Reminder: Paluma Ultra and Trail Run next weekend

Dear Community,

This is a reminder about next weekend’s trail runs in and around Paluma village. It is also in our events calendar.

If you’re interested in where competitors will be running, please check out Outer Limits Adventures’ website. However, if you’re unaware, the 50km Ultra marathon starts early Saturday morning from Gumburu. The Sunday morning trail runs of 5km, 10km and 21km start from and finish at the Village Green.

This is another major event organized by Outer Limits Adventures which puts Paluma on the map for adventure racing. Please be patient with the increased amount of traffic and parked cars in the village on Sunday morning in particular. This event brings extra business to local restaurants and the PDCA is operating the BBQ and selling soft drinks to raise funds for the community.

Feel free to come to the village Green on Sunday morning to cheer competitors on at the start of their races.

Yoga in the Mist

Dear Community Members, 

Would you like to be stronger, more mobile, and learn how to deeply relax?


Hello, I’m Tracy, when I am not standing on my head you will find me in the garden hanging out with the chooks watching the plants grow.

I recently moved to Hidden Valley from Townsville where I have been teaching Yoga for 26 years. Needless to say I have loads of teaching experience and can easily accommodate varying levels of ability. I also have a keen eye for alignment. When we are in the correct position energy flows freely, tensions are released and the poses become effortless. 

Yoga offers numerous benefits including increased strength, improved mobility & balance, reduced stress, emotional stability and an overall holistic wellness. 

I would really like to offer a regular yoga class at the Paluma Community Centre. I am proposing Friday mornings starting 1st November, but would really like to hear from you to ensure your preferences are met. 

If you are interested in participating or have any questions please get in touch by either emailing tracyarmstrongyoga@outlook.com or call 0407522080.

                           Yoga – the journey of the self, through the self, to the self 

Kind regards,

Tracy

Update on the Paluma Range Cassowary Citizen Science Event

A male cassowary captured on one of the ‘camera traps’ in the Paluma Range.

As you may remember from reading a post back in July, there is a multi-year study of the cassowary across Paluma Range currently underway. It has returned some exciting early results with images of at least 7 individual birds so far.  An update from the lead researcher, Wren McLean has been received and she has requested it be shared with the community as follows:

The 2nd Paluma Range Cassowary Citizen Science weekend has now been rescheduled to July 4th -6th 2025.  For those not yet already informed, my mother has surgery which is scheduled for the end of Oct 2024 so I have committed to caring for her post surgery. 
This event will begin at 5pm on Friday 4th July 2025 at the Paluma Community Centre where we can socialise, share an Indian dinner (by donation) and enjoy the open bar before a presentation on the results of the Paluma Cassowary Project and planning session for the weekend’s surveys.  

Please save the date and RSVP HERE to join the survey weekend. I will send out an email or two before the event to those registered in preparation for the survey.  Apologies for any inconvenience for the reschedule. I hope to see you there in July.  

Text and image provided by Wren McClean

Dedication of Hylands’ Rainforest Walk

At 1pm this Sunday, there will be an official dedication of the Hylands’ Rainforest Walk by Deputy Mayor Paul Jacobs.

All community members and visitors are welcome to attend. The walk is located opposite the rotunda at the community hall. Please be aware of traffic and stay well off the road.

Come and say ‘Hi’ to Les and Lynn Hyland, who have put so much time and effort into our community for more than 35 years.

Photos provided by Lynn and Les showing their active participation in community events and membership of the Rural Fire Brigade.

Text: J. Poletto Images: J. Poletto unless otherwise stated

TGIF! Friday Social Drinks at the Hall

Our monthly Social Drinks evening is THIS coming Friday, October 4th at the Community Hall. The bar opens at 6pm. Come and mingle and catch up on the latest. Locals and visitors alike are all welcome. Bring a plate of nibbles to share.

🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝
Also, don’t forget there is no working bee this Saturday but if you’re available 8am Sunday morning, meet Wilfred at the hall to help set up for the Sunday Spring Markets. Many hands make light work.

The Paluma Spring Markets needs YOU!

The final market of the year, the Paluma Spring Markets, is fast approaching and will be held on Sunday October 6th. This is a call-out for Paluma’s Kitchen Rockstars to rumble, roll and rock-out some home made goodies to sell for our community’s (PDCA) fund raising.

Also, there will not be a working bee as usual on Saturday 5th BUT, Wilfred would greatly appreciate a hand in getting the hall and bbq set up and ready for the markets on Sunday. Please be at the hall by 8am, Sunday 6th.

If you are interested in doing some baking and donating your goods for sale at the Paluma Spring Market then please read on…..

Here’s what to do:-

  1. Please divide your baked goods into small batches for sale. We suggest batches of 2, 4 or 6 individual pieces as this has worked well at previous markets.
  2. Please add a sticker or other suitable label outlining the contents of your baked goods. You will need to add this label to EVERY individual batch of goods. This is required for health & safety reasons. (If you get your the name of your item and list of ingredients to Anneshka, she will print them on sticky labels for you! But please, don’t leave this to the last minute).
  3. Please plate the goods (in batches) and secure with glad wrap or suitable packaging. (We have previously used paper plates and glad wrap and this works well).
  4. Please add a price sticker to your goods, with what you think is a fair and reasonable price for your baked delights. We can provide price stickers if needed.
  5. Please deliver your goods to the Community Hall on Sunday morning 6th October at 8.30 AM (for a 9 am market start).
  6. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done!😊

If you have any questions or need any further information, please contact Wilfred Karnoll by email: Wilfred.suzanne@bigpond.com or phone 0447822626

Previous cake stalls have been a roaring success. Any and all contributions are very much appreciated.

Spring has sprung in Paluma

So many beautiful blooms are all around our village at the moment. From the colour and variety in the carefully tended gardens to the surprise orchid finds in the forest. Such a season of colour and spectacle in this little village.


A little addendum to the previous post: “Paluma…NQ’s Blue Zone’.
After a couple of conversations, I was made aware I had wrongly assumed that all readers of the post would know what a ‘Blue Zone’ is and why one could consider Paluma had the potential to meet some of the criteria of a ‘Blue Zone’. The phrase ‘Blue Zone’ was introduced by Michel Poulain, Dan Buettner and Giovanni Mario Pes when investigating people around the world living longer and better. They developed BLUE ZONES as a brand and certification mark and with a team of medical researchers, anthropologists, demographers, and epidemiologists found nine evidence-based common elements across those geographic areas that had these thriving centenarians.

And if you’re wondering, no, Australia does not have any BLUE ZONES however, Paluma has the potential for its residents to engage several of the common elements. If you’re interested to know more you can click on this link, BLUE ZONES.

The Paluma PDCA offers a range of opportunities to feel part of a community whilst contributing to its and your own health. We realise it isn’t easy when there are so many demands on your time and many of us value Paluma as our respite, not a workplace. However, if and whenever you’re able, supporting the working bees, the History Project, social events, markets and other significant village events allows your PDCA to care for our village and it’s assets, as well as raise funds to help with this. Any time and skills you can donate is valued and much appreciated and we’re sure you’ll feel good too as you’ve helped top up the community kitty.

Photo by Jamie Oliver.


‘How do these funds get used?’ you may ask. All spending is approved first through the PDCA executive committee. There are ongoing costs such as payment of hall maintenance bills, power bills, payment for the hosting of this website, hall landscaping and renewable supplies required for cleaning, the bar and catering. Recent spending this year saw the installation of new 40km signs throughout the village, updating of items in the First aid kit in the hall, the new gravel installed in the parking area out front of the hall, new entryway mats for the hall and even a fire pit for use at community social events. So as you can see, your PDCA funds work for you, the village resident.

Photos by Jill Meads.

Our next PDCA event is the Spring Markets in October which will be on Sunday 6th. Immediately following the markets, at 1pm, there will be a dedication ceremony for the naming of the Hylands’ Rainforest Walk. Our local councillor, and Deputy Mayor of Townsville, Paul Jacobs, will be there. Please feel free to come along to this village event.

This is an early heads up also for our Paluma Kitchen Rockstars – old and new – for baked goods, preserves, etc as well Volunteers for the sausage sizzle and PDCA stall holders for the Spring Markets. Let Wilfred, Anneshka or myself know if you’re available. There will be another post that will provide details regarding the bake stall.
If you’re wishing to have your own table/stall at the October markets, don’t forget you can contact Wilfred on 0447822626.

Text: J. Poletto Images: J. Poletto unless otherwise stated.

September Working Bee 🐝

Our next Paluma working bee 🐝 will be THIS coming Saturday September 7th.
We will meet at the Community Hall at 2pm. We will be cleaning up Hyland’s track, including: leaf blowing on board walks, using the last of the gravel and tidying up that end of the track.
Also, a focus on cleaning up Loop road including vegetation  over the retaining wall. The Cairns birdwing butterfly vine on the hall verandah is in need of a tidy up and trim for anyone wishing to work in the shade.
Bring equipment you think would be useful in the completion of all these tasks. Most importantly, bring your willing hands and smile.

Drinks to follow on the hall verandah at 4pm.