The sun shone in Paluma last Sunday (3/10/21) and the final Paluma Community Market for 2021 was a resounding success. Crowds filled the hall to browse the stalls and the children’s playground, shade shelters and BBQ’s were filled with people enjoying the stunning Spring weather. All stallholders reported brisk trade and the sausage sizzle was a sell out. From plants to pineapples, gems and jewels, coffee and cake – the Paluma Market had something for everyone. Many visitors stayed on to browse the local art studios, enjoy lunch at the Rainforest Inn or take a walk in the cool mountain rainforest. Well done to the dedicated Paluma community volunteers who made it all happen.
All in all, a big day out in the little village of Paluma!
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.
Last Saturday night (11/09) Paluma slipped back a few decades to celebrate the 1970’s. There were flowers everywhere and the dance music reverberated from the Community Hall as a group of about 18 villagers dined, sang, danced and laughed the night away until the wee hours.
The music might have been loud, but it wasn’t as loud as the outfits of some of the attendees. The colours of the rainbow were on show and the Community Hall was a sea of purple, pink, orange, yellow and some seriously psychedelic styles. Some of the really cool people wore their sunglasses all night and others donned flowers in their hair. Speaking of hair, it was everywhere. Danno rocked a ‘Fro’ and Neil and Jennie let their hair down….literally. Very groovy!
The new meeting room at the Hall was re-purposed and transformed into a disco, complete with dance floor, spinning mirror ball and music box. There certainly were some interesting dance moves from the patrons, but none were lacking in enthusiasm. Rumours abounded that Ross NEVER dances, but on the contrary…..just like Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones, once you start him up, he never stops!
Barman Les worked a marathon five hours serving beverages from 6.30 pm to nearly midnight. The Bar did a roaring trade. The last of the dancers left the Hall in the wee hours to boogie their way home along Mount Spec Road.
Special thanks to Lynda, Jan and Peter for decorating the Hall in the Flower Power theme. Lynda went the extra mile for the community and deserves our utmost appreciation. Les and Lynn were steadfast as always in making sure everyone was welcome and had a great time. I reckon Barman Les might have needed a sleep-in on Sunday morning after working so hard!
The quality of the singing and dancing might have been questionable at times (yes Michele!), but the only prerequisite for the night was to have fun and enjoy the community spirit and the company of good friends and neighbours. That was achieved in spades!
Text by Michele Bird. Photos by Peter Cooke, Michele Bird & Jennie Robinson.
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
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.
It is with much regret that Colwyn Campbell is postponing the Watercolours and Wine Workshop planned for Saturday 21 August.
Colwyn advises that she is currently incapacitated with a severe case of sciatica. She extends her sincere and heartfelt apologies to those who were planning to attend the workshop and to bring friends along.
Colwyn is planning to reschedule the workshop and will advise on a new date for this event when possible.
Saturday night (14 August) was International Night at Paluma. There was only a small crowd of some 13 people in attendance, but you wouldn’t have known that from the noise coming from the Community Hall. The gathering was loud, enthusiastic and spirited to say the least.
The evening began with Lynn’s various entrée dishes which were consumed in a flash. As always, there was plenty to eat and drink for everyone with a delicious curry, chicken dishes, fried rice, dumplings and other meals. There was only one dessert on the night, so you had to be quick. This was a sumptuous ‘Scottish pavlova’ made by yours truly. Whilst there was much debate on the night regarding the origins of the humble pavlova (from New Zealand or Australia), my rationale is that if someone of Scottish descent makes a pavlova, then it quite rightly can be called a Scottish pavlova?
The small crowd at the Hall were delighted when Paluma’s newest residents Leonie and Mark joined the event. They accidentally discovered International Night when they stopped by to see what all the noise and activity was at the Hall. They were soon invited in for a meal and a welcome drink. Mark and Leonie are the new owners of the ‘Paluma Dreaming’ property on the Loop Road and they are currently renovating the property. It was great to welcome these new residents to the village, Paluma style (and we hope we didn’t frighten them away!).
There was a great deal of fun and laughter on the night. Lennox (who didn’t really want to hang around with us ‘oldies’) made several quick ram-raids on the buffet during the course of the night. He eventually made off with a dish of Mark and Wendy’s chicken wings, but he wasn’t quick enough to get any of the pavlova. There were some strange goings on in the kitchen at one point and what happened behind closed doors between Barman Leslie and Jodie remains a mystery. What happens in the kitchen, stays in the kitchen…….?
Here’s some more photos of a fun time with friends and neighbours at Paluma International Night.
On Saturday 7 August 2021 the crew of the HMAS Paluma (4) exercised their right of passage of the township of Paluma by a ceremonial march through the centre of the village. It was organised by Townsville City Council and to everyone’s pleasure it was a perfect winter Paluma day with clear skies, warm sunshine and just a tad of winter coolness.
The main thoroughfare through the village, Mt Spec Road, was closed between PEEC and Smith Crescent from 10.45 am to 11.45 am. The crew were marshalled outside PEEC where they were inspected by Councillor Margie Ryder who attend the ceremony on behalf of Mayor Jenny Hill (who sent her apologies as she was in lock-down due to Covid restrictions).
The party then marched along Mt Spec Road until accosted by Rollingstone Police OIC Tony Jacob. The official framed document which granted them the freedom of entry – conferred on the vessel on 14 October 1990 – was produced and the parade was able to continue the march to its dispersal point on Smith Crescent. Two drummers brought up the rear of the parade – doing a splendid job of keeping the beat, especially since the remainder of the band could not attend the ceremony due to Covid restrictions.
The Rainforest Inn catered light refreshments for the Navy crew and distinguished guests, while the local Paluma residents and some visitors enjoyed a free sausage sizzle provided by the PDCA. Thanks to Jamie and Colin for manning the BBQ and keeping everyone fed. The sausage sizzle proved very popular and supplies ran out before too long.
Inside the Community Hall Margie Ryder made a speech before presenting the Captain of the HMAS Paluma a scroll confirming the “Final Right of Entry”. A copy of this was presented to the PDCA as a momento of the occasion and this was gratefully accepted by Les Hyland, on behalf of the Paluma community, the PDCA and the Paluma History Project. Les assured the gathering that this would be embodied in one of the Paluma History Albums for the four ships named “Paluma”.
There was a great turn out of local Paluma residents to support this event and it’s not every day that we see a Navy crew marching down Mt Spec Road in our little village in the mist.
Text by Les Hyland and Photographs by Denise Soars & Les Hyland
If you were thinking that it was about time to wind down from all the recent social events and outings at Paluma, well think again Paluma residents…..!
You are reminded that next Saturday night, 14 August is International Night in the village. This annual social is to be celebrated at the Community Hall, commencing at 6.30 pm.
Come as you are, or come dressed to reflect your heritage, nationality, your favourite country, place or culture. Everyone is welcome and it will be a celebration of multiculturalism – Paluma style.
Please bring a plate to share – hot or cold, sweet or savoury. International dishes to reflect the theme of the night are encouraged. The PDCA Bar will be open for beverages on the night.
