Category: Obituary

Vale Tom Conner 1931-2019

It is with sadness that we report the passing of Tom Conner. For almost 80 years of his life Tom was connected with Paluma.

In 1938 Tom moved to Taravale Road with his mother, father and grandfather. Tom said that their shelter was ‘up-market’ for the area as it had hessian walls. Tom’s father and grandfather were timber cutters. At the start of World War 2 the government conscripted his father (Tom Senior) and his grandfather into the Civil Construction Corp. His father was put in charge of the timber camp at Taravale Road.

Tom spent most of the war years at the Taravale camp. A simple monument at about 0.7 km down the road (off the Mount Spec-Ewan Road) marks the camp site. (Although Taravale Road is a private road it is possible for people to drive down the road – with caution – to visit the monument).

After the war, Tom lived in various houses in Paluma and became a timber cutter and a timber truck driver, delivering loads to the old Moongobulla rail siding (now gone). After his marriage to Freda, Tom moved to Townsville and worked for the electricity industry, selecting power poles to harvest in the Mount Spec area for many years. In retirement, Tom and Freda owned a house in the Paluma village. Freda is the granddaughter of the Cavill family, pioneers of the Paluma area.

Tom’s favourite sport was tennis. He hit many a ball on the war time court opposite Ivy Cottage. Tom will be remembered as a gentleman and for his knowledge and incredible memories of the Paluma area.

Our sincere condolences go to Tom’s family and friends.

Post courtesy of Bill Pyne

Vale Roy Mackay – a message from the Mackay family

Roy David Mackay passed away peacefully in his sleep at Regis,  Kirwan,  on 12 February 2019.
Roy’s wishes were that there be no service at his cremation.

So that family and friends (from Paluma and elsewhere) can pay tribute to the incredible life that was his, an event celebrating his life is being planned for Paluma. Once arrangements have been finalised another notice will be posted on Paluma.org with the details. 
The family would like to thank the Paluma community for their support of Roy,  particularly in his twilight years,  and to the family since his passing.

Kind regards, 
David Mackay 

Vale Roy Mackay

It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we post the news that one of Paluma’s most beloved and admired residents, Roy Mackay has passed away.

Roy passed peacefully at 9.15 PM on Tuesday 12 February at the Regis Aged Care facility in the company of his long-time companion Colwyn Campbell and his dear friend Beth Snewin. Roy was 90 years of age.

Our sincere condolences to Roy’s family and to Colwyn at this sad time.

Roy Mackay in September 2018 in one of his favourite places – his library.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

By Robert Frost

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold. 

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.


Vale John Tubman

It is with great sadness that the PDCA Executive Committee posts the following notice as received from James Jackson today (21 January 2019).

RE: The Passing of John Tubman

 As most would know, John has been fighting an aggressive form of cancer for over two years. He was admitted to TGH early last week (14th) with complications arising from the condition and despite intense treatment and care failed to recover.

John passed away about 11.00 am on Friday 18th with family by his side. It will take quite some time for Junita and John’s siblings and family to reach acceptance of his passing, but all have been buoyed by, and are very grateful for the kind words, thoughts and condolences offered from many of John’s friends and colleagues.

A service for John will be held at Morley’s Funeral Home commencing at 1.00pm this Friday January 25th.  Notice to appear in Townsville Bulletin on Wednesday 23rd.

On behalf of Junita and John’s Family, I would like to convey their appreciation for your kind messages and thoughts of sympathy.

James Jackson

Vale David Georgee

VALE DAVID GEORGEE

It is with sadness that we report the death of David Georgee, who passed away on 8th November 2018.

David’s connection with Paluma spanned more than seven decades. He described some of his fond memories of our little village in the clouds in his book, ‘Townsville As It Was’. As a young boy, he used to come to Paluma with his family for holidays, staying at the Main Roads Tents. These were tents surrounded by stone walls, left over after the Main Roads Commission had completed construction of the Range Road. The tents were then used for holiday accommodation. The rock walls were later used to become the Mist Haven holiday units.

In later years David purchased the property at 16 Smith Crescent. In his book he describes how the waterfall in Benham’s Creek opposite their house, was used as the shower for the children. The girls’ showers were at 4 pm while the boys’ turn was 5 pm. Because the water was warmer earlier in the afternoon, the girls could enjoy their shower.

David’s talent as a piano player had him perform at many weddings, dances and social functions, including our own Paluma Music Festivals. Don Battersby remembers David providing the musical entertainment at one of his birthday parties a few years ago; probably the last time David performed in Paluma.

Our sincere condolences go to David’s family on his passing.

 By Wilfred Karnoll

 

 

Vale John Plant

John Plant , the son of Flight Sergeant Bruce plant, died on 14 September 2018 .

John’s father was Paluma’s 1930s son who lies in a war cemetery in Germany, having been killed in 1943  piloting a Lancaster bomber as part of the legendary 460 SQN RAAF. The site of the incident has been generously marked by a local german group who seek out and memorialize such crash sites.

Bruce is remembered on our War Memorial following a recent ceremony conducted by members of the Garbutt RAAF ,where Bruce started his Wartime career as a Mess steward , but quickly rose through the ranks to become a Fighter Pilot at Amberley before training on Lancasters in Canada .Bruce was an outstanding Australian!

John and Bruce never met. A planned meeting on the Ipswich railway station was foiled by the fact that the train carrying Bruce did not stop leaving John’s mother bereft on the platform holding an infant John.

John suffered a tremendous detriment with the death of his father due to the extremely cruel actions of his step father until John broke free at age 13.

John secured a trade in a railway rolling stock construction company at Ipswich and his  great  intelligence , skills and wonderful personality stood him in good stead with that company all of his working life.

John’s wife Eunice was his great love and mainstay as he coped with the loss of his father in his younger years. Eunice is grief stricken at her loss of John.

John was most appreciative of the RAAF ceremony hosted by PDCA and his son Barry has again asked that the family’s thanks be passed on to Palumarites!

John’s story is typical of the repercussions of War where often the next generation of the person Killed in Action have a great burden to bear which is often unrecognised by more fortunate members of subsequent generations .

Lest We Forget ….the tribulations of the families of our War dead.

Michael Drew