Village news – Page 18 – Paluma – our village in the mist

Range Road Update – TMR Request Urgent Community Feedback

Good afternoon,

The Mt Spec Road reconstruction works are progressing well, however due to the nature of the work and with varying ground conditions, the volume of work required is substantial. The continuous supply of materials during night shifts is also proving a challenge. On top of this, we are aware of the current predictions for the commencement of the 2020/21 wet season from mid-December 2020. The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and the contractor are working hard to get these works completed as quickly as possible to avoid the works being prolonged into the new year and wet season.

Considering all of this, and our commitment to work hard to get these works completed before the wet season commences, the contractor will require a full weekend road closure of Mt Spec Road next weekend.

The proposed closure will be:

From 7pm Friday 27 November to 6am Monday 30 November 2020

We understand that any closure has impacts on the community and we are working with the contractor to minimise any impacts. Drawing on your feedback previously provided, the contractor is able to arrange the weekend works to include a one hour road opening each day. There will be a one hour window of opportunity on Saturday morning and again on Sunday afternoon for the community or guests of accommodation services and camping grounds at Paluma to travel through the works.

We are seeking your feedback on the most preferred time slot for the one hour road opening on the Saturday and Sunday. The available options are:

Saturday

8am to 9am

9am to 10am

10am to 11am

11am to 12noon

Sunday

1pm to 2pm

2pm to 3pm

3pm to 4pm

4pm to 5pm

As we are running under tight timeframes we will need your response by 10am this Friday 20 November 2020 at the latest via email to engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au (please note, there is no guarantee it will be the hour you have chosen as we will need to go with the majority preference).

As soon as the timeframes for the one hour opening on the Saturday and Sunday are known, we will communicate this with you this Friday afternoon (one week prior to the closure) so you can make any suitable arrangements you may need for yourself or your guests. TMR has already started speaking to some Paluma businesses on this matter and this email is to ensure we can seek a broad range of feedback before setting the road opening times.

The reason we can only allow a one hour closure each day is primarily due to the concrete pump that is required for the works. To allow for the road opening, the concrete pump must be shut down. An hour is the maximum amount of time the concrete pump can be shut down before the concrete hardens. If this happens it takes hours to get it ready for use again, essentially defeating the purpose to make some really good progress on the works over the weekend.

Whilst we understand some of you may be have to make some alternative arrangements for the weekend, we hope you can see the benefit the weekend closure will provide the community to get these works completed prior to Christmas.

Please, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact Meghan or Kelly in the Customer and Stakeholder Management team on 1800 625 648 or by email at engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au.

We thank you for your ongoing patience during these works.

Kind regards,

Meghan Peters

Customer and Stakeholder Management
Northern District | Department of Transport and Main Roads

The Hall of Horror !

The inaugural Monsters and Mayhem on the Mountain Social was held on Saturday night (7/11/20) and the event certainly lived up to its name. The Paluma Community Hall was transformed into a Hall of Horror as mummies, zombies, witches and other freaks and extremely creepy people came out of the woodwork to join the pandemonium.

Medusa made an appearance. So did the Grim Reaper, Herman Munster and a duo of Hannibal Lecters. A Pastor arrived, but was way too late to save the ‘souls of the damned’ at Paluma! A couple of Aliens joined the fray, so perhaps those UFO’s did land at Paluma after all?

The best/worst costume was won by ‘Kreepy Klumppy’ (Peter). The runner-up was Peter ‘The Mummy’ Cooke.

Jodie was the winner of the “Whose Sitting on a Big Black Spider Competition”. She was somewhat alarmed to find a large (plastic) arachnid fastened to the underside of her chair. Ironically, Jodie has a morbid fear of spiders (oops!). Her initial alarm and a few palpitations were consoled with her winning prize of a free drink from the bar.

The gathering of weirdos and whackos dined very well on a feast of dishes (none containing human flesh – that we know of!!). The bar did a lively trade with lots of thirsty patrons. Barman Les (Hannibal No. 1) reported good takings for the PDCA.

Sincere thanks to all those who attended the night in support of the PDCA and for embracing the theme of the night with gusto. Community spirit, good humour and good fun were the order of the evening. Special thanks to the band of volunteers who decorated the Hall of Horror on Saturday afternoon and then cleaned up on Sunday. What a great team!

Let the photographs of the night tell the rest of this (freaky) story……!!!!

Text & Photos by Michele (Witchie-Poo) Bird

Unpacking the Anagama

Last Saturday (Oct 31) Len and Tania, with fingers crossed in anticipation, entered the still warm belly of the Anagama kiln to find out how successful this year’s wood firing had been. I think the photo below shows the general reaction: a smile on Len’s face as he surveys the assembled pots.

To recap the events leading up to this, the process was quite simple in the telling:

As Len tells it, the secret to this year’s success was getting sufficiently high temperatures in both the front and back of the kiln. While Len and Tania carefully monitored the digital temperature display throught the process, the final indicator that the heat was right was verified by the appearance of the “kiln cones”. Six cones were set up in the front and back of the kiln and the hope was that at least 5 of these would melt or soften enough to droop. The photo below shows the array of front cones from this year’s firing with the same front cones from a previous firing behind them. Clearly this year went better than previously with even the last cone drooping noticeably.

There was a huge range of pots that emerged from the kiln and each one had a unique glaze with rich colurs ranging from brown, to red, gold, green, cream and even swirls of black from carbon soot trapped beneath the glaze.

Some of the favourites individual pots of those who helped in the unpacking are shown below, but you will need to inspect them once they have been sorted and presented in Len’s studio to decide on your own personal favourite.

Congratulation to Len and Tania on the success of the Anagama firing for 2020 (Photo JLP)

Text by Jamie Oliver
Photos by Juanita Poletto (JLP) & Jamie Oliver

Reminder: Paluma Social Event – Monsters & Mayhem on the Mountain

There is no doubt that Paluma has been a hive of frenetic activity over the past month with the rescheduling of the Paluma Push and the Paluma Dam Good Trail Run into October and early November. With the weather warming up, there has been a lot of sweating in the village of late. Len Cook also fired up the anagama kiln in late October, so things got pretty hot and heavy over on Lennox Crescent. Well, now it’s time to put out the fire, wash the lycra and put the jock-strap back in the drawer.

With the advent of Covid-19 restrictions in March 2020 the only PDCA Paluma Social Event this year has been the St. Patrick’s day celebrations. But, that is about to change……..!

This coming Saturday the 7th November, the PDCA will host its second social event for the year – It’s Monsters and Mayhem on the Mountain!

You are all invited to join your friends and neighbours for a post-Covid catchup and at the same time you can support our PDCA. Come as you are (some of you are already monsters!?!?), or come dressed as your favourite monster, ghoul, witch, demon or wizard. There will be a free drink for the best/worst costume.

As always, please bring a plate of food to share – savoury or sweet. Barman Les (Lurch) will have the bar open to serve you beverages at great prices.

The Monsters will congregate at 6.30 PM at the Community Hall.

Be there or else we will come to get you!!!!!!

Len’s Anagama is alive and smoking again

Len Cook’s famous Anagama wood kiln was fired up this Monday after a two year break, and those in the village would not have missed the smoke and fire belching from the chimney over the last four days.

As of writing, the kiln has been going for over ninety hours hours and is due to be shut down and sealed up on Friday evening. This year Len was supported by a visiting potter from down south, Tania Edwards, with occasional neighbourly assistance from Jamie.

The Anagama firing is always a visual spectacle, with a roaring firebox that consumes tonnes of wood, and side stoke holes that occasional belch fire, and a chimney that sends smoke and flame skyward for 100 hours straight. Len is reportedly pleased with the firing this year, having reached temperatures in the front and back of the kiln that should be sufficient to produce some spectacular pots. However the outcome won’t be known in until next Saturday when the kiln will have cooled sufficently to be unsealed and inspected. I’m sure the results will be pretty impressive.

Len and Tania having a break after more than 90 hours “feeding the beast”

In the mean time, here is a selection of pictures from the firing.

Text and pictures by Jamie Oliver

Call for Volunteers – Paluma Dam Good Trail Run

Sam Stedman and the team from Outer Limits are calling for Volunteers from the Paluma Community to assist with the organisation of this year’s Paluma Dam Good Trail Run. This event will take place on Sunday 1 November 2020.

If you can assist and you are keen to be a volunteer, please contact Sam on mobile: 0421 484 211 or send an email to info@outerlimitsadventure.com.au

Jill Went Up the Hill…..

Paluma’s own Jill Meads joined the hordes of mountain bike riders last Sunday (11/10/20) to undertake the annual Paluma Push from Paluma Village to Hidden Valley.

Jill was joined by good friends Ruth and Cheryl and they tackled the 42 km recreational track. It was Jill’s third time in participating in the Push, with her last race about six years ago.

Jill was happy to report that all three riders finished their race in good spirits and in good health. They plan to do it all again next year in 2021 when the Paluma Push will celebrate its 20th year. Jill would encourage everyone to get out there and give it a go. It’s a lot of fun and the surrounding country is something to see.

Well done Jill, Cheryl and Ruth. Paluma is proud of you!!!!

Jill and friends Ruth and Cheryl at Checkpoint 3 during the Paluma Push.

Time to relax and enjoy a cold drink at the Volunteers BBQ after the Paluma Push.

Text & Photos by Michele Bird

Happy Birthday Jennie !

Last Saturday (3/10) at the Rainforest Inn we took the opportunity at the usual morning tea session to celebrate the upcoming birthday of Jennie Robinson. Jennie’s family and a number of her Paluma friends and neighbours joined her for coffee/tea and carrot cake. The cake was decorated with two of her favourite things – flowers and bees! Thanks to Lynda for her innovative cake decorating and to Michele for catching all those bees!

Happy Birthday Jennie for the 7th October. May you enjoy your birthday and the year ahead.

Jennie, Jack and Neil at the Rainforest Inn.

A Warm Welcome to Paluma

The village of Paluma has some new residents!

The PDCA would like to welcome to the Paluma community Bobby and Glen Parker who are the new residents at 1976 Mt Spec Road. This property was formerly owned by the Brennan’s and it is one of the 5-acre blocks to the west of the village. Bobby and Glen’s property is situated next-door to Graham and Julie’s place. Graham – who is recovering from a broken pelvis (now locally known as ‘Evel Knievel’) – brought the new neighbours along to the usual ‘C and G’ session (‘Coffee and Gossip’) at the Rainforest Inn last Saturday (26/09/20). Here, they met some of us locals for the first time – hopefully that will not scare them away…….!!.

We extend a warm welcome to Bobby and Glen to our village community and particularly to the 5-acre blocks area. We’re sure that by now they will have realised they have purchased a piece of Paluma paradise.

Bobby (left) and Glen (right) meeting their neighbour Lynn Hyland (centre) at the Rainforest Inn.

Photo by Les Hyland. Text by Les Hyland and Michele Bird

Addendum: (Jamie)

While we have focused on Bobbi and Glen since we go to meet them at morning tea last week, we also extend a warm welcome to other recent additions to the Village: Ian and Julia Anderson (14 Mt Spec Rd); Peter Carlin and Karen Knight (3 Lennox Cr); and Dean Stephenson and Judy Foote (54 Mt Spec Rd).

Congratulations Leslie Hyland

Leslie Hyland was the guest of honour last Saturday at a morning tea held at the Rainforest Inn at Paluma. Leslie was presented with a Certificate from Townsville City Council in acknowledgement of his short listing for the Senior of the Year Award 2020.

Councillor Margie Ryder and the State Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto attended the event to present Leslie with his Certificate. Margie Ryder provided an account of Les’ vast achievements and contributions to the village of Paluma over the past 30 years. Many of Les’ Paluma friends and neighbours joined Margie and Nick in paying recognition to Les. Margie Ryder provided a delicious cake, expertly decorated (by herself!) in honour of the occasion.

Congratulations Les, this recognition is well deserved and we look forward to your next 20 years of dedicated service to our community!!!

Nick Dametto and Margie Ryder presenting Les Hyland with his certificate.

Les Hyland doing the honours in cutting his celebration cake.

Look at that cake. Nice decorating Margie!

Lynn and Les Hyland – their contribution to Paluma is the very definition of community spirit, dedication and generosity.

Text & Photos by Michele Bird