Category: Events

And the polar bear award goes to….

Our recent working bee, held on the first Saturday of each month, was capably organised by Wilfred Karnoll and focused on cleaning the community hall.  A willing troupe of helpers with a range of cleaning gear – some of it motorised but most of it powered by good old ‘elbow grease’ – gathered to polish our local hall up.  Whilst the resident Cairns birdwing larvae decided to pack up shop and find new digs elsewhere, Wilfred ensured we didn’t miss a corner, ceiling or railing and was all over, in and around the hall himself mending and replacing bits as needed.  The stoic group of locals continued in the rain and wind till their allocated section was completed.


The wind chill factor in the rain was quite bracing to say the least.  However the Polar Bear Award goes to young Colin who was soaking wet due to pressure spraying and scrubbing the ceilings!  You could hear his teeth chattering as he walked home in the wind and drizzle. Given the chilly weather, the cold drinks afterwards are on a rain check with Wilfred.  (Pun intended)

Text by Juanita Poletto; Photos by Leonie Crennan

Further Call-Out for Paluma Push Volunteers

The Paluma Push is 5 weeks away on the 15th July with preparations in full swing.  As you are all aware,  the very generous donations that we have received from this event over many years, has greatly supported the expansion of our fire-fighting equipment and capability.

I spoke with Sam Stedman today about manning the race checkpoints which is essential to the safe running of the event.  Currently, the following checkpoints require volunteers/more volunteers to fill them.

Checkpoint 2 – 4 people required, site in rainforest on other side of Paluma dam wall.

Checkpoint 4 – another 2 people required, site in drier country, up the hill on Hidden Valley Station. Sonya & Ross at checkpoint currently but are flexible on where stationed.

Checkpoint 4b – 2 people required with quads preferred. Site in drier country, up the hill on Hidden Valley Station.

Checkpoint 4c – 2 people required with quads preferred. Site in drier country, up the hill on Hidden Valley Station.

If you are planning on helping out or have friends who may be interested, please let me know or alternatively contact Sam 0421 484 211 or Aline 0401 572 071 or email: info@outerlimitsadventure.com.au.

It’s a great social day out and in spekky country.  A big thank you to those who have all ready volunteered for the event.

If you have any questions at all about the day, checkpoints or what to expect, please don’t hesitate to give me a call. See you around the next couple of weeks.

Kind regards 

Sonya Bryce

Secretary / Treasurer, Paluma Rural Fire Brigade, Mobile (0474) 324 153

Pictures of people on Paluma.org

During many of our community events such as community social evenings working bees and meetings. Members of the PDCA often take pictures during these events including individual participants. These pictures are then used to enhance a post on Paluma.org or other publications that report on this event.

While the editors of Paluma.org, and other PDCA executive members generally receive positive feedback regarding the use of pictures of participants in various events, we have been made aware that some individuals would prefer not to have their photographs published.

This matter was discussed at our last Annual General Meeting (AGM) and it was decided that while the practice of taking pictures by authorised people and subsequent posting on Paluma.org should continue, there should be a clear and simple procedure for those who are not comfortable having their picture published to opt-out.

The PDCA AGM agreed that we should never take or publish pictures of people who have indicated that they do not want this to occur. We (the organizers of events) will endeavour to remind people at each event that we are taking pictures for publication but we ask those who do not want this, to ensure that the photographer or one of the event organizers knows that you feel this way as soon as possible. If an event photographer starts taking your picture or has just taken your picture before you have had a chance to express your wishes, please politely let them know and they will ensure that no images of you are published.

I hope that the procedures above will provide appropriate assurances to those who do not wish to have their picture taken, while still allowing others to enjoy reviewing the description and images of recent events that they had fun at, or wished they hadn’t missed!

If you have any concerns regarding this issue please don’t hesitate to contact me or any other member of the PDCA by email or in person.

Jamie Oliver
PDCA President

Reminder: June Events at Paluma

The month of June and winter is just around the corner and this is timely reminder of the upcoming events in the Paluma Community this June.

A reminder that this Saturday 3rd June the monthly Working Bee will be held in the village. If you can spare a couple of hours to participate, please meet at the Community Hall at 2 pm. This month the focus of the work will be at the Hall itself which is in need of a ‘spit and polish’ and some ‘elbow grease’. Wilfred will shout a refreshment after the work is done on Saturday afternoon.

In June everyone’s favourite Leprechaun Leslie Hyland will celebrate his 92nd birthday. To make the occasion there will be a get-together at the Community Hall on Saturday evening 17th June at 6.30 pm. The Bar will be open for drinks and please bring along a plate of food to share. Everyone is welcome to come along and wish Leslie a very happy birthday.

On 24th June the annual Paluma Bush Dance with Wattle n Gum will be held at the Community Hall. This is a fun afternoon of music and dancing, kicking off (literally) at 1 pm, after a BBQ sausage sizzle for lunch at 12 pm. The Bar will be open for beverages. A gold coin donation at the door is requested please. What better way to warm up in the cool winter weather than a bit of hokey-pokey at the Community Hall!

The Paluma Community Market will be held on Sunday 25th June from 9 am to 1 pm, the morning after the Bush Dance. Come along to enjoy the sausage sizzle and browse and buy from the various stalls selling plants, arts and crafts, jewellery and other wares.

Mark these dates in your diary and we will see you for some dusting, dancing, drinking and boot scootin’ at Paluma in June.

Call for Volunteers – Paluma Push

Sam Stedman from Outer Limits Adventure is calling for community volunteers to lend a hand during this year’s Paluma Push event to be held on Saturday 15 July 2023.

If you can spare a few hours to assist with the various tasks associated with the Paluma Push, please register your interest with Sam or Aline as soon as possible. All volunteers will be fully briefed in the usual way before the event.

Please register your interest to be a community volunteer NOW at the contact details below, or catch Sam when you see him round the village.

Sam Stedman 0421 484 211 Aline Stedman 0401 572 071

Email: info@outerlimitsadventure.com.au

Paluma History Display Is Open

A reminder that the Paluma History Display will re-open from this Tuesday 9th May at the Community Hall. The History Display will be open from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm every Tuesday, subject to the availability of volunteers to run the display. Drop in to the Community Hall to learn all about the history of Paluma, as well as things to see and do whilst visiting the village and surrounds. You can even enjoy a cuppa at the same time.

Len Cook: Fire & Rain

This coming Friday, the Perc Tucker Gallery will be opening a retrospective exhibition of 4 decades of works from our local award-winning ceramic artist, Len Cook.

The exhibition will open this Friday, May 12 and run until August 2023. On Saturday, May 13, Len will give a talk at the Gallery about his work

Len Cook is one of Australia’s foremost woodfired
potters. The exhibition FIRE AND RAIN draws
together nearly 80 artworks created over 40
years Of ceramic practice with loans from public
and private collections, as well as key works from
the artist’s own collection.


The exhibition highlights the artists lifelong
passion for wood-fired kilns and pots that are
glazed by natural ash deposits over extended
firing in traditional Japanese anagama (cave)
kilns. Len Cook’s practice encompasses domestic
ware, ceramic sculpture inspired by the coral
forms Of the Great Barrier Reef, and his anagama-
fired work.

https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/facilities-and-recreation/theatres-and-galleries/perc-tucker-regional-gallery/exhibitions

Join artist Len Cook and curator Ross Searle as
they discuss the works on display in Cook’s
exhibition FIRE AND RAIN.
Floor Talk
Saturday 13 May
10.30am

Paluma Rural Fire Brigade 40th Anniversary

Serving the Community for 40 years – Happy Birthday Paluma RFB!

Last Saturday the fire gods were shining down on the Paluma Community Centre and our beloved fire truck ‘Paluma 51’ was adorned with yellow and red balloons to give thanks to past members of the Paluma Rural Fire Brigade.

A modest but jubilant crowd of 30 people gathered to raise their glasses and help celebrate the 40th Anniversary, including a couple of visiting families.  Paluma 51 as always was popular with the children.  Don kindly manned the BBQ to cook an array of BBQ meats to perfection which was accompanied by gourmet salads of the exceptional Paluma standard. 

Following lunch, 1st Officer Ross Hyne thanked those who had made the Brigade what it is today, still here after 40 years and to others for helping celebrate this auspicious occasion. Lynn Hyland provided some early historical narrative on the very beginnings of the Brigade which humbly started in April 1983 with a small loan from the Paluma Progress Association to purchase a trailer for housing firefighting equipment. 

Following the speeches, the cutting of the cake was undertaken by some of the longest serving members of the Brigade, founding member and former 1st Officer Len Cook and Lynn and Les Hyland who have been active members for 36 years.

May the Brigade be here for another 40 years!

Interested in joining the Brigade or wondering how you can get involved?  New members are always welcome. For more information, please contact Sonya on (0474) 324 153.

Text by Sonya Bryce, Secretary/Treasurer, Paluma Rural Fire Brigade. Photos by Sonya Bryce and Michele Bird.

Paluma 51

Easter Working Bee

The monthly Working Bee at Paluma was held on Easter Saturday (8 April). A small group of volunteers turned up to undertake some much-needed tasks around the village. Colin and Richard carried out work along the Rainforest Walking Track in installing a new bench seat. Charlie, Anneshka, Wilfred and Michele took on the unenviable task of continuing the clean-up along the road verge at the Loop Road.

The clean-up involved trimming back the overgrown vegetation on the road side and in the table drain including dead wood, overhanging low branches, encroaching sword grass and a variety of introduced weeds including dense patches of Singapore daisy. We also tackled the last of the lantana along the (raised wall) road verge at the top of Loop Road. It was hard but satisfying work in tidying up this area, removing some noxious invasive weeds and (hopefully) improving the stormwater flow to the culvert at the bottom of Loop Road. We were rewarded with a cool drink at the end of the session…..and some of us took home some leeches and ticks for our efforts.

The next Working Bee will be held on Saturday 6th May so save the date and take up the challenge!

Text by Michele Bird. Photos by Charlie and Michele.