Posts – Page 92 – Paluma – our village in the mist

What’s Flowering in Paluma? Iris tectorum

What’s Flowering at Paluma in July? Roof Iris (Iris tectorum)

This species of clumping iris is known as Iris tectorum. It is a perennial plant native to China and Burma. It is called the Roof Iris because in Japan it is grown on the ridges of the roofs of thatched houses. The plants grow from a thick rhizome which forms spreading clumps. These plants thrive in Paluma as they prefer dry and cold winters, with warm and wet summers. The plants prefer partial shade as opposed to full sun. The remarkable flowers range in colour from lavender-blue to bluish-violet shades.

The leaves are light-green in colour and sword-shaped. The flowers attract bees and other insects which are important for pollination. Iris plants flower between June and August and after flowering they produce an ellipsoid seed capsule with black-brown seeds.

As you walk through the village of Paluma during the winter months, keep an eye out for some spectacular iris flowers, especially in the gardens along Mount Spec Road.

Text and photos by Michele Bird

Paluma Profiles – Jack Appleton

This month in ‘Meet a Villager’ we introduce you to Jack Appleton

Jack Appleton with his dad Neil at the Rainforest Inn

At 14 years of age Jack Appleton is Paluma’s youngest full-time resident. Jack is turning 15 very soon and will celebrate his birthday during July.
Jack moved to Paluma with his Mum and Dad (Jenny and Neil) in 2013, but he has been visiting Paluma since he was a baby. When he was a baby the family stayed at Fatima Cottage. He has been visiting Paluma quite regularly since the age of 5.
Jack currently attends Ingham State High School and he is in Year 9. His parents travel up and down the Range Road twice a day to ferry Jack to the school bus which meets him at the bottom of the range.
Before starting High School, Jack attended Mutarnee State School and in Year 6 he was the School Captain.
Jack loves living at Paluma because of the rainforest. Over the years he has established quite a few secluded ‘Base Camps’ in the jungle surrounding the village.
Jack has competed twice in the Paluma Dam Fun Run and he completed the course both times.
Jack doesn’t watch much TV. He has many hobbies and one of his favourite things to do is online gaming. He loves to play ‘Grand Theft Auto’.
Jack also likes to go bushwalking, bike riding and fishing with his Dad. He likes to build and fix bikes and his scooter. He would like to go snow skiing and knee boarding.
Jack regularly helps out his neighbours around the village with mowing, gardening and other chores.
His favourite time of year is cyclone season. This is because the Range Road and the Bruce Highway are often closed during storms and floods and Jack doesn’t have to go to school.
Jack’s favourite foods are lasagne and sweet & sour chicken.
Just two weeks ago, Jack broke his wrist at school whilst playing touch football. He has to wear a cast on his arm for 5 weeks.

Paluma Profiles – Don Battersby

This month in ‘Meet a Villager’ we introduce you to Don Battersby.

Here’s a few things to know about Don:

Don has lived at Paluma for 26 years, first moving to the village in 1992.

He bought a 5-acre block of land on Hussey Road and in 2006 he built his own home.
For 44 years Don worked as a Ships Master. For 20 years he worked aboard the James Kirby, the research vessel for James Cook University.
During his time as Ships Master he had a brush with Hollywood when he transported Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland and Matthew McConaughey around the Whitsunday Islands for the making of the movie ‘Fools Gold’.
Don is a shell collector and he has a vast knowledge of South Pacific marine shells.
He is a very keen gardener and he has a passion for growing anthuriums. He currently has a collection of more than 700 colourful, weird and wonderful varieties, collected from all over Queensland.
Don loves to cook. He often makes a roast for his friends and neighbours on his new wood stove.
Don loves living at Paluma for the peace and quiet, the cool climate, the good people, the birdlife, bush tracks and swimming holes. He can’t imagine living anywhere else.
Don is extremely generous of his time and his vast knowledge of many things. He is never too busy to lend a hand to his neighbours and friends.
Don is proud of Paluma and he often acts as an impromptu tour guide for visitors on the many walking tracks and for bird enthusiasts searching for that elusive species or photograph.
A word of warning though – Don tells very BAD jokes.

What’s flowering in Paluma? Giant Camelia

Paluma gardeners Nick and Glenda Van Rynswoud are well known for their gardening finesse and expertise in growing a variety of plants too numerous to mention. They have an award-winning garden at 40 Mt Spec Road and in 2017 they were crowned the Overall Winner in the Paluma Garden Competition.

Just recently it became apparent that these two very keen gardeners just might have produced the largest flower of the Camellia genus that has been seen in the village!

The remarkable flower measures at least 15cm x 15cm and is about the size of a small plate. It is soft pink in colour with a beautiful ruffled edge. What is most surprising is that this large flower has been produced on a relatively tiny shrub, no more than 50 cm in height.

Glenda bought the plant from a market stall so she does not know the species or variety of the plant. All we know is that is it likely to be from the genus Camellia. Glenda was told the plant was a ‘red camellia’ so you can imagine her surprise when the large ruffled pink flowers started to appear.

Could this be the largest single Camellia flower grown in Paluma village?

Have you grown a larger flower in your garden, or do you know of other flowers of this size? Let us know!!

What’s flowering in Paluma? Tea-trees; Snowflake Tree

Brightening these bleak, wintry days with splashes of cheerful colour are the dainty tea-trees (genus Leptospermum), seen in many gardens in Paluma. Several beautiful specimens of this plant can be seen in the garden of the Rainforest Inn, where shrubs representing two or three varieties of tea-tree grow in a cluster. One shrub bears deep pink flowers, while the others range through paler pink to almost white.

Pale pink tea-tree (photo by Michele Bird)

The common name, tea-tree was derived from early attempts by settlers to use the aromatic leaves of some species as a substitute for tea. Capt. James Cook also, is said to have experimented with using the leaves to make tea.

Deep pink tea-tree (photo by Michele Bird)

Currently 86 species are recognized, 83 of which occur in Australia. The first formal description of Leptospermum was by German botanists, Johann Reinhold Forster and his son, also Johann. A clear definition of the species was not achieved until 1979 and since then many more species have been described. The wood of tea-tree is very hard and has been used for turning, carving and tool handles, as well as durable brushwood fences.

Another eye-catching shrub is the Snowflake Tree, a species of Euphorbia. An example of this plant can be seen in Lennox Crescent where a lovely specimen is densely covered with small white flowers. From a distance the tree looks as if it is snow-covered.

Snowflake tree (Photo by Colwyn Campbell)

There are 2100 species of Euphorbia. The red Poinsettia, of which a few grow in Paluma gardens, is one most people would be familiar with. Another variety is the bright red, spiny ‘Crown of Thorns’ which adds to the brilliant colour in the garden at Number 40 Mount Spec Road.

Other flowering plants bringing colour to the village are notably, Camellias, Azaleas, Hibiscus and the ever reliable Balsam (Impatiens).

Text by Colwyn Campbell

Paluma Residents shown the inner workings of our new water treatment plant

Councillor Margie Ryder (center) with Paluma residents

On June 23, shortly after the grand opening of the High Ropes facility, residents were treated to an tour of inspection of our new water treatment plant. This tour was organized by Councillor Margie Ryder. Townsville Water engineer Julian Tickle gave and detailed explanation of the whole treatment process, pointing out key components including the ultra-filtration modules and UV sterilization unit. The result is that Paluma residents now enjoy safe and crystal clear drinking water that is higher quality than that provided to much of Townsville.

Townsville Water Engineer Julian Tickle explains the inner workings of the containerized water treatment plant.

PDCA President, Jamie Oliver took the opportunity to congratulate Margie Ryder and the Council on its decision to fund this major new facility and to Julian and his staff for their expertise in ensuring that we attained such a high standard of water quality.

Grand Opening of the High Ropes Facility

Councillor Margie Ryder, with Sam Stedman, cuts the ribbon to open the new high ropes facility.

Sam Stedman, with Councillor Margie Ryder address participants in the grand opening.

On Saturday (June 23) Paluma saw the first opening of a major new tourist facility in many years. Councillor Margie Ryder, the PDCA executive and a high proportion of Paluma residents turned out to celebrate this
milestone.

Sam Stedman with Councillor Ryder, Wilfred Karnoll and Outer Limits Adventure staff

Sam Stedman, the Director of Outer Limits Adventure Fitness, which runs the facility, provided some background to its development, from the early conceptual phase with partner Wilfred Karnoll, through local permitting to the final construction. He paid special tribute to his dedicated staff and also thanked the community for its support.

Following the ceremony several groups of brave visitors successfully negotiated the course urged on by more cautious spectators below.

Rainforest Tree of the Month (June 2018): White Hazelwood

WHITE HAZELWOOD Simplocos chinchinensis

When in bloom, usually any time from April through June, the White Hazelwood tree (Simplocos chinchinensis,) is eye-catching crowned with a dense display of fluffy, white flower panicles. The flowers have a delicate fragrance and attract insects and birds. One of these trees is at present (early June) in full bloom and may be seen at the southern gate of the High Ropes course. There are several of these trees scattered around the village and along the sides of the Ridge Road near Paluma. Not all are yet in bloom.

Symplocos is one genus with approximately 250 species around the world and in Australia, there are 15 to 20. Wendy Cooper, in “Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest’ lists 17 species which occur in tropical Queensland. The tree can grow to about 30 meters high.

The tree is not easily identifiable by its trunk and lower branches which have lightly textured bark. Like so many rainforest trees, the bark is mottled with lichen, camouflaging the surface with splotches of white, tan and green. The leaves however are distinctive. Mature leaves are elliptic in shape, are leathery and a dark, almost black, green and can be 70 -200 mm long and 7 -25 mm wide. Veins are well defined, giving the leaf an almost quilted appearance and the underside has a prominent purple mid-rib.

The flowers are tiny, with 5 white petals and many long filamentous stamens which when clustered in panicles, give a soft fluffy appearance. Unfortunately their beauty can be appreciated for only a few weeks – usually rain and wind dash them from the tree to form a carpet of white on the ground below.

The fruits of White Hazelwood are small, fleshy, olive-shaped blue/black drupes, 6 -10 mm long containing one or two seeds within a woody endocarp. The fruit ripens between November and March and is eaten by many bird species.

Keep an eye open over the next month or two for these lovely trees.

Text and Photos by Colwyn Campbell

Paluma hosts visit by Nick Dametto, Member for Hinchinbrook

This Monday (May 28th) the Member for Hinchinbrook, Nick Dametto, spent the morning visiting Paluma and talking to PDCA members, and other business owners and residents. Nick was shown the new Community Hall extensions (now more the 50% complete) and was briefed on a number of Paluma initiatives including the 100 km network of volunteer-established walking tracks and key events hosted in Paluma such as the Bush Dance and Paluma Push. He also listened to our concerns about road safety and maintenance and the possible re-introduction of motorized boats on Paluma Dam as well as our interest in promoting increased visitor numbers in the village.

Member for Hinchinbrook, Nick Dametto (3rd from left) at the Rainforest Inn with various Paluma residents

During further wide-ranging discussions over coffee at the Rainforest Inn, Nick indicated a strong desire to support Paluma in its plans and aspirations for enhancing our village for both residents and visitors. We anticipate taking up Nick’s offer of support in the coming months. Afterwards Nick visited Paluma Dam with Jamie Oliver, Lyn Hyland and Les Hyland.

What’s Flowering in Paluma? Coral Tree

The Coral Tree (Erythrina variegata) is native to Australia as well as Africa, Asia and the Indian and Pacific Ocean islands. It is normally found in coastal areas but has been cultivated for many years in Paluma, where it grows into a somewhat scraggly tree, 10-15m in height.

It is semi-deciduous, losing most of all of its leaves over the winter months, which is also when flowering occurs. Its flowers are a striking deep scarlet and form large clusters that stand out from the largely leafless branches. They are a favourite of various honey-eaters who also play an important role in pollinating the flowers.

There are some lovely mature specimens at the front of, and behind the Paluma Environmental Education Centre.

Text and photos by Jamie Oliver