Barry Smith, our dedicated weekday rainfall recorder at Paluma has reported some very exciting news on this the first day of spring.
Today was the first day the new rain gauge at the Village Green overflowed!
Barry reports that the glass beaker in the rain gauge holds 20 mm of rain before it then overflows into the larger stainless steel chamber. So, the rainfall reading for the past 24 hours at Paluma Village is 25.4 mm.
The BOM is predicting higher than average rainfall this spring, so here’s hoping for some more overflows in the coming weeks and months!
Thanks to Barry for his diligence in recording our rainfall and reporting this welcome news for us gardeners.
Whilst on the topic of the Paluma rain gauge, I believe special thanks are due to Wilfred for the new fencing and the very flash paving now installed around the rain gauge. This will ensure the gauge is stable and protected from mowing and maintenance works at the Village Green and other interference.
Great job Wilfred and much appreciated. I must add that the fence height is just perfect – I am glad you took into account that some of us are vertically challenged!
Article by Michele Bird with information provided by Barry Smith
Spring has almost sprung and Saturday Night Fever is coming to the village on 11th September at 6.30 pm at the Community Hall.
Whether you’re a mother or whether you’re a brother, get down and boogie with your friends and neighbours as we go back in time to the 1970’s.
Come as you are, or come in your favourite 70’s themed costume. Grow your moustache, find your flares or flaunt your flower-power. Be a disco diva or a Dylan devotee – everyone is welcome.
The Bar will be open for drinks and please bring a dish to share – hot or cold, sweet or savoury.
The love, peace and joy will flow from the Community Hall with a free drink for the best dressed male and female.
Jamie’s post on 2 August 2021 provided information on the new Paluma rainfall gauge at the Village Green. Most of you have probably seen the new rain gauge by now. You can’t miss it on the lawn near the PEEC side of the Village Green behind the Community Hall.
Since the installation of the new gauge the daily rainfall data has been checked and recorded, mostly by two very dedicated community volunteers. Barry Smith from PEEC has been taking the readings on weekdays and ever reliable Colwyn Campbell has been the rainfall recorder on weekends. The task involves visiting the Village Green every day at the same time to check the gauge and record any rainfall for the past 24 hours on the BOM record sheet.
Last weekend (14 & 15 August) with Colwyn being unwell with severe sciatica, it was my turn to step up and take a turn in checking the gauge. I was looking forward to the task, even more so when it began to rain on Friday evening. How exciting – there would be something in the gauge for my first recording!
Paluma’s gardeners will be pleased to know the rainfall stats for last weekend were 5 mm and 4.2 mm respectively for Saturday and Sunday 14 and 15 August.
Jamie Oliver is still seeking additional volunteers to compile a list of back-up people to assist with the rainfall recording, if and when necessary.
If you would like to volunteer and put your name on the list, please contact Jamie. You might only be called on once in a while to stand-in when other residents are unable to perform the task.
I can attest to the fact that it is a rewarding job in playing a (small) part in contributing to the historical record of Paluma’s rainfall. Not only that, but you can multi-task whilst recording the rainfall and take your best mate for a walk!
It is with much regret that Colwyn Campbell is postponing the Watercolours and Wine Workshop planned for Saturday 21 August.
Colwyn advises that she is currently incapacitated with a severe case of sciatica. She extends her sincere and heartfelt apologies to those who were planning to attend the workshop and to bring friends along.
Colwyn is planning to reschedule the workshop and will advise on a new date for this event when possible.
Saturday night (14 August) was International Night at Paluma. There was only a small crowd of some 13 people in attendance, but you wouldn’t have known that from the noise coming from the Community Hall. The gathering was loud, enthusiastic and spirited to say the least.
The evening began with Lynn’s various entrée dishes which were consumed in a flash. As always, there was plenty to eat and drink for everyone with a delicious curry, chicken dishes, fried rice, dumplings and other meals. There was only one dessert on the night, so you had to be quick. This was a sumptuous ‘Scottish pavlova’ made by yours truly. Whilst there was much debate on the night regarding the origins of the humble pavlova (from New Zealand or Australia), my rationale is that if someone of Scottish descent makes a pavlova, then it quite rightly can be called a Scottish pavlova?
The small crowd at the Hall were delighted when Paluma’s newest residents Leonie and Mark joined the event. They accidentally discovered International Night when they stopped by to see what all the noise and activity was at the Hall. They were soon invited in for a meal and a welcome drink. Mark and Leonie are the new owners of the ‘Paluma Dreaming’ property on the Loop Road and they are currently renovating the property. It was great to welcome these new residents to the village, Paluma style (and we hope we didn’t frighten them away!).
There was a great deal of fun and laughter on the night. Lennox (who didn’t really want to hang around with us ‘oldies’) made several quick ram-raids on the buffet during the course of the night. He eventually made off with a dish of Mark and Wendy’s chicken wings, but he wasn’t quick enough to get any of the pavlova. There were some strange goings on in the kitchen at one point and what happened behind closed doors between Barman Leslie and Jodie remains a mystery. What happens in the kitchen, stays in the kitchen…….?
Here’s some more photos of a fun time with friends and neighbours at Paluma International Night.
On Saturday 7 August 2021 the crew of the HMAS Paluma (4) exercised their right of passage of the township of Paluma by a ceremonial march through the centre of the village. It was organised by Townsville City Council and to everyone’s pleasure it was a perfect winter Paluma day with clear skies, warm sunshine and just a tad of winter coolness.
The main thoroughfare through the village, Mt Spec Road, was closed between PEEC and Smith Crescent from 10.45 am to 11.45 am. The crew were marshalled outside PEEC where they were inspected by Councillor Margie Ryder who attend the ceremony on behalf of Mayor Jenny Hill (who sent her apologies as she was in lock-down due to Covid restrictions).
The party then marched along Mt Spec Road until accosted by Rollingstone Police OIC Tony Jacob. The official framed document which granted them the freedom of entry – conferred on the vessel on 14 October 1990 – was produced and the parade was able to continue the march to its dispersal point on Smith Crescent. Two drummers brought up the rear of the parade – doing a splendid job of keeping the beat, especially since the remainder of the band could not attend the ceremony due to Covid restrictions.
The Rainforest Inn catered light refreshments for the Navy crew and distinguished guests, while the local Paluma residents and some visitors enjoyed a free sausage sizzle provided by the PDCA. Thanks to Jamie and Colin for manning the BBQ and keeping everyone fed. The sausage sizzle proved very popular and supplies ran out before too long.
Inside the Community Hall Margie Ryder made a speech before presenting the Captain of the HMAS Paluma a scroll confirming the “Final Right of Entry”. A copy of this was presented to the PDCA as a momento of the occasion and this was gratefully accepted by Les Hyland, on behalf of the Paluma community, the PDCA and the Paluma History Project. Les assured the gathering that this would be embodied in one of the Paluma History Albums for the four ships named “Paluma”.
There was a great turn out of local Paluma residents to support this event and it’s not every day that we see a Navy crew marching down Mt Spec Road in our little village in the mist.
Text by Les Hyland and Photographs by Denise Soars & Les Hyland
If you were thinking that it was about time to wind down from all the recent social events and outings at Paluma, well think again Paluma residents…..!
You are reminded that next Saturday night, 14 August is International Night in the village. This annual social is to be celebrated at the Community Hall, commencing at 6.30 pm.
Come as you are, or come dressed to reflect your heritage, nationality, your favourite country, place or culture. Everyone is welcome and it will be a celebration of multiculturalism – Paluma style.
Please bring a plate to share – hot or cold, sweet or savoury. International dishes to reflect the theme of the night are encouraged. The PDCA Bar will be open for beverages on the night.
Paluma is one of the wettest places in north Queensland (see post from 2019) and most residents take an active interest in annual, if not monthly or daily rainfall records around the village. After many years of faithfully recording official daily rainfalls at the Ivy Cottage, Ian Marshall is no longer able to fulfil this volunteer role. Many thanks to Ian and Sandy for performing this important and valued service to Paluma.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) originally decided to close the official Ivy Cottage rainfall station after they received notice that observations were no longer able to be provided. However, after repeated representations from several Paluma residents, the BOM has agreed to relocate the rain gauge to the village green while keeping the old “station identification” so that a continuous record going back to 1969 is maintained.
Our new rain gauge on the Village Green
The Paluma Environmental Education Centre (PEEC) has agreed that Barry Smith will officially take on responsibility for recording daily rainfall from our new gauge during normal workdays. On weekends Colwyn Campbell has agreed to take the readings. Thanks to both of them for agreeing to take this on!
There will still occasionally be times (especially over the summer holidays) when neither Barry nor Colwyn will be available to take readings. We are therefore seeking additional “backup volunteers” who are willing to be called when needed. If you are interested in helping us keep a continuous official rainfall record for Paluma please contact Jamie. He will draw up a list of residents who can be called on when needed.
The twentieth anniversary of the “Paluma Push” was different for all the right reasons. Sam Stedman and Aline of “Outer Limits” are to be heartily congratulated for masterminding the operation, but one must also say that it would not have been possible but for all the various helpers who were involved both before, on, and after the day of the race.
The principal difference was the holding of the race on a Saturday [July 17th] instead of a Sunday, as in all previous years. This permitted the Saturday evening to host a huge party at Hidden Valley Cricket Oval right at the race finish.
It was also a most beautiful sunny winter day, although there were a lot of water issues, many of them on the Paluma Dam Road which is in a deplorable condition. It was repaired in November but with material that did not stand up to the Paluma wet season and was studded with deep water filled potholes and gullies through a great deal of its length.
In the Community Hall a collection of 15 of the 20 “Paluma Push” tee shirts over the years was mounted and so much admired that it was moved to Hidden Valley for Saturday night.
The race start was on Smith Crescent in Paluma and there were five categories this year. The new one was the 100km “Crazy Course” with an extra 20km “Mt Fox Loop” at the last part of the race. There was the normal 70km and a 53km course divided between e-bikes and mountain bikes. The popular 42km Recreation Course was well supported. There were almost 650 competitors and although there were mechanical problems there were only two injuries one of which was sustained riding back on the road from Hidden Valley to Paluma after the race!
There were three electronic mats in use recording the competitors passage at Checkpoints 1, 4 and 6 reducing the number of volunteer manual number takers and improving accuracy. For the detailed results and times go to the Outer Limits website and look for: palumapushresults.
The Hidden Valley Cricket Oval was in use for camping on Friday night, but on Saturday it was transformed into a party ground with the bar run by the PDCA, three food outlets and the band “Shots Fired” providing music for dancing and created a good ambience for the really huge number of competitors, volunteers and others who seemed to all be having a great time especially those sitting around the very large bonfire that was kept blazing.
This is but a brief overview of this remarkable event but it hopefully conveys what an outstanding event the 20th “Paluma Push” was.
