Category: Events

Let the Games Begin…..

Saturday night (29/05/21) was Games Night at Paluma. A good crowd gathered at the Community Hall from 4 pm to take part in a series of games and sporting activities. Four main teams were formed and they rotated through the various activities including pétanque, darts, table tennis and quoits. The competition was fierce amongst the rival teams – even if the skill level was sometimes questionable. What we lacked in skill, we made up for in enthusiasm!

The Games Night was hosted by Dorothy and Peter Klumpp who provided some excellent coaching tips. Peter did his best to control some rampant cheating amongst the team members. Lynda was in charge of the BBQ, cooking a gourmet sausage sizzle, complete with coleslaw, caramelised onion and sauerkraut. Barman Les was on hand to supply drinks to the thirsty competitors. The overall winning pair on the night were Colwyn and Danno, proving that age, wisdom, charm and cheating are a winning combination!!

A great deal of fun was had with laughter, cheering and banter echoing from the Community Hall. Special thanks to Peter, Dorothy, Lynda and Les for making the night a great success. And thanks to all those who participated, keeping the spirit of community alive and well in the little village of Paluma.

Let the pictures tell the story!

Text By Michele Bird. Photos by Michele Bird & Peter Klumpp.

Reminder: Games Night at the Hall Saturday 29 May

GAMES NIGHT at the Community Hall will be held this Saturday 29th May, commencing at 4 pm.

This will be an afternoon/evening of games, sport and most of all FUN to be hosted by none other than Peter (Captain) Klumpp. Come along to join in on a game of social table tennis, darts and pétanque, or all three. You can rotate through the activities and play them all if you wish!

Don’t know how to play? – Don’t worry, you can learn the games on the night. The emphasis is on FUN, LAUGHTER and COMMUNITY.

The Bar will be open for drinks and the PDCA will provide a $2.00 Sausage Sizzle with Lynda at the BBQ.

Come along and join in!

The Paluma Social Event of the Year is Coming…….

The Paluma Social Event of 2021 is fast approaching in June.

On Saturday 12 June 2021 the village of Paluma will host a 90th Birthday Party for our very own esteemed Elder, living legend and champion volunteer (of just about everything) – Sir Leslie Hyland.

Mark the date in your diary people, as this is an event not to be missed.

When: Saturday 12 June 2021 at 6.30 pm.

Where: Paluma Community Hall

What to Bring: A dish to share – savoury or sweet, hot or cold.

Please come along to join your friends, neighbours and fellow ‘Palumerians’ to pass on your regards to Les and to share your favourite story, tale or anecdote about Les, or to tell an Irish joke or two. Yes, all Irish jokes are permitted at this event!

Beverages can be purchased at the bar and tea/coffee will also be available.

We look forward to seeing everyone at this event and this is our chance to thank Les for his many years of dedicated service and volunteering in our village community. See you there – to be sure, to be sure.

Petanque – Paluma-Style

A small, but very enthusiastic group of Pétanque players gathered on the Village Green on Saturday afternoon (15/05/2021). Well, perhaps it is a stretch to say we were all Petanque players, but by the end of the session we had all learnt a great deal about the game and had honed some new skills. Twelve players gave us enough for two teams and there were even a few spectators who came and went during the course of the afternoon.

Expert coaching was provided by Les and Lynn Hyland, who not only provided their pétanque sets for us to use, but also gave us a crash course on how to play the game. Scoring was undertaken by Lynn who kept a sharp eye on any would-be cheating during the play!

Players quickly developed a range of skills which were necessary given the sloping terrain on the Village Green and the deep grass cover. By the end of the afternoon, ‘Team B’ led by Captain Bruno were the valiant winners. Bruno invented a new technique in the game with the ‘Pentaque lob’.

All in all, a great deal of fun and laughs were had by both players and spectators. Drinks and snacks were enjoyed after the game and everyone agreed we should play again very soon.

Text & Photos by Michele Bird

Reminder: Petanque on the Village Green, Saturday 15th May

A reminder that the next Social Event at Paluma will be ‘Pétanque on the Village Green’ this Saturday 15th May, commencing at 4 pm.

Come along to show off your championship skills at Petanque, or come along to learn how to play the game.

Please bring a plate of finger food or nibbles to share on the deck of the Community Hall after the game. The Bar will be open for low cost drinks in support of the PDCA.

Please come along to share in some good sport and friendly, but feisty rivalry as the ‘Village People’ (those that live in the village) take on the ‘Republican Bush Whackers’ (from the western outer blocks). It is sure to be a riveting competition. See you there….!!

Reminder: Paluma Rural Fire Brigade – Public Meeting & BBQ this Saturday 1st May

A reminder to all Paluma residents that the Rural Fire Brigade (RFB) will be holding a Public Meeting, Lunchtime BBQ and Recruitment Drive at the Community Hall this coming Saturday 1st May at 11 am.

Please come along to support your local RFB and please consider signing up to join the Paluma RFB so that we can retain this vital service in our community.

Without your support this service may be lost from the Paluma Community.

For further information please contact local RFB representative Ross Hyne on mobile: 0427 447 415.

See you there!

Anicca exhibition opening a great success

On Friday evening the exhibition of new artwork by our local artist Colwyn Campbell was opened by Sue Tilly and Ross McLennan at the Drill Hall in Townsville.

The event was well attended and dominated by Paluma residents who not only admired the stunning pieces on display but also purchased several of them.

The Buddhist concept of Anicca (impermanence) clearly pervaded the artwork. The detailed depiction of fallen leaves and other organisms associated with decay and recycling of life, combined with the repetitive colourful patterns resulted in images that were (to me at least) both abstract and yet highly realistic.

Congratulations to Colwyn on the success of the exhibition, which will remain open until May 20th.

Text by Jamie Oliver, photos by Juanita Poletto

PALUMA AT RISK OF LOSING RURAL FIRE BRIGADE

ATTENTION PALUMA RESIDENTS

The Paluma Rural Fire Brigade (RFB) is formed of residents from the Paluma community and it cannot function without members and their involvement. With the recent resignation of several senior members of the brigade we are presented with the challenge of trying to keep the brigade functioning and to maintain its assets within the community. If the brigade is unable to recruit new members, the Rural Fire Service may need to close the Paluma brigade and move the fire truck to another community. If this occurs, the only guaranteed response if there is a fire in the Paluma area will be a Fire and Rescue (red) truck from Townsville, Ingham or the Waterfall Creek RFB – and these services are not always available.

This notice is to advise Paluma residents that we are planning to undertake a recruitment drive with a lunchtime BBQ on Saturday 1st May 2021.

You are invited to attend:

A Public Meeting/Recruitment Drive, Saturday 1st May 2021 at 11 AM.

To be held at the Paluma RFB Station (Community Hall).

Without your support this vital community service may be lost from the Paluma community. Staff from the Rural Fire Service Townsville Area Office will be in attendance to discuss the future of the brigade with the community, including explaining what it means to be a rural fire brigade member.

If you have any questions and to RSVP to attend this meeting, please contact the Rural Fire Service Area Office on (07) 4796 9082.

You can also ring the local contact person and serving Paluma RFB member Ross Hyne on 0427 447 415.

We look forward to seeing you at this meeting.

Paluma Easter Market

A misty morning and threatening rain, did not bode well for the Easter Sunday Mountain Markets, but we did get mentioned in “Townsville Eye” and seemingly people were determined to get out over Easter.  As a result, despite the mandatory wearing of masks, a steady crowd appeared in the Community Hall and the nine stallholders were kept pleasantly busy and all seemed pleased with sales.


Over in the gazebo, Don Battersby and Glen Parker were kept busy on the sausage sizzle, while Les was the cashier, thus no conflict in the food handling. Customers were lining up before 09.00hrs and there were only odd occasions when there was no one at the counter.  Two short light rain showers did not deter the crowd, many notably  being family groups and by 12.00 hrs the sausages had sold out. 


Altogether it was one of our most successful  Market days.  Hopefully, we will also do well on Sunday June 27th  – the day after Wattle ’n Gum have their annual Bush Dance in the Hall.

Text & Photo by Les Hyland

St. Patrick’s Celebrations at Paluma

A small but enthusiastic crowd of revellers met at the Community Hall on Saturday night (20 March) to belatedly mark the occasion of St. Patricks Day which falls on 17 March. Crowd numbers were down at this Social with several villagers away working or attending the Cowboys home game in Townsville.

Despite the small crowd of only 13 people, Les was kept busy at the bar which did very well with takings. With the mix of local villagers, was a couple who were staying in the village who dropped in for some drinks and helped boost the bar takings and the camaraderie. The Guinness was a hit, given the Irish theme of the night.

Lynn ran the usual Irish quiz which was won by Colwyn who took home a bottle of pink champagne in reward for her Irish knowledge. The quiz illustrated the distinct lack of knowledge of all things Irish at Paluma Village! The Lucky Shamrock Competition didn’t afford any fortunes amongst the“scratchies”. Obviously the Leprechaun had given away all his  good fortune.

Lynda and Lynn decorated the hall in a sea of green and shamrocks. As always, the gourmet delights meant everyone had plenty to eat, this time with a distinctive Irish theme.

Text & Photos by Les Hyland