This Sunday one of Paluma’s long-time and much-loved residents celebrates turning 89 years young. A big happy birthday to our resident Irishman Les Hyland. A small group of Les’ friends celebrated the occasion (early) with a Saturday morning tea and delicious cake baked by Lynn.
Happy Birthday Les from your Paluma friends and family!
Article from Townsville Bulletin. Contributed by Les Hyland.
Over many years Don Battersby has been vigilant in recording the annual rainfall statistics at his property on Hussey Road on the western outskirts of Paluma Village.
Don has kindly contributed the following rainfall statistics for Hussey Road for 2019. The total rainfall recorded by Don for 2019 was 4205.5 mm with rain falling on 99 days of the year.
The stand-out months for rainfall were January and February with a total of 3069 mm of rain falling in these two months (equivalent to 73% of the total rainfall for 2019). In the latter part of 2019, the stand-out month for the lack of rainfall was September with not a drop of rain recorded at Hussey Road!
Are there other rainfall recordings for Paluma and surrounds?. If you have been recording rainfall at your property we would love to have your statistics!
Rainfall recordings by Don Battersby. Text by Michele Bird.
It is with great sorrow that we report the passing in Maleny late in September of former Paluma resident, Andy Bishop.
Andy and Ann Bishop were popular long-time residents having come to Paluma from Mt Isa in 1989 to take ownership of the renowned Ivy Cottage Tea Rooms. People came from far and wide to experience the warm hospitality of Ann and Andy, sample the Devonshire teas and see at close hand the many birds that flocked to the cottage gardens. One distinguished guest was David Attenborough.
The Bishops sold Ivy Cottage in 1998 and Andy took up the position of groundsman at Paluma Environmental School where he worked until retirement.
During his time here Andy built as their residence the unusually designed house at No. 13 Mount Spec Road. Always involved in community activities, Andy rode every year until 2017 in the Paluma Push cycle race. Andy and Ann were keen tap dancers and regularly attended aqua-aerobics. They moved from Paluma to Maleny in 2016 to be closer to extended family. They continued to live life to the fullest, frequently travelling around Australia and abroad and relishing their retirement and their life together.
Our deepest sympathy and caring thoughts go to Ann in her devastating loss.
Loris Klumpp (nee Brown), 9 September 1925 to 26 July 2019
Sadly, the last of the early pioneers of Paluma, Loris Klumpp, passed away in Brisbane recently, aged 93.
Loris, with her parents Eric and Ruby Brown and sister Averil, started visiting Paluma in the early 1930’s. Eric purchased land at 70 Mt Spec Road at the first public auction in 1934. The land was two doors down from Ivy Cottage. This property is still owned today by the Klumpp family.
Loris wrote an interesting recollection of her childhood memories of Paluma in Neal Sellars publication, The Paluma Road – 50 Years On. You can read her account in the History Section of the paluma.org website. Loris’ account starts at the bottom of page 4 in the document.
[mdocs single-file=”Paluma Road.pdf”]
During the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s Loris, with husband Bill, loved their time at Paluma, enjoying the climate, fauna, flora and social gatherings. Just for the same reasons many locals enjoy time at Paluma today.
After volunteer work in Townsville, Loris and Bill enjoyed 4 to 5 days of each week at Paluma. Every Friday night ‘it was on at the Klumpps’. Local residents visited the Klumpps for a fun night playing table-tennis and snooker, with the ladies playing cards. Everyone brought a plate to share for supper. On the weekends many ‘Wimbledon finals’ were hotly contested on the old World War 2 tennis court located opposite Ivy Cottage. The playing surface was said to be – part cement, part grass and part dirt – due to all the cracks! Contestants had to be skilled as ‘all court players’.
Loris and Bill moved to the Sunshine coast in 1991, handing over their Paluma property to son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Dorothy.
In her later years, after suffering ill health, Loris was lovingly nursed and cared for by her daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Russ Morgan. The many visits from her four grandsons and nine great grandchildren gave Loris much joy.
When not volunteering, Loris always kept herself busy with many hobbies and interests. She was an avid novel and history reader, piano player, china painter, art lover, dressmaker, crochet needle worker, gardener, extensive overseas traveller, and she loved cooking for large family and social gatherings. It may be easy to see why Loris will always be loved and missed by her family and friends.
Loris’ deep and abiding affection for the little rainforest village of Paluma now lives on through her descendants in the Klumpp family. All family members, over five generations, love visiting Paluma and enjoy the area’s natural beauty and wonders. Loris’ spirit will always reside in the village – somewhere about 70 Mt Spec Road and the old tennis court!
Article & Photo provided courtesy of Peter & Dorothy Klumpp
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
Paluma’s own artist and potter Len Cook has taken out the major award at the 41st Hinchinbrook Art Awards. Len was named as the overall winner (Open Award) for 2019 at a ceremony at the Tyto Gallery last Friday evening (19 July).
Congratulations to Len from all his friends and colleagues at Paluma for this major achievement and recognition of his exceptional work in clay. Len’s award winning exhibit was a tea bowl with a shino glaze.
Local artist, Ange Venardos also took out the Watercolour Award for her work entitled ‘Diversity’ (female form). This work features the four corners of the earth, depicted by plants including magnolia, lotus and dutchman’s pipe.
Locals and visitors to Paluma are reminded that Len Cook Ceramics is OPEN on a regular basis with the usual business hours of 10 am to 4 pm. The Gallery is located at 29 Lennox Crescent, Paluma (off Mount Spec Road).
The winter weather at Paluma is beautiful and there is no better time to get out and go for a walk in the fresh mountain air with your best mate – that is, your canine companion.
Hence , this timely and friendly reminder to pet owners – Paluma residents and visitors – that dog owners are responsible for the behaviour and welfare of their animal/s at all times.
The PDCA would like to remind all dog owners that the village of Paluma is part of the Townsville City Council (TCC) Local Government Area and Local Laws regarding Animal Management (Local Law No. 2 [Animal Management] 2011 and Subordinate Local Law No. 2 [Animal Management] 2011) are applicable to dog owners at Paluma.
The TCC website provides some important tips for Responsible Pet Ownership as outlined below:-
Responsible Pet Ownership Tips for Dogs
Barking – All dogs bark, but some barking dogs become a real neighbourhood nuisance – greatly reducing the quality of life for their neighbours and increasing neighbourhood tensions. Barking dogs is the most common animal behaviour problem Council is asked to deal with. Make sure your dog is not barking incessantly and causing your neighbours distress.
Fences and Confinement – A straying dog causes distress to neighbours and the community. Dogs that are not kept safely behind a fence can risk being injured or cause injury to others. As a responsible pet owner, it is important that your fence or dog enclosure is:
– High enough so your dog can’t jump over it
– Low enough so your dog can’t dig under it
– Strong enough so your dog can’t push it over, and
– Hole proof so your dog can’t escape through it.
Pet litter – Leaving pet litter in a public place is not only unpleasant and unhealthy, it’s against the law. Council has provided dog litter bags in some public areas across Townsville. If walking in an area where bags are not provided, you are responsible to take your own bags with you and to pick up and dispose of your dog litter in an appropriate way.
Leashes and Exercise – Dogs must be leashed at all times in public places to help control them more easily and to increase the safety of other animals and people. Remember that many people are frightened or annoyed by dogs that are not leashed; you should always be considerate of other people.
Registration – All dogs, including puppies, must be registered within 14 days of acquisition or moving to the Townsville Local Government Area, and wear a registration tag. Annual dog registration costs differ depending on whether the dog is desexed or entire, and whether the owner is eligible for a pensioner concession. Annual registration and approvals need to be renewed by 31 August each year.
IMPORTANT: Remember that dogs are not permitted outside the residential area at Paluma and within any of the National Parks or World Heritage Areas. This includes the walking tracks. Most walking tracks are clearly signed to indicate that dogs are NOT permitted in these areas. Please – refrain from taking your dog to these prohibited areas in the interests of protecting our native wildlife and the environment.
For further information, the TCC Animal Management Laws can be reviewed on the TCC website. Just google ‘TCC Animal Management’.
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 91st 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.
The upgrade work to the retaining wall at the Loop Road at Paluma has been completed. Over a period of two weeks, Contractors for Townsville City Council were very busy erecting a new steel and concrete retaining wall along the road margins. The completion of this work sees a big improvement to the overall appearance and aesthetics of the Loop Road and the access to McClelland’s Lookout. The new wall also enhances the safety, road drainage and maintenance issues for this area.
Jamie Oliver (PDCA President) commented recently “in discussions with our local Councillor, Margie Ryder, this was highlighted as a top priority for action by the PDCA over the last couple of years. Many thanks to Margie, who championed this issue and was able to source funding for it from the $600 million Works for Queensland (W4Q) program that supports regional Councils to undertake job-creating maintenance and minor infrastructure projects”.
