Category: PDCA matters

Community Meetings and BBQ now scheduled for April 12th.

Prior to the meetings below the PDCA will provide a BBQ lunch at noon, April 12th at the Community Hall

A community meeting to review our experiences during & after the February extreme weather event will now be held on Saturday, 12th of April, commencing at 1 pm in the Paluma Community Hall. The objective is to record lessons learnt for the future, discuss known problems & see what we can do to improve how we manage such events. All members of the community are encouraged to attend. See agenda here.

If you are unable to attend but would like to have a specific issue included for discussion, feel free to contact Charlie Allen, Peter Cooke, Anneshka Brown or Jamie Oliver to let them know.

There will also be a regular meeting of the PDCA Council at 3pm, after the community meeting. This PDCA meeting will cover various ongoing items (see agenda below). While these meetings have traditionally been considered as business meetings attended only by the elected members of the Council/Executive, we welcome any residents to attend and to raise any items that they would like the PDCA to consider in addition to what is already on the agenda. Here is the proposed agenda.

Community Meetings and BBQ postponed – Again!

The recent rains have made a mess with our meeting plans this weekend. It has been reluctantly decided that we will cancel the proposed meetings and PDCA BBQ this Saaurday. We will defer any commitment to another date utillafter the current system passes and the 7 day outlook promises drying (if not dry) weather.

Postponement of Meetings this Saturday

As a result of the recent additional rains, and the closure of the Star River Bridge on the inland access route, the upcoming Community Meeting, PDCA Meeting and PDCA BBQ have all been postponed until the following weekend – March 29th. The times and places are the same:

Paluma Community Hall March 29th

  • PDCA BBQ at 12 pm
  • Community Meeting at 1 pm
  • PDCA Meeting at 3 pm

Community BBQ and PDCA Meeting this Saturday

In addition to the Community Meeting to review experiences and lessons learned from the recent rains (Saturday at 1pm) the PDCA will be hosting a BBQ lunch at the Community Hall at 12 pm before the meeting.

There will also be a regular meeting of the PDCA Council at 3pm, after the community meeting. This PDCA meeting will cover various ongoing items (see agenda below). While these meetings have traditionally been considered as business meetings attended only by the elected members of the Council/Executive, we welcome any residents to attend and to raise any items that they would like the PDCA to consider in addition to what is already on the agenda. Here is the proposed agenda.

AGENDA

  1. Apologies
  2. Action Arising
    • History project – mining and timber history; “What to see and do in Paluma” flyers and linked QR code.
    • Monitoring of Telstra generator and back-up battery
    • Updating Paluma online presence:  PDCA activities; Paluma.org update; Facebook page;
    • Access to PRFB funds to share costs in hall upgrades eg: Solar panels and battery storage
  3. Suggested PDCA actions arising from previous Community Review Meeting on lessons learned during February’s extreme rain event
  4. Paluma Community Information and News network options – for urgent and non-urgent items
  5. Future events and Hall bookings
  6. Treasurer’s Report
  7. Any Other Business
  8. Confirm next meeting date – Annual General Meeting (election of officers) to be followed by exec meeting

Community Meeting to review experiences and lessons learned during the recent rain event

A community meeting to review our experiences during & after the February extreme weather event will be held on Saturday the 22nd of March commencing at 1 pm in the Paluma Community Hall. The objective is to record lessons learnt for the future, discuss known problems & see what we can do to improve how we manage such events. All members of the community are encouraged to attend.

Charlie Allen

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 visitors on a Saturday
Fiona and Peter Leather browsing the photographic history display


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.

Star Valley lookout

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

Paluma Push

The ‘Back Up’ crew arriving at Check point 1, Paluma Dam

The annual Paluma Push in the bush is over for 2024 and was a really successful event for all involved. Sam and Aline’s crew and the local volunteers ensured as smooth a run as possible for all participants. Members from our community who manned checkpoints along the various routes enjoyed one of Paluma’s perfect blue sky winter days. Some of volunteers saw quite a bit of action whilst others simply pointed the way. All were acknowledged and appreciated by many of the entrants as they passed by.

These ‘tykes on bikes’ were keen to get pedalling.
Great to see the older ones as support at the back of the mob.
These 70km entrants were all smiles as they came through Check point 1.

It seems it was a more health conscious group this year as Wilfred says the PDCA Bar at Hidden Valley didn’t sell as much as usual. Regardless, the approximate profit for the fabulous efforts of the PDCA volunteers was around $2000. The PDCA is VERY grateful to those who made the time to enjoy the atmosphere which is always fantastic down at the finish line and who put time into service through helping out at the bar. The ‘heavy lifters’ involved in the set up and pack up of the bar are especially deserving of our gratitude.

The Legend who rode this bike in the 42KM was too fast for this photographer to catch in action!

We have some barstock left over for those needing to drown their blues (pardon the pun) after the ‘big game’ between Qld and NSW. We are willing to sell at cost price to our community members. Anyone interested in buying any of these are to contact Wilfred on 0447 822 626. The following sixpacks are available as of the publication of this post:

  • 5 x Jim Beam & cola $23 each
  • 2 x Jack Daniels & cola $29 each
  • 8 x Bundaberg rum & coke $23 each
  • 16 x Coopers pale ale $15
Very proud of this ‘Wise Wizard’ finishing his first 53km in The Paluma Push.

Text: J. Poletto and W. Karnoll

Images: J Poletto

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.

Paluma’s very own “Jam Corner” 😉


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

Paluma History Display

First open day for 2024

April 10 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

If you’re a resident up for the day or one of our (lucky) lovely permanent residents in Paluma village, come and take a look at what happens during our History Project display day. Every Wednesday from March till November we open up the Community Hall and set out a variety of displays and resources that document the rich history of the region.

There are fact sheets and a dvd about the history of Paluma for viewing. You may learn something about where you live and even have some fabulous ideas on how to improve our display. We love feedback but we also would love some help.

We are needing interested volunteers to help with keeping the display open. Come along during April and May to see how it all works as there will be a range of people there who are experienced in manning our display. They will happily show you the ropes if you think you’d like to give it a go. Check with the person ‘on duty’ to see which dates during the year you may be free to support.

At the very least, come along and have a cup of coffee or tea  and a chat with our local history enthusiasts.