The PDCA would like to thank everybody for their combined efforts to make Paluma’s final market day of the year and the NRL grand final viewing in the hall such a great success this past Sunday.

Locals and tourists alike were a strong and steady flow starting quite early in the day. The bbq didn’t shut down till quite a bit after 12pm and did great business with many coming back for seconds (and thirds) for “‘the lot’ please, that bbq-ed pineapple is amazing!”

The hall was filled with chatter and laughs with some shoppers making beelines to the baked goods stalls and others slowly meandering and enjoying the sport of browsing and selecting what they desired. Our community was on show and did itself proud at these markets. So many smiles.

The NRL grand final evening was also an opportunity to quietly socialise prior to the game for some of the locals as well as an opportunity for all – locals and visitors – to watch the footy showdown on the ‘big screen’.

Our PDCA treasurer, Wilfred Karnoll, is likely still grinning as this post ‘goes to air’ as the markets and grand final viewing made a net total of $1366 for our community. This success comes with effort from all the volunteers who:

• worked hard to ensure the hall was ready for vendors and shoppers alike;
• Made the effort to set up their own stall to raise funds for the rural fire service
• ensured all ran smoothly throughout the duration of the market;
• prepared many a preserve, cake, slice, cookie and sweet and savoury treat for the PDCA bake stall
• Collected fresh produce and plants from local growers for the PDCA fresh produce stall
• sliced, diced, shredded, mixed, bbq-ed, served, washed, dried…

…and smiled through it all.

A great big “Thank You” to our volunteers. Your service makes our community stronger. As Wilfred said, “…just goes to show what a small community like ours can do when we all pull together.”

Text and photos by J. Poletto unless noted otherwise