PALUMA COMMUNITY HALL 20TH ANNIVERSARY MORNING TEA, 24 OCTOBER
Category: Community Noticeboard
IF WE DON’T DO ANYTHING – WE WILL LOSE IT!
The Rainforest Walk is a short approximately 600m track that starts opposite the Community Hall, runs down to a small creek with evidence of stone pitching from the tin mining days and ends back on the main road opposite Sarah Swan’s Glass Art Studio. For many years this track has been maintained by QPWS, together with the ‘H Track’, but as a cost cutting measure the QPWS has decided to stop all maintenance on the Rainforest Walk because this track is not in the National Park. This track is situated on Unallocated State Land (USL). The ‘H Track’ is only 10% in National Park and 90% on the same block of USL, but QPWS are happy to continue to maintain the ‘H Track’……..You Figure It Out??!!
The Rainforest Walk is a very popular track and it is an invaluable tool to introduce anybody who can walk to the delights and diversity of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, and it is ideally located right in the middle of our community!
After discussions within the group and getting the support of the USL Department, the Walking Track Volunteers (we look after over 100 km of walking tracks around Paluma, the Dam and Mount Spec) have decided to take on the responsibility to keep this track open and maintained to the same or better condition than when QPWS looked after it. We have already replaced a rotten board on one of the walk platforms and have begun to install galvanized chicken wire on the wooden platforms, as they were very slippery during wet weather (most of the time in Paluma). The biggest job on the maintenance list is the re-surfacing of large sections of the track with Deco, that has been dumped at each end of the track and needs to be taken by wheel burrow to the washed-out sections of the track. Whilst doing this, we will also install some drains across the track to channel rain water away from the track, rather than have it wash the Deco away again on the sloping sections of the track.
We will make a start on this work at a Working Bee to be held on Saturday 16th October, from 2pm to 4pm. We would like to appeal to all residents and community members to come and join us with a wheel burrow, shovel and rake, and a bit of elbow-grease!. Remember the saying – Many hands make light work!! A refreshing drink will be made available at the Community Hall after the Working Bee. Feel free to contact Wilfred on 0447 822 626 if you have any questions.
Article by Wilfred Karnoll.
Unofficial Notice of Paluma Dam Road Closure (Oct 5th-Nov 4th)
While the Townsville City Council does not have any official notification on their website I have received verbal advice from a council officer that major works to prepare the major potholes and ditches at specific spots on the dam road will commence and October 5th and be completed by November 4th – rain permitting.
Although it is disappointing that earlier advanced written notice of the closure directly from the Council to residents has not occurred, it is very good news that the chronic erosion of the road due to drain and culvert blockages will finally be fixed more permanently than just throwing some fill onto the road. Many thanks to Wilfred Karnoll whose persisentence during repeated phone calls and delayed meetings finally resulted in the recognition of the problem and a promise (soon to be fulfilled if it doesn’t rain) to fix it.
Reminder: The Last Paluma Market for 2021
The Queen’s Birthday weekend is the last Paluma Market for the year. It will be held on Sunday 3rd October from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm.
There will be a selection of stalls and the usual sausage sizzle. So, come up the mountain for the day and enjoy the cool ambience of Paluma. The kids can enjoy the playground while the adults scan the stalls in the hall for a bargain, enjoy a cuppa or a sausage or two.
Stall holders are welcome and should contact Lynn on 4773 7675 or eMail lynnhyland@optusnet.com.au
See you at the Market.
Attention Paluma Ratepayers
Notice to all Paluma Ratepayers
You are invited to attend a public meeting on Saturday the 18th September at 10 am at the Paluma Community Hall. The meeting is being held to discuss the proposal to ‘not raise the fire levy’ for the 2021-2022 Financial Year.
Regards
Ross Hyne, 1st Officer Paluma Rural Fire Brigade
If there are any queries in the lead up to the meeting, please contact:-
Sonya Bryce, Secretary/Treasurer Paluma Rural Fire Brigade
Mobile:- 0474 324 153
Reminder: Back to the 70’s Social, Saturday 11 September
Spring has almost sprung and Saturday Night Fever is coming to the village on 11th September at 6.30 pm at the Community Hall.
Whether you’re a mother or whether you’re a brother, get down and boogie with your friends and neighbours as we go back in time to the 1970’s.
Come as you are, or come in your favourite 70’s themed costume. Grow your moustache, find your flares or flaunt your flower-power. Be a disco diva or a Dylan devotee – everyone is welcome.
The Bar will be open for drinks and please bring a dish to share – hot or cold, sweet or savoury.
The love, peace and joy will flow from the Community Hall with a free drink for the best dressed male and female.
See you there groovers!
Wanted – Volunteer Rainfall Recorders
Jamie’s post on 2 August 2021 provided information on the new Paluma rainfall gauge at the Village Green. Most of you have probably seen the new rain gauge by now. You can’t miss it on the lawn near the PEEC side of the Village Green behind the Community Hall.
Since the installation of the new gauge the daily rainfall data has been checked and recorded, mostly by two very dedicated community volunteers. Barry Smith from PEEC has been taking the readings on weekdays and ever reliable Colwyn Campbell has been the rainfall recorder on weekends. The task involves visiting the Village Green every day at the same time to check the gauge and record any rainfall for the past 24 hours on the BOM record sheet.
Last weekend (14 & 15 August) with Colwyn being unwell with severe sciatica, it was my turn to step up and take a turn in checking the gauge. I was looking forward to the task, even more so when it began to rain on Friday evening. How exciting – there would be something in the gauge for my first recording!
Paluma’s gardeners will be pleased to know the rainfall stats for last weekend were 5 mm and 4.2 mm respectively for Saturday and Sunday 14 and 15 August.
Jamie Oliver is still seeking additional volunteers to compile a list of back-up people to assist with the rainfall recording, if and when necessary.
If you would like to volunteer and put your name on the list, please contact Jamie. You might only be called on once in a while to stand-in when other residents are unable to perform the task.
I can attest to the fact that it is a rewarding job in playing a (small) part in contributing to the historical record of Paluma’s rainfall. Not only that, but you can multi-task whilst recording the rainfall and take your best mate for a walk!
Article by Michele Bird
Items for sale by PEEC
ITEMS OFFERED FOR SALE BY PALUMA ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRE
- Fisher & Paykel Fridge Freezer – 454 litres (broken seal on freezer door)
- Fisher & Paykel Freezer
- Pine Bedroom Hutch/Dresser
Process: The listed items are made available for sale by Paluma Environmental Education Centre via Sale by inviting offers (tender) process. Offers must be submitted on the attached Sale by Inviting Offers document.
Timeline: Offers will be accepted from Monday 9nd August to 3pm Friday, 13th August 2021. No offers will be accepted after this date. The person submitting the successful offer will be notified as early as possible from Monday, 16th August 2021 and then invoiced. Once an invoice has been raised, payment by Bpoint or EFT is preferred. Payment should be finalised prior to collection of goods no later than Friday 20th August 2021. Delivery charges are the responsibility of the purchaser.
Tenders must be submitted via email to:
Gail Gannon – Business Manager,
Paluma Environmental Education Centre,
admin@palumaeec.eq.edu.au
Condition and Inspection of Goods: Goods are offered on an “as is” basis only. Goods can be inspected by arrangement with the Barry Smith, Unit Support Officer from Monday, 9 August 2021. Please phone Barry on 07 – 4770 8528 to arrange inspection
After the Sale: No warranty or backup service is available, either implied or stated. Paluma Environmental Educational Centre cannot and will not provide any support either by way of parts or expertise after items have been removed from the centre.
Conditions: The Department of Education reserves the right not to accept an offer and may set a reserve price. Whilst all care has been taken, the Department of Education disclaims all liability for loss or damage to person or property arising from the removal of the items for offer.
Mud, mulch and a mixed grill – just another weekend at Paluma
Last Saturday (July 31st) there was a great turnout of locals to the gardening working bee at the Community Hall. Graham Pope brought his mini-tractor along and quickly ensured that the huge pile of mulch near the kiosk was distributed among the Trees of Memory and along the freshly weeded garden beds around the Community Hall. With over a dozen pairs of hands, the mulching was quickly finished and we then got to work digging trenches for a new irrigation system for the garden beds. Using a hose and a piece of conduit to create a channel under one of the concrete paths resulted in a few muddy hands and trousers but we soon got the piping laid and the earth and turf replaced into the trenches. While all this was going on some of the group carried out a bit of vegetation trimming along the road.
As soon as the work was complete it was time for the Paluma Push Thankyou Drinks and BBQ hosted by Paluma RFS. This was a great success, although it’s hard to fail when the drinks and food are free!
Before everyone got down to eating we were very fortunate to have Felicity and Josh from the Mt Zero -Taravale Sanctuary gave a very informative talk on the great work being done by the Wildlife Nature Conservancy just down the road from Paluma. The new $1.5 million project to build a predator-free safe-haven for the endangered northern bettong was a highlight of the talk. Judging by the number of questions flying during and after the talk it was clear that their work generated a lot of interest and possibly some new volunteers to help out.
After the meal, Sam Stedman from Outerlimits gave a brief talk on the outstanding success of this year’s Paluma Push and highlighting near-record number of participants, the quality of the challenging tracks, and the funds raised for our local SES and Rural Fire Services. He presented substantial cheques (both in size and dollars) to the two RFS branches and the SES, and expressed his gratitude to all the volunteers who helped to make this year’s push such a success.
A new rainfall gauge for Paluma
Paluma is one of the wettest places in north Queensland (see post from 2019) and most residents take an active interest in annual, if not monthly or daily rainfall records around the village. After many years of faithfully recording official daily rainfalls at the Ivy Cottage, Ian Marshall is no longer able to fulfil this volunteer role. Many thanks to Ian and Sandy for performing this important and valued service to Paluma.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) originally decided to close the official Ivy Cottage rainfall station after they received notice that observations were no longer able to be provided. However, after repeated representations from several Paluma residents, the BOM has agreed to relocate the rain gauge to the village green while keeping the old “station identification” so that a continuous record going back to 1969 is maintained.
The Paluma Environmental Education Centre (PEEC) has agreed that Barry Smith will officially take on responsibility for recording daily rainfall from our new gauge during normal workdays. On weekends Colwyn Campbell has agreed to take the readings. Thanks to both of them for agreeing to take this on!
There will still occasionally be times (especially over the summer holidays) when neither Barry nor Colwyn will be available to take readings. We are therefore seeking additional “backup volunteers” who are willing to be called when needed. If you are interested in helping us keep a continuous official rainfall record for Paluma please contact Jamie. He will draw up a list of residents who can be called on when needed.