Life in Paluma – Page 3 – Paluma – our village in the mist

Spring has sprung in Paluma

So many beautiful blooms are all around our village at the moment. From the colour and variety in the carefully tended gardens to the surprise orchid finds in the forest. Such a season of colour and spectacle in this little village.

A little addendum to the previous post: “Paluma…NQ’s Blue Zone’.
After a couple of conversations, I was made aware I had wrongly assumed that all readers of the post would know what a ‘Blue Zone’ is and why one could consider Paluma had the potential to meet some of the criteria of a ‘Blue Zone’. The phrase ‘Blue Zone’ was introduced by Michel Poulain, Dan Buettner and Giovanni Mario Pes when investigating people around the world living longer and better. They developed BLUE ZONES as a brand and certification mark and with a team of medical researchers, anthropologists, demographers, and epidemiologists found nine evidence-based common elements across those geographic areas that had these thriving centenarians.

And if you’re wondering, no, Australia does not have any BLUE ZONES however, Paluma has the potential for its residents to engage several of the common elements. If you’re interested to know more you can click on this link, BLUE ZONES.

The Paluma PDCA offers a range of opportunities to feel part of a community whilst contributing to its and your own health. We realise it isn’t easy when there are so many demands on your time and many of us value Paluma as our respite, not a workplace. However, if and whenever you’re able, supporting the working bees, the History Project, social events, markets and other significant village events allows your PDCA to care for our village and it’s assets, as well as raise funds to help with this. Any time and skills you can donate is valued and much appreciated and we’re sure you’ll feel good too as you’ve helped top up the community kitty.

‘How do these funds get used?’ you may ask. All spending is approved first through the PDCA executive committee. There are ongoing costs such as payment of hall maintenance bills, power bills, payment for the hosting of this website, hall landscaping and renewable supplies required for cleaning, the bar and catering. Recent spending this year saw the installation of new 40km signs throughout the village, updating of items in the First aid kit in the hall, the new gravel installed in the parking area out front of the hall, new entryway mats for the hall and even a fire pit for use at community social events. So as you can see, your PDCA funds work for you, the village resident.

Photos by Jill Meads.

Our next PDCA event is the Spring Markets in October which will be on Sunday 6th. Immediately following the markets, at 1pm, there will be a dedication ceremony for the naming of the Hylands’ Rainforest Walk. Our local councillor, and Deputy Mayor of Townsville, Paul Jacobs, will be there. Please feel free to come along to this village event.

This is an early heads up also for our Paluma Kitchen Rockstars – old and new – for baked goods, preserves, etc as well Volunteers for the sausage sizzle and PDCA stall holders for the Spring Markets. Let Wilfred, Anneshka or myself know if you’re available. There will be another post that will provide details regarding the bake stall.
If you’re wishing to have your own table/stall at the October markets, don’t forget you can contact Wilfred on 0447822626.

Text: J. Poletto Images: J. Poletto unless otherwise stated.

September Working Bee 🐝

Our next Paluma working bee 🐝 will be THIS coming Saturday September 7th.
We will meet at the Community Hall at 2pm. We will be cleaning up Hyland’s track, including: leaf blowing on board walks, using the last of the gravel and tidying up that end of the track.
Also, a focus on cleaning up Loop road including vegetation over the retaining wall. The Cairns birdwing butterfly vine on the hall verandah is in need of a tidy up and trim for anyone wishing to work in the shade.
Bring equipment you think would be useful in the completion of all these tasks. Most importantly, bring your willing hands and smile.

Drinks to follow on the hall verandah at 4pm.

TGIF! Friday Social Drinks at the Hall

Our monthly Social Drinks evening is THIS coming Friday, September 6th at the Community Hall. The bar opens at 6pm. Come and mingle and catch up on the latest. Locals and visitors alike are all welcome. Bring a plate of nibbles to share.

Paluma Invasion

Last Tuesday night, August 20th, village residents who were getting ready for bed, if not there already, were surprised by a sudden 10 fold increase of Paluma’s population. The Mystery Box Rally had come to an unplanned halt in our little town and could go no further due the night works road closure on the range road. Around 68 cars were backed up on our main drag with about 150 people unable to continue to their end destination of Rollingstone and nearby campgrounds.

To say there was some confusion and chaos amongst the thickest mountain fog this village has seen in a while would be an understatement. A few phone calls and requests for help saw Rick and Dave Roveda kick into action with Sam Stedman putting his organisational and leadership skills into action.

Firstly, Sam tried to get the road closure opened for the group but this was not possible. Later in the night, once campers were established and were being fed, the Rollingstone police weighed in and managed to get a 5 minute window for the rally drivers. Participants were given 10 minutes to pack up and go for it but but only a few took advantage of the opportunity.

Once confirming the road would not open, Sam arranged all rally participants to meet in our community hall. They were unsure of what was going on and what they could do so Sam went through various options with them but in the end, they decided they would stay. Three camp areas were then established: McClellands Lookout car park (with toilets); middle of town / hall area with toilets and Hussey Road.

Outer Limits Adventure Centre was actually running a camp for more than 100 secondary students so Sam used supplies available from his business and was permitted access to our community hall resources (bbq and urn) to provide a hot meal for everyone. His own employees, Aranda and Matt, helped out ensuring cooking and clean up was done efficiently and all campers at the three sites were settled. Dave from Paluma Tea House (Ivy Cottage) provided milk and coffee and by 10:30pm, all went to bed warm and fed.

In the morning, the lucky campers out at Hussey Road got to meet and have coffee with Don who generously served it up. By 8am, all participants were well caffeinated, decamped and were headed down the range for their final destination of the rally – Airlie Beach.

If not for the willingness and capabilities of a few, the consequences of this unplanned stopover may have been very negative for rally participants and the community. From the ‘heads up’ phone calls from the Furbers to Tony at Gumburu, to those who wrangled a confused and stranded 150 strong crowd into organised camping groups who were provided with hot meals and drinks, it ended really quite well.
Credit needs to go to Sam who actually started his Tuesday at 5am at the start of the world championship cross tri at Pallarenda in the morning! Following this with the secondary school camp and ending it by stepping in and helping sort things out. His Outer Limits events and business have truly supported our community over the years. His positive ‘can do’ attitude is refreshing and we can certainly do with more of it. He, with all others involved in ensuring a happy ending to Tuesday night’s debacle deserve a pat on the back and thanks from us all.

Text: J Poletto based on report from Wilfred Karnoll and Sam Stedman

Paluma…NQ’s Blue Zone

(This is an edited version of “Paluma in the Clouds” submitted for the Rolly Rag September issue)

Scenes from getting out there and enjoying Paluma’s natural offerings

Recently, I met some delightful and dynamic Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) who were up enjoying our beautiful Paluma village and surrounds. There were two fellows from Adelaide, who were currently working at a local coastal business but were very keen and enthusiastic to know what it was like to live in Paluma. They had been looking at available real estate for sale. It was a lively conversation.

*The history display draws a range of visi*tors on a Saturday

The other was an outstanding young woman (an assistant principal) who popped in to see the history display and was truly impressed with what was on view. A credit to all those who have put in their time, skills and effort over the years. She was on a scouting trip to prepare for an active birthday weekend with the girlfriends sometime in the future. She counted herself lucky to have easy access to such a beautiful and unique part of the world.

Meeting and talking with these young people and the future plans they had made me reflect that small communities like Paluma can only benefit from the energy and ideas this age group offers. Their enthusiasm and skill set can only refresh and energise a small community. Welcoming and supporting all newcomers, regardless of age, who are keen to be part of and wish to contribute to our community makes sense. Like the natural environment, there is strength and resilience in diversity.

*Trying out the ropes course at Outer Limits*

We’ve seen this already with businesses which use Paluma as one of their bases such as NQ Cycle Journeys and Outer Limits Adventure Fitness. Both have an ethos that promotes a healthy lifestyle across all generations through enjoyment and respect of our rainforest and its surrounding environs. Paluma isn’t just about woodfires and red wine (though I’m certainly partial to this ☺️), its key draw is its cool, misty climate and incredible walks featuring waterfalls, fascinating biodiversity and blissful peace. Our very own ‘Blue Zone’ right here on our doorstep… literally.

The recent working bee included laying and packing gravel into the parking area out front of the hall as well as garden bed maintenance.

For those wishing to put into practice other key aspects of blue zones – community, belonging and a sense of purpose – in a beautiful environment to boot, check out the calendar to see what’s coming up. We’re grateful for all Paluma enthusiasts who volunteer their time and skills.

Text and Images: J Poletto

Games Night Fun

Our Master of Games, Peter Klumpp has declared the Paluma Mini Olympic Games Night held on Saturday August 17th at the Community Hall a rousing success. In Peter’s words, “There was much fun and laughter!” A live auction was held at the start of the night for one of Paluma’s prime athletes, Mark, to be a games partner for the night. This alone raised $110! Wife of said ‘prime athlete’ set the reserve at 5cents, so well done to all who attended to get that final price result!

Everyone enjoyed competing in the games of Table Tennis, Foosball-table soccer, Badminton, Axe Throwing, Indoor Bowls, Indoor Golf, Quoits, Cornball, Skittles, Darts and even Knock-em downs. There were 16 teams plus children playing as well as spectators, around 50 people all up. Noise and laughter could be heard throughout the village.

Much merriment and technical prowess was aided by Lynda’s infamous mulled wine and other offerings at the bar. The badminton room was a winner, with the younger members of the community having a smashing time. The Viking axe throw was heart-stopping and quite intense with some not able to watch where the axes landed.

At the end of the night it was Sandy Smythe and Stuart Watterson who won the gold cup and chocolates. At the conclusion to the games, many participants sat around the fire-pit enjoying a “quiet drink” and debating their close wins and losses. The sausage sizzle, onions and coleslaw was a success thanks to Mark and Wendy, Lynda and Wilfred.

Kudos to Peter, Dorothy and their dynamic team for another fabulous games night. It was a wonderful way for new residents to experience the friendly and helpful attitude of the locals at Paluma.

Text: Peter Klumpp and J Poletto Images: Peter Klumpp

August Working Bee 🐝

Our next Paluma working bee 🐝 will be THIS coming Saturday August 3rd.
We will meet at the Community Hall at 2pm. We will be spreading gravel along the parking area at the front of the hall so please don’t park there. Bring a wheelbarrow, shovel and steel rake if you have these items. All good if not, most importantly, bring your willing hands and smile. Drinks to follow on the hall verandah at 4pm.

TGIF! Social Drinks On At The Hall

Our monthly Social Drinks evening is THIS coming Friday, August 2nd at the Community Hall. The bar opens at 6pm. Come and mingle and catch up on the latest. Locals and visitors alike are all welcome. The darts board will be set up so you can hone your darts skills in preparation for our upcoming Games Night. Nibbles to share are always welcome.

Working Bee 🐝 On Saturday

Our next Paluma working bee 🐝 will be THIS coming Saturday July 6th.
We will meet at the Community Hall at 2pm. Drinks to follow on the hall verandah at 4pm.

See you there!

Winter Frolics in the Village

Wattle ‘n’ Gum hitting their stride in this country hall

The PDCA wishes to thank everybody for their efforts last weekend, helping out at the annual bush dance and the Markets.

Music and dance bringing joyous folk together

There were those generous with their time who were manning stalls, making cole slaw and slicing onions, cooking and serving sausages, cooking and baking for our cake and preserves stall, running the bar and stalls, setting up and cleaning, purchasing products and helping out in other ways to make it a great success.

Our treasurer Wilfred Karnoll has banked $1600 (with a few expenses to come out of that) but it still leaves a healthy profit for the PDCA and the community. GIVE YOURSELVES A BIG PAT ON THE BACK!!!

Text by: W. Karnoll (minor edits, J. Poletto)
Images: Jill Meads