Image – Page 24 – Paluma – our village in the mist

What’s Flowering In Paluma – Dendrobium Orchid

Dendrobium Species (King Orchid or Oak Orchid)

There is a spectacular orchid blooming at Paluma at present and it can be seen clinging to trees in many village gardens and high up in the canopy in rainforest trees surrounding the village. Most locals refer to it by a common name, the King Orchid. This beautiful orchid has thick green leathery leaves and showy flowers which are produced in long racemes on long stems. Each stem can have over 100 small flowers which range in colour from white to creamy yellow. The flowers have a sweet fragrance and usually appear from September to October.

As amateur botanists we have tried in vain to identify this orchid to species level. We suggest that it might be a variety of Dendrobium speciosum which grows over a vast area of Australia from Gippsland in Victoria to Cooktown in North Queensland. Dendrobium speciosum is described as a very variable orchid, forming a species complex. It can be found across a range of habitats in eastern Australia including rainforest and open forest, from sea level to mountain tops.

On the other hand, this orchid might well be Dendrobium jonesii. This species has a remarkably similar flower to D. speciosum and although it can grow at sea level, it tends to occur most commonly in upland rainforest in the moist mountain ranges. It is described as being locally abundant in tropical Queensland from Mount Elliot near Townsville to Cape York Peninsula.

If anyone can enlighten us as to the species of this beautiful Paluma orchid we would welcome your feedback.

Whatever the species, it is a special orchid and very worthy of our admiration wherever it grows – in local gardens or high in the rainforest canopy. The flowers tend to be short-lived only lasting a week or so. Make sure you check out this orchid before flowering ends, otherwise you will have to wait until next year!

Text & Photos by Michele Bird & Colwyn Campbell.

A Walk on the Wild Side – Amethystine Python

Taking a walk through the village of Paluma and surrounds often leads to encounters with the local wildlife. Last Sunday (21 October) during a stroll through the village on a beautiful sunny morning, we were lucky enough to come across a superb Amethystine Python (Morelia amethistina).

From a distance, we noticed what appeared to be a rather large tree branch extending onto Mt Spec Road at the eastern end of the cutting. Before long it became obvious that the ‘large branch’ was moving and that it was a snake that had settled quite comfortably on the road for a spot of sun baking. This sizeable snake extended across the entire width of the road and more. Fearing a vehicle might soon come along, we swiftly encouraged the snake to move off the road and it ascended a nearby tree. It was not too pleased about being disturbed from its lazy Sunday morning warm-up!

The Amethystine Python, or Scrub Python as it is also known, is Australia’s longest snake. The specimen we saw was about 3 metres in length, and probably quite a young snake. Specimens have been recorded at over 8.5 metres in length. These snakes are slender, graceful creatures with stunning markings of fawn to olive-brown, with variegated zig-zag patterning in dark-brown to black. These pythons live in tropical open forest, rainforest and mangrove habitats. They are usually nocturnal, but can sometimes be found during the day, basking in the sun in a forest clearing, or as we found, on the road.

Amethystine pythons are non-venomous and their prey usually includes small birds and mammals, but can include larger animals such as agile wallabies.

After settling in the tree, this very handsome python was happy to pose for a few photographs.

Text & Photos by Colwyn Campbell & Michele Bird

What’s Flowering In Paluma – Hippeastrum (Amaryllis)

Hippeastrum (Amaryllis family)

A previous post by Colwyn Campbell (27 September) highlighted the commencement of the annual blooming of hippeastrum lilies in many gardens throughout the village. Two weeks on and the hippeastrums are at their very best, bursting into flower in almost every garden. Whether you have one bulb or mass plantings, these beautiful bulbs never disappoint the home gardener.

Hippeastrums belong to the Amaryllis family. They belong to a genus of some 90 species and over 600 hybrids. They are perennial bulbs. The bulbs are usually large and fleshy, producing tall, broad leaves. The large trumpet-shaped flowers come in a vast array of colours, evident in the gardens at Paluma. Hippeastrums are easy to grow. They love warm weather, sunshine or good filtered light.

Just some of the amazing flowers from local gardens are shown in the photos below. Here are our Happy Hippeastrums!

Text & Photos by Michele Bird

Rainforest Tree of the Month, October 2018 – Alphitonia petriei

Pink Ash – Alphitonia petriei

Around the world there are 20 species of this distinctive tree, mostly in tropical Asia, while in Australia there are seven or eight species, found in eastern northern Australia. Alphitonias are known by several popular names which can cause some confusion in identifying a particular species. Pink Almond, White-leaf, White Ash, Soap Tree, Sarsaparilla, Red Ash, Red Almond, Foam-bark and Pink Ash are those names most commonly used.

Alphitonia petriei is a pioneer species which grows rapidly on the edge of the forest or in a gap where sunlight can reach. Trees can grow to a height of 40 meters and sometimes look grotesque with gnarled and twisted limbs and branches which reach out impossible distances laterally from the trunk. At present trees around Paluma are particularly eye-catching as most are densely covered in white flowers, often with a tiered effect and, from a distance, appear like snow-laden Christmas trees.

The flowers which grow in dense panicles at the ends of branchlets and between leaves are white, cream or pale green. They have five petals, only 1.5 mm long which envelop the stamens. Flowering is usually from September through to March. Pollination is by beetles. Butterflies are also attracted to Alphitonia. The fruit is produced from February to July; globular, dark capsules, which ripen to reveal three orange to red seeds surrounded by a powdery flesh. Many birds, including King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas, feast on these while fallen fruit is eaten by cassowaries.

Leaves of the Alphitonia are simple, lanceolate and can be 65 to 180 mm long. The upper surface is glabrous and a dull grey-green in colour while the undersurface is whitish and slightly hairy. In some species of Alphitonia, notably A. excelsa, the leaves when rubbed in water will produce a soapy froth, hence the popular name Soap Tree. This species is more commonly found at a lower altitude than that of Paluma.

The bark on the trunk and limbs of this tree is grey, flaky, almost tessellated and if torn gives off a liniment-like odour. This is a distinctive feature of the tree. The strong liniment smell of broken twigs and leaves is methyl salicylate, produced in the cambial layers of the limbs. Some people liken the smell to sarsaparilla, hence another popular name for this tree. Rainforest Aborigines used the Alphitonia petriei medicinally, probably as a liniment.

Alphitonia petriei is one of the many rainforest trees that contain bio-active chemicals which could potentially produce valuable medicinal drugs. In his book ‘Plants of Tropical North Queensland’, John Beasley says that “research at Paluma found that more than half the trees tested showed marked bioactivity.”

There are many of these interesting trees growing in and around Paluma. Particularly good specimens may be seen outside No 62 Mount Spec Road and at the corner of the western entry to Lennox Crescent from Mount Spec Road.

Text and photos by Colwyn Campbell

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

Blankets of Love Retreat at Paluma

Last Friday to Sunday (5-7 October) the annual three-day ‘Blankets of Love’ retreat was held at the Paluma Community Hall. Blankets of Love is a quilting group based in Townsville and the main prerequisite for membership is an absolute passion for making quilts. Last weekend’s retreat is the ninth year the event has been held at Paluma. There were 18 participants at this years event, travelling from Townsville, Bowen, Collinsville, Tully and Ravenswood.

For three days, the ladies stitched and sewed, piecing together some beautiful quilts for charity. This years theme was ‘children’s toys’ with each member of the group contributing a block or section of the various quilts. These ‘community quilts’ are then passed on to various charities and organisations such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Palliative Care, the Children’s Paediatric Emergency Unit and various nursing homes. The group recently donated 29 of their quilts to the Glendale Nursing Home in Townsville.

The Townsville Blankets of Love group formed in 2000 after a founding member suffered the devastating loss of a grandchild. Out of this hardship, was formed a truly dedicated and remarkable group of women. Their most important role is to make and provide small quilts which are passed on to social workers at hospitals. The quilts are given to parents suffering the loss of a baby and the hope is that the quilts will assist in the process of saying goodbye to the loved one.

The Townsville Blankets of Love group intends to return to Paluma next year (2019) to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their annual retreat. They are a truly remarkable group of women – every stitch a measure of their charity, kindness, compassion and love for others.

Blankets of Love is a charity and welcomes donations of fabric to produce their beautiful quilts. Anyone with fabric or materials to donate can contact Merle Prince on 0438 164 770.

Text & photos by Michele Bird

Paluma Sunday Market

Sunday September 30 was a beautiful fine sunny day at Paluma with a breeze keeping temperatures to about 26 degrees. There were 8 stallholders set up before opening time at 09.00 hrs and thanks to Don Battersby, Ross Hyne and Sonya Bryce, the barbeque was operational before 08.30 hrs.

After a slowish start there was a steady stream of customers in the hall and most also patronised the sausage sizzle. For the first time we were able to take advantage of the community hall extension, with two stalls set up in the new meeting room and people making use of the now extended square verandah.

Stall holders and customers at Paluma Market

The steady flow of customers continued until the sausages ran out at 12.40 hrs and about the same time the crowd in the hall diminished. Nevertheless, the feedback from the stallholders was very positive many, including newcomers, declaring their intention to return with their stalls at Easter. Altogether, a highly satisfactory day which will yield a modest profit that the Paluma & District Community Association needs.

Text & Photo by Les Hyland

Paluma Range Road – Fire to Flourish

Most Paluma residents will tell you that they never tire of driving the Paluma Range Road. While the road often invokes fear and trepidation for new visitors and tourists, you will very often hear the locals talking animatedly about their observations and encounters along the road, whether it be with native fauna and flora, other road-users, fallen trees, floods and fire. Some long-time residents know the road culvert by culvert – from top to bottom.

Driving the Range Road in the warmer months of the year and during the wet season is always special. Very often there is water cascading down the rock faces adjacent to the road and beautiful waterfalls at the creek crossings. Sometimes the water is even streaming down the middle of the road! If you are lucky you might encounter reptiles such as large pythons, water dragons and freshwater turtles during your drive. In certain months of the year, it is possible to spot migratory bird species such as the paradise kingfisher in particular locations along the road.

Being on the Range Road in the dry season is just as remarkable. With the recent prolonged dry spell in the region, just a few short weeks ago an intense bushfire ravaged the terrain on the lower slopes and foothills of the Paluma Range. Following the fire it was difficult to spot any greenery in the bush and hardly a blade of grass was left intact. It was hard to imagine how the bush would recover from such a devastating blaze.

Less than one month later and the bush is regenerating with a vengeance. Driving the Range Road at the present time is an absolute joy. There are green shoots and new growth everywhere as the bush springs back to life. It is well known that the Australian bush needs fire for regeneration and there are many species of native plants reliant on regular firing regimes to promote new growth and for seed germination. The resilience of the bush and its adaptability to fire is well evident on the Paluma Range at the present time.

Among the many plants springing back to life are Eucalypts of various species, cycads (probably Cycas media) and grass trees (Xanthorrhoea sp.). The cycads are especially beautiful with their new, soft grey-green foliage unfurling from blackened stumps. Understory plants such as pandanus palms (Pandanus sp.), wombat berry (Eustrephus latifolius) and flax lily (Dianella sp.) are rampant with new growth on the charred, hard-baked clay soils and amongst the granitic outcrops.

Flax lily and wombat berry emerge from charred ground

Next time you drive the Range Road make sure you look for the ever-advancing tinges of green as the woodland forest springs back to life. This is ‘mother nature’ at her very best.

Cycad regrowth sprouts from burnt stumps

Text & Photos by Michele Bird

Opening of the new extension to the Community Hall

John and Junita Tubman in front of the new “John Tubman Room”

On Saturday (Sept 22) more than 30 Paluma residents, PDCA members, visitors and the Member for Hinchinbrook, Nick Dametto met in the Community Hall to celebrate the completion of the new training/meeting room. In recognition of his long history of contributions to the Community and to the construction of the main hall, the extension was named the John Tubman Room. Head of the local SES, James Jackson, paid tribute to John’s dedicated work on and with the PDCA over more than 2 decades and in the planning of the new hall.

James Jackson pays tribute to John Tubman

John Tubman was clearly overwhelmed and deeply appreciative of this formal recognition.

The PDCA president, Jamie Oliver also made special mention of the crucial work done by Micheal Drew in securing the majority of the funding for the hall extension and for his tireless oversight of the building contract.

Nick Dametto and Jamie Oliver unveiling the new Honour Board

Following the cutting of the ribbon to open the new hall, Nick Dametto unveiled the new “Honour Board” which recognizes the many people who were involved in the construction of the main Hall in 2001, and lists the many people who have served as president of the PDCA over the last 42 years. Nick congratulated all Paluma residents on their work to create such an important community facility.

After further wine and cheese, Jamie Oliver gave a brief presentation on the PDCA vision for the future of Paluma. A copy of this presentation is available for downloading here. There was a lively discussion following the presentation that covered a range of topics, including the need for more attractions (and signage) to encourage people up to the top of the range from the Little Crystal Creek Bridge, the importance of more accommodation and camping facilities in the village, and the need for ongoing vigilance on the issue of power boats on the dam (a matter that has gone into abeyance for the time being).

More photos from the event can be seen below.

Nick and Jamie unveiling

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What’s Flowering In Paluma – Paperbark or Tea Tree

Paperbark/Tea Tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia)

There is currently a rather spectacular Paperbark or Tea Tree in full bloom at Paluma on the roadside along Mt Spec Road. The tree is located in front of the residence at 50 Mt Spec Road, opposite the Paluma Environmental Education Centre. It’s hard to miss this tree, because if you don’t immediately see and smell the sweet, honey-laden flowers, you can literally hear the air buzzing with thousands of bees – both native and European bees.

This tree is likely to be a Melaleuca quinquenervia, commonly known as the broad-leaved paperbark. This specimen is a sturdy, multi-trunked tree with masses of creamy-yellowish bottlebrush-like flowers. This species of paperbark is native to Eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia. It often grows in damp areas, on the margins of swamps, on floodplains and near watercourses. This specimen is thriving on the mountain top at Paluma!

Not only is this tree a magnet for bees at the moment, it also provides a source of nectar for many honeyeaters. In less than 15 minutes of bird watching at this tree, I observed numerous birds visiting for a feed – Macleay’s Honeyeater, Dusky Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Eastern Spinebill and Lewin’s Honeyeater.

Make sure you stop on your next walk through the village to check out this superb tree. It’s a ‘hive’ of activity!

Text & Photos by Michele Bird