stem when picking the berries!

The fruit of the Gympi Gympi is actually a small nut enclosed within a fleshy sac. Several sacs are clustered together to form a mulberry-like fruit which hangs from a stem. The stems and fruit are also covered in fine hair.

What’s Flowering in Paluma – Clivia or Kaffir Lily

Clivia or Kaffir Lily (Clivia miniata)

Clivias are native to South Africa and they grow in most areas of Australia from temperate to tropical climates. Clivias love the shade and they make excellent understory plants, especially in rainforest gardens at Paluma.

Clivias have clusters of brightly coloured trumpet-shaped flowers which range from bright orange, red, yellow and cream shades. The orange flowering variety tends to be most common. The flowers are held on sturdy stalks above dark strap-like leaves. Clivias flower during late winter to early spring. They love the filtered light of the forest floor, mulch and moist soils, making them an ideal garden plant in the misty village of Paluma.

Text & photo by Michele Bird

Paluma Profiles – Lynn Hyland

This month in ‘Meet A Villager’ we introduce you to long-time Paluma resident Lynn Hyland.

Lynn and her husband Les bought their 5-acre property at Paluma in 1986, having been regular bushwalkers and campers to the area for many years.
For 38 years Lynn worked as an Early Education teacher and then as a Primary Deputy Principal in Townsville schools for 28 years.
Lynn and Les were regular weekenders to Paluma up until 2003 when they retired to paradise and made ‘Barr’ na ‘Coille’ their principal residence.
Barr’ na ‘Coille’ derives from Les’ Irish heritage and translates literally as ‘Top of the Forest’, but with a little licence the Hylands like to call their home ‘Woody Heights’.
Over the past 25 years they have battled fires and cyclones on their property. They were burnt out in 1993 and then trees fell on the house during Cyclone Yasi in 2011.
It has taken much hard work and perseverance to restore their property. They planted 760 trees to revegetate the block after the fires and to re-establish their extensive gardens.

Lynn’s motto has always been “if you are going to live in a small community then one should be willing to contribute to that community”. And contribute she has.
Lynn has been a Paluma Rural Fire Brigade member for 30 years and a Mt Spec SES member for 29 years.
In 2007, Lynn took the position of Vice President of the Paluma and District Community Association. She then served as President for 9 years up to 2018. She is currently the Second Vice President.
Lynn has served as an active member on many fundraising committees including the Paluma Rainforest Festival, Northern Beaches Festival, Paluma Art Exhibitions and local markets.
Lynn is currently involved with the Paluma Local History Display and she is the coordinator of the annual Paluma Garden Competition.
In her spare time (!) Lynn loves to paint and to follow her interest in gem and opal fossicking.
The Hylands love to travel and they have made many tours around Australia in their motorhome. They also love to travel overseas and they have made 11 trips to Europe during their 39 years of marriage.
In 2017, they embarked on a 7 week cruise to Ireland. Their next big adventure is planned for 2019 with a 5 week cruise around the South Pacific.
Lynn enjoys the tranquility and peaceful lifestyle that Paluma offers.
If there is a community or social event at Paluma, then Lynn is sure to be there. She is often the first to arrive and the last to leave, selfless with her time and dedication to our village community.

Volunteering for Paluma Push

Les and Lynn Hyland are veteran volunteers for the Paluma Push having been involved in the annual event since 2002. They were team captains at Checkpoint 1 at Paluma Dam on Sunday 22 July. Both have been tireless and dedicated volunteers at Paluma community and social events over the past three decades.

Looking for Spotted-tailed Quoll scat

Alberto Vale, from the Australian Quoll Conservancy (www.quolls.org.au) is looking for help in determining if the Spotted-tailed Quoll, which was once fairly common in Paluma, is still in the area. Sadly, quolls were hunted as pests by the original settlers.

For the past 9 months, the Australian Quoll Conservancy has been surveying the Paluma area in search of Spotted-tailed Quolls, presumed extinct in the area since the 1930’s however confirmed sighting reports have floated in the 60’s as well in 1984.

While direct sightings of the animal would be most exciting, a more likely observation (if they are here) would be scat (Quoll poo) on the walking tracks or on top of adjacent rocks and bolders around the Dam or even near the village. If you see anything resembling the images below please take a picture as close-up as possible (or even collect a specimen) and contact Alberto on 0412 632 328 or aqc@quolls.org.au

Volunteering for Paluma Push

Roy Mackay and Colwyn Campbell have been dedicated volunteers for the Paluma Push for many years. Colwyn celebrated her 10th year as a volunteer at Check Point 1 at Paluma Dam on Sunday, 22 July. Roy has been volunteering for the event since the race commenced in 2002.

Feedback requested on future night-time closure of Bruce Highway

Do you use the Bruce Highway through Yabulu (north of Townsville) at night?

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is seeking feedback from people who regularly travel the Bruce Highway through Yabulu at night, about upcoming temporary highway closures.

The feedback will be used to inform when these closures occur, so as to have the least impact on motorists. We will provide two weeks notice once the closure dates have been determined, so that road users can plan their journeys accordingly.

Further information about the closures and how you can have your say, is outlined in the attached flyer.

We encourage you to circulate this notice to others who regularly travel this section of the highway at night.

Feedback should be directed to TMR’s Customer and Stakeholder Management team by telephone on 1800 625 648, or by email at engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au no later than close of business Friday 3 August 2018. Thank you for your assistance.

Kind regards,

Customer and Stakeholder Management Team
North Queensland Region

Customer and Stakeholder Management Team
North Queensland Region
Program Delivery and Operations Branch | Infrastructure Management and Delivery Division | Department of Transport and Main Roads

____________________________________________

Floor 5 | Townsville Government Office Building | 445 Flinders Street | Townsville Qld 4810
PO Box 1089 | Townsville Qld 4810
1800 625 648 
engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au
www.tmr.qld.gov.au

Flyer_Seeking feedback_Bruce Highway closure_yabulu

Bird of the Month – Satin Bowerbird

The satin bowerbird is common at Paluma and quite easy to spot around many of the village gardens and along the numerous walking tracks.

The population of satin bowerbirds at Paluma is quite unique in that it is reported to be an isolated population in the Wet Tropics of North Queensland.

The male birds are black in colour, but the rich dark gloss of their feathers gives the birds an almost metallic sheen, so that they appear to be a deep shiny blue colour. They are quite breathtaking to see in the varying shades of light in the rainforest.

Satin Bowerbird male (top) and female (bottom). Photos by Jamie Oliver

The female birds are green and brown in colour, but with a distinctive scalloped pattern down the body. Both male and female birds have striking blue eyes.

If these birds are not spectacular enough, like most bowerbirds they have a very complex courtship behaviour that involves the male birds building elaborately woven stick structures, or ‘bowers’.

The intention of the bower is to lure females for mating. The female birds will visit the bowers and based on their inspection, will then choose which male they will allow to mate with them.

Male satin bowerbirds go to great lengths to decorate their bower with shiny and coloured objects to impress the ladies. As the males mature they favour blue objects in particular.

Satin Bowerbird bower. Photos by Michele Bird

Some lucky Paluma locals have a resident satin bowerbird and bower in their garden, or on their bush block. The bower here was recently sighted in the Hussey Road area.

This bower is decorated with an array of natural objects. This bird has collected blue bird feathers (probably from a crimson rosella), land snails, brightly coloured pebbles and bright-green moss or lichen. However, the majority of the items are non-natural materials including fragments of plastic, surveyor’s tape, pieces of tarpaulin, pegs, bottle lids, the rings from milk bottles and pieces of aluminium foil.

To me, this bower shows how remarkably innovative and adaptive these birds are to the modern world, in sourcing and using a vast array of treasured blue finds. But, it also shows that even in a small village such as Paluma, which is nestled on the very margins of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, the birds are able to find a great deal of plastic material. For me it serves as a timely reminder that we could all do a little bit better in managing our waste and taking care of our environment and native fauna.

Text by Michele Bird

What’s Flowering in Paluma – Madonna Orchid

Pink Madonna orchid (Cattleya trianaei)

This superb specimen of Cattleya orchid belongs to Paluma residents Michael and Donna Drew. The beautiful mauve, deep purple and yellow blooms are long lasting and Michael says that these flowers first opened in early July.

The orchid is about 10 years old and was purchased by Donna at an Orchid Society Show in Townsville. The plant is happily growing in shaded conditions in the fork of a small tree with rough, corky bark. Michael feeds the plant regularly with a spray of liquid fish emulsion and the odd banana skin (as a source of potassium).

Michael has named the orchid ‘Pink Madonna’ after his lovely wife, Donna.

Did you know that the genus of Cattleya orchids was first named in 1824 in tribute to William Cattley of England who was a keen cultivator of tropical plants. These orchids originate from the Central and South Americas.

Text and Photos by Michele Bird