Category: Paluma Profiles

Paluma Profiles – John and Junita Tubman

In ‘Meet A Villager’ for the month of October we introduce you to long-time Paluma residents John & Junita Tubman.

Following the recent opening of the new community hall extension and the ‘John Tubman Room’, it seems fitting to highlight the dedicated and tireless work of John and Junita (Junie) Tubman to the village community of Paluma. This tribute to a very special couple has been compiled by James Jackson.

John and Junie Tubman on 22 September 2018 attending the opening of the ‘John Tubman Room’

John and Junie started visiting Paluma regularly around 1986. They both loved the cool climate and the opportunity to get close to nature. Following a family Christmas in Paluma, they noticed a block of land for sale at 46 Mt Spec Road. According to the then neighbours, Don and Glad Parry, the property was previously owned and occupied by Mr Willowdean, one of the real characters of Paluma. The family decided to purchase the block and build a holiday house.

John was winning Housing Industry Association (HIA) awards for domestic construction and with his building expertise, the Tubman’s and the Jackson’s started construction of a house in 1990 with a modest budget.

Around this time, John and Junie became involved in the Paluma Progress Association, in conjunction with the neighbours on the other side, the McGoldrick’s. John and Junie were soon involved in the Paluma Rural Fire Service, then under the wing of Cec Carpenter.

In the mid to late 1990’s, John and Junie joined a strong force of local volunteers and began the Paluma Rainforest Festival. These were great times with the entire community actively involved. It was from these events that much of the money was raised for the reconstruction of a new ‘Town Hall’.  Later, the then Thuringowa Shire Council deemed this hall unsafe and scheduled it’s demolition. It was after the ‘Demolition Fancy Dress Party’ held in the old hall the night before it was knocked down that an idea dawned to ‘just build another one’.

John and Junie were now members of the PDPA, SES and PRFB. John saw the opportunity to bring the three organisations together with a common goal and to build a combined facility. John recognised that by not duplicating facilities and services for the different organisations, there would be major advantages in making all three organisations economically viable. With funds from a grant, PDPA, SES and a donation from the Gleeson Family, John drew plans and started construction of a new Community Hall. He worked relentlessly in driving the project to its successful completion.

By then the Jackson/Tubman family house at 46 Mt Spec Rd was being extended to provide for longer stays in Paluma, now needed to discharge the now substantial local community duties. John and Junie have many SES and Rural Fire Brigade activations under their belt including ‘The Night of Noah’, the ‘Five Acre Block Fire’, many SES Road Crash Rescue activations, at least 10 Search and Rescues and several Helicopter Medivacs. Apart from all these duties, John and Junie still found time to support and volunteer for the Paluma Push Bike Race. In fact, they have volunteered for every Paluma Push to date, with the only exception being this years (2018) event.

With all the work and activities going on in the village, Junie decided we needed something special on the social calendar. As soon as the new community hall was opened with support from the entire community, she organised and delivered the ‘Federation Ball’. It was a sell-out event and and it was soon followed by the ‘Medieval Ball’. Both events were a resounding financial success, but better than that, it proved just what the small community of Paluma could achieve if everyone worked together.

More recently John stood up again and supported the extension to the current Community Hall. With persistence and dedication from Michael Drew and the members of the PDCA, this too has now come to fruition.

These days, John and Junie recognise that it’s time to pass the baton to the next generation of Paluma residents. John and Junie spend their time relaxing in Paluma, playing squash, caravanning and cruising. But, you can’t keep a good builder down and John is again back on the tools building a house.

John and Junie join the long line of dedicated ‘Palumarites’ who have worked hard  to progress the village for the benefit of residents and visitors since the 1930’s.

Text by James Jackson & Photo by Michele Bird

Paluma Profiles – Roy Mackay

This month in ‘Meet A Villager’ we introduce you to Roy Mackay.

Roy Mackay celebrated his 90th birthday last March (2018) with one of the biggest birthday parties Paluma has ever seen. The Rainforest Inn was bursting at the seams on the afternoon of Sunday 18th March as all of Roy’s Paluma friends and family joined him for a very special day to mark his 90 years young.

Roy Mackay has led a truly remarkable life. He was born in Camperdown in Sydney in 1928. Roy’s passion for nature, the outdoors and ‘the bush’ developed very early in life and as a young child he kept several varieties of non-venomous snakes. His interest in herpetology has been life-long and even today he is known locally in Paluma as the ‘snake expert’.

Roy’s first job as a taxidermist

Roy’s first job after leaving high school was to train as a taxidermist at the Australian Museum in Sydney. He became so accomplished at his work that he was to become Head of the Department of Taxidermy.

In his mid-twenties, Roy met and married his wife Margaret, who was also a lover of nature and wildlife. They met at a monthly meeting of the Royal Zoological Society in Sydney. Margaret was a nature photographer  and she also worked as a zoo-keeper at the Taronga Zoo.

In 1964, Roy and Margaret moved to Papua New Guinea and Roy took up a position as the Director of the Papua New Guinea Museum in Port Moresby. Roy’s work involved travelling the lengths and breadths of PNG to collect indigenous artefacts and museum specimens.

Roy’s love of nature, culture and anthropology led him to spend the next 23 years in PNG. He also worked as the Director of the Baiyer River Sanctuary, which focused on a breeding program for the Bird of Paradise in the western highlands of PNG.

In 1987, Roy and Margaret moved back to Australia and made Paluma their permanent home. Roy says that they chose Paluma to live because they could be “close to nature”. Roy has lived in the village for the last 31 years.

Roy’s early training as a naturalist, curator and scientist means that he is an avid record keeper. Even today, Roy keeps meticulous records. If you want to know the rainfall figures for last November, the average daily temperature for June, or how many snakes have been observed in the village this month, then Roy will have it documented!. His diligence in record keeping is to be admired and envied.

What is most astounding is that Roy has kept detailed journals of his life’s work and travels, filling volumes and volumes  of precious hand-written diaries. To add to his achievements, Roy is a published author, with his numerous books and pamphlets pertaining mostly to his work in PNG. For many years, Roy has been a regular contributor to local newsletters, contributing articles on ‘Nature Notes’. Roy’s publications, his personal library, memoirs, journals and his contribution to science and the natural world is nothing short of outstanding.

Roy Mackay in his library

As a nation, Australia keeps a list of ‘National Living Treasures’. The recipients of this award are chosen on the basis of “having made an outstanding contribution to Australian society in any field of human endeavour”.  Roy Mackay would certainly qualify for this list. If the village of Paluma was to have such a list, then Roy Mackay would be at the very top of our list. He is our own very special, National Living Treasure.

 

 

 

 

 

Paluma Profiles – Lynn Hyland

This month in ‘Meet A Villager’ we introduce you to long-time Paluma resident Lynn Hyland.

  • Lynn and her husband Les bought their 5-acre property at Paluma in 1986, having been regular bushwalkers and campers to the area for many years.
  • For 38 years Lynn worked as an Early Education teacher and then as a Primary Deputy Principal in Townsville schools for 28 years.
  • Lynn and Les were regular weekenders to Paluma up until 2003 when they retired to paradise and made ‘Barr’ na ‘Coille’ their principal residence.
  • Barr’ na ‘Coille’ derives from Les’ Irish heritage and translates literally as ‘Top of the Forest’, but with a little licence the Hylands like to call their home ‘Woody Heights’.
  • Over the past 25 years they have battled fires and cyclones on their property. They were burnt out in 1993 and then trees fell on the house during Cyclone Yasi in 2011.
  • It has taken much hard work and perseverance to restore their property. They planted 760 trees to revegetate the block after the fires and to re-establish their extensive gardens.
Photo by Doug Head
  • Lynn’s motto has always been “if you are going to live in a small community then one should be willing to contribute to that community”. And contribute she has.
  • Lynn has been a Paluma Rural Fire Brigade member for 30 years and a Mt Spec SES member for 29 years.
  • In 2007, Lynn took the position of Vice President of the Paluma and District Community Association. She then served as President for 9 years up to 2018. She is currently the Second Vice President.
  • Lynn has served as an active member on many fundraising committees including the Paluma Rainforest Festival, Northern Beaches Festival, Paluma Art Exhibitions and local markets.
  • Lynn is currently involved with the Paluma Local History Display and she is the coordinator of the annual Paluma Garden Competition.
  • In her spare time (!) Lynn loves to paint and to follow her interest in gem and opal fossicking.
  • The Hylands love to travel and they have made many tours around Australia in their motorhome. They also love to travel overseas and they have made 11 trips to Europe during their 39 years of marriage.
  • In 2017, they embarked on a 7 week cruise to Ireland. Their next big adventure is planned for 2019 with a 5 week cruise around the South Pacific.
  • Lynn enjoys the tranquility and peaceful lifestyle that Paluma offers.
  • If there is a community or social event at Paluma, then Lynn is sure to be there. She is often the first to arrive and the last to leave, selfless with her time and dedication to our village community.

Paluma Profiles – Jack Appleton

This month in ‘Meet a Villager’ we introduce you to Jack Appleton
  • Jack Appleton with his dad Neil at the Rainforest Inn

    At 14 years of age Jack Appleton is Paluma’s youngest full-time resident. Jack is turning 15 very soon and will celebrate his birthday during July.

  • Jack moved to Paluma with his Mum and Dad (Jenny and Neil) in 2013, but he has been visiting Paluma since he was a baby. When he was a baby the family stayed at Fatima Cottage. He has been visiting Paluma quite regularly since the age of 5.
  • Jack currently attends Ingham State High School and he is in Year 9. His parents travel up and down the Range Road twice a day to ferry Jack to the school bus which meets him at the bottom of the range.
  • Before starting High School, Jack attended Mutarnee State School and in Year 6 he was the School Captain.
  • Jack loves living at Paluma because of the rainforest. Over the years he has established quite a few secluded ‘Base Camps’ in the jungle surrounding the village.
  • Jack has competed twice in the Paluma Dam Fun Run and he completed the course both times.
  • Jack doesn’t watch much TV. He has many hobbies and one of his favourite things to do is online gaming. He loves to play ‘Grand Theft Auto’.
  • Jack also likes to go bushwalking, bike riding and fishing with his Dad. He likes to build and fix bikes and his scooter. He would like to go snow skiing and knee boarding.
  • Jack regularly helps out his neighbours around the village with mowing, gardening and other chores.
  • His favourite time of year is cyclone season. This is because the Range Road and the Bruce Highway are often closed during storms and floods and Jack doesn’t have to go to school.
  • Jack’s favourite foods are lasagne and sweet & sour chicken.
  • Just two weeks ago, Jack broke his wrist at school whilst playing touch football. He has to wear a cast on his arm for 5 weeks.

 

Paluma Profiles – Don Battersby

This month in ‘Meet a Villager’ we introduce you to Don Battersby.

Here’s a few things to know about Don:

Don has lived at Paluma for 26 years, first moving to the village in 1992.

  • He bought a 5-acre block of land on Hussey Road and in 2006 he built his own home.
  • For 44 years Don worked as a Ships Master. For 20 years he worked aboard the James Kirby, the research vessel for James Cook University.
  • During his time as Ships Master he had a brush with Hollywood when he transported Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland and Matthew McConaughey around the Whitsunday Islands for the making of the movie ‘Fools Gold’.
  • Don is a shell collector and he has a vast knowledge of South Pacific marine shells.
  • He is a very keen gardener and he has a passion for growing anthuriums. He currently has a collection of more than 700 colourful, weird and wonderful varieties, collected from all over Queensland.
  • Don loves to cook. He often makes a roast for his friends and neighbours on his new wood stove.
  • Don loves living at Paluma for the peace and quiet, the cool climate, the good people, the birdlife, bush tracks and swimming holes. He can’t imagine living anywhere else.
  • Don is extremely generous of his time and his vast knowledge of many things. He is never too busy to lend a hand to his neighbours and friends.
  • Don is proud of Paluma and he often acts as an impromptu tour guide for visitors on the many walking tracks and for bird enthusiasts searching for that elusive species or photograph.
  • A word of warning though – Don tells very BAD jokes.