Category: Events

The annual Paluma Push event was held last Sunday 21 July 2019. It was one of the best organised Paluma Push events in recent times. There was a ‘Check Point Operations Plan’ available in advance which was extremely informative, especially for new volunteers. It clarified set up times, duties and the number of persons needed at each Check Point. Equally useful, a digital map was provided and updated so that all organisers and volunteers were aware of the designated Check Points along the course. 

This year there were four categories:- Competition 70 km. Intermediate 53 km. Recreational 42 km and the new E-bike class 53 km. Start times from Paluma were at 09.00 am, 09.05 am, 09.10 am & 09.20am, respectively.

The Paluma Dam Road was in very good condition after the recent remedial roadworks (following the February 2019 deluge) and the fastest competitor arrived at Check Point 1 in just under 28 minutes. One has to say that at many of  the checkpoints some ‘assertive direction’ is necessary where the different competitor classes diverge to take different courses.

Radio communications were essential, provided mostly by handheld radios supplied by the Rural Fire Brigades, Mt Spec SES and Townsville SES. Members of all three services manned Check Points and some additional local volunteers manually recorded and counted the numbers of competitors as they passed through the Check Points. Waterfall Creek  Rural Fire Brigade handled from Check Point 5A onwards, while Paluma volunteers manned the rest. Interestingly some of the Check Points which had excellent communication in previous years had some issues with static and positioning problems.

From the Check Point 1 rider count we believe there was a total of 445 competitors. The rider numbers in the first three categories were quite similar, whereas in past years the highest number of riders were from the Recreational group. There were 9 riders in the E-bike class – a recent addition to the Paluma Push competitors.

All volunteers regarded their participation in the Paluma Push as rewarding and a great day out on what was a perfect Paluma winter day. Many enjoyed the excellent barbeque provided in the Paluma Community Hall after the race.

Report by Les Hyland

The Rollingstone Community Association hosted its annual “Pioneer’s Luncheon” on Friday 7th June 2019 in their Community Hall. This was an extremely well organised function with a splendid lunch provided for those over 65 years of age. Some 70 people were present for the luncheon. Also in attendance was the Local Member Nick Dametto and Councillor Margie Ryder. The proceedings were ably chaired by the President of the Rollingstone Community Association, Sue Von Wald.

In previous years there was a gift for the oldest man and oldest lady, but this year the recognition was quite different. Each of the groups from the Townsville Northern Beaches (TNB) from Saunders Beach, Toolakea, Toomulla, Rollingstone and Paluma were asked to nominate someone from their community who had made  a substantial contribution within their area. The nominees for each area were given an award in recognition of their community work. However, it was also intended that one person would be the overall winner to be provided with an engraved trophy. 

Wonderful to relate the news that the overall winner and trophy was awarded, albeit posthumously, to the Paluma nominee  – Roy Mackay.

This award for Roy Mackay was met with considerable acclamation from all those present and celebrated with great delight at Paluma by Roy’s friends and extended family. Colwyn Campbell was called on to accept the trophy on behalf of Roy. In her acceptance speech Colwyn said:-

“It gives me great pleasure and great pride to accept this award on behalf of Roy Mackay. Roy was a humble man, very modest, who would never have sought honours or awards for himself. He was a tremendously generous man. Generous with his time and in sharing his vast knowledge. It was sufficient reward for him to know that through his own passion for the world of nature he had enthused others to love and care for the environment. Roy was certainly a hero to the people of Paluma”.

Roy’s Local Hero Award will be placed in our Paluma Community Hall in the near future for all to admire and treasure.

Article & Photos by Les Hyland, Colwyn Campbell & Michele Bird

The following is a copy of the nomination submitted for Roy Mackay for the Local Hero Award 2019.

Nomination for Local Hero Award – Paluma Section – Roy Mackay

Roy Mackay passed away in February 2019, just a few weeks short of his 91^st birthday. For a long time, he held the position in our little village community of being Paluma’s esteemed Elder, as well as the oldest permanent resident. 

Roy Mackay made Paluma his home for over 30 years after moving to the village with his wife Margaret after they had lived and worked in Papua New Guinea for many years. Roy was a world renowned and respected naturalist, taxidermist and scientist. His list of work achievements and his contribution to science and the natural world is well documented, admired and respected by his colleagues.

But, it is Roy’s contribution to the village of Paluma which earns him this nomination. 

While making Paluma his home he dedicated much of his time to observing, recording and documenting Paluma’s natural attributes. His life’s passion to the very end of his existence in this world was nature. At Paluma he immersed himself in the rainforest and he studied its birds, animals, plants and multitude of creatures. He encouraged others to do the same – to quietly observe, notice and foremost, to appreciate, protect and treasure nature.

Roy never tired of learning and recording, but also passing on his vast knowledge and appreciation for the natural world. He always gave freely of his time and knowledge. Roy always had time to talk about nature, to help both residents and visitors identify their specimens, or chat about their finds. He was ever ready with his field guides and his notebook to jot down for prosperity the latest scientific observations and discoveries at Paluma. His diligence for recording the natural world was most evident in his personal library, which included floor to ceiling shelves of his hand-written diaries and field notes. He was indeed a remarkable scientist, acknowledged as such by the very best, including Sir David Attenborough himself.

Roy’s work contributed to many of the greatest attributes that Paluma has to offer. Along with others he helped to establish and record some of the major walking tracks in the area, as well as lists of endemic birds, reptiles, mammals and plants. He made regular contributions over many years to local newsletters and publications with his ‘Nature Notes’ in Paluma’s Turkey Talk and the Rollingstone Rag. 

Roy was ever-present as a volunteer and worker at every local community event. He was a volunteer Check Point Officer for the Paluma Push bike race from its very inception. He was there in July 2018 for the last time at Checkpoint 1, taking down those bicycle numbers with stern concentration and complete dedication. 

We hosted two memorial events at Paluma after Roy’s passing to honour and remember his life, his work and his contributions to the village. His friends and admirers came in droves to pay homage and respect, and to lament his great loss. 

Overwhelmingly, the one true trait that everyone who knew Roy Mackay recalls is that he was a ‘true gentlemen’. Quiet, observant, patient, attentive, kind and devoted to his life’s work, family and friends. 

Roy Mackay is greatly missed each day, but especially at those times when a new specimen or natural discovery is made. Those words……”Let’s go ask Roy!”are now hollow and echo around the village of Paluma. 

But, Roy’s legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of all those who knew him, loved and admired him. In this village he is considered not only a Local Hero, but we call him our own National Treasure.

In this year of his passing, we nominate Roy Mackay as a Local Hero, a true gentleman and an astounding human being.