Pyramid Views FEBRUARY 2018

EDITION 13, FEBRUARY 2018 

VIGORO CHAMPIONS 

until December. Games are played at 

Johnson Park Gordonvale, for the first 

half of the playing season and Cairns 

North Reserve Lake Street, for the 

remainder of the year. 

If you are interested in playing please 

contact Lynelle Crappe on 0428126281 

Words by Sandra Charlton Photos by Lynelle Crappe 

Gordonvale has in years past produced 

outstanding vigoro players. 2017 was 

one of those years. 

The Queensland State Titles were held 

in Ipswich in January. Two Gordonvale 

Under 18 players, Kelsie Gammie and 

Heidi Schneider were selected in the 

honorary Queensland team, based on 

their performance during that carnival. 

Kelsie was appointed Vice Captain of 

the Queensland team. 

Local Gordonvale achievements did not 

stop there. Jodie Auld playing in the 

veteran side was also selected to play 

for Queensland. With very good vigoro 

played over that weekend, and although 

excited to be chosen, this did take 

Jodie by surprise. Team captain, Leanne 

Coutts said, “Jodie put 100% into the 

whole carnival. With her fitness level 

high and fielding mid boundary, Jodie 

consistently ran fielding balls. She was 

open batter and always got runs to start 

the innings.” 

Young Kelsie Gammie’s contribution 

to vigoro through her fundraising 

efforts and playing performances was 

acknowledged by being awarded Cairns 

Vigoro Association’s Junior Player of the 

Kelsie Gammie, Jodie Auld and Heidi Schneider 

Year. Kelsie assisted with fundraising 

to get the Under 18 team to Ipswich 

by selling chocolates, assisting at the 

Gordonvale Lions Club Food Van and also 

selling raffle tickets. Her performance 

on the field with strong bowling figures 

and competitive fielding and batting 

contributed to her Gordonvale team in 

the Cairns competition. As captain of 

the Gordonvale team, strategic game 

play was her forte. Kelsie was selected 

as Captain of the Cairns Under 18 side 

and has played for Cairns for the last 4 

years. 

Vigoro is in Kelsie’s blood. Her mum, 

Lynelle Crappe played and continues to 

play and coach vigoro. She previously 

represented Queensland in the Seniors 

side. Lynelle’s own mum, Collette 

Crappe, a life member of the Cairns 

Vigoro Association played vigoro in the 

1950’s and 1960’s, playing at Norman 

Park, Alley Park and in Cairns. It’s a 

game that is passed down through 

generations. 

Congratulations girls….. we are proud of 

you. 

Cairns Vigoro Association’s Season 

commences in August and plays 

LITTER LEGEND 

Some of you may have seen a woman 

braving the hot temperatures around 

Christmas time picking up litter around 

Gordonvale. That woman was Helen 

McGuigan. Helen from Dublin was 

home visiting her parents for Christmas. 

Riding a bike to as far away as Green 

Hill, she collected litter along the way. 

Clean ups are not new to Helen. She 

participates in the National Spring 

Clean in Dublin. National Spring Clean 

is Ireland’s anti-litter program, a yearly 

event during the whole month of April. 

Thank you Helen for all your efforts to 

keep Gordonvale clean! 

Helen McGuigan 

Words and photo by Sandra Charlton

Kat & Tim’s 

Pizzeria 

Gordonvale 

Delivery 

Service 

Available 

Ph: 40566224 

AUSTRALIA DAY 

Despite the rain, our community still enjoyed the Australia Day activities in Norman 

Park. This event was hosted by Rock Impact Inc. Rock Impact Inc is an organisation 

that delivers early intervention programs for children and families. 

There was something for everyone- thong throwing competition, face painting, 

pie eating competition, live music, and free lamingtons with tea & coffee. The kids 

were also entertaining themselves by playing in the puddles. 

Thanks again to the Gordonvale Lions Club for their sausage sizzle. The hot food 

just hit the spot on such a wet day. 

Words and photo by Sandra Charlton 

Nola Hardy, Erin Purdy, Aimee Stampa, Glenn Pope 

Claire Zagata with Cr Cathy Zeiger 

Talisha & Lawrence Swain with Amira Gesa 

Your Lending Specialist. 

Greg Hendy 0403 172 807 

greg.hendy@bendigoadelaide.com.au 

bendigobank.com.au 

1113456-Babinda CB-Lending Specialist Press ad UPDATE.indd 1 

Page 2 - PYRAMID VIEWS, FEBRUARY 2018 “Celebrating and connecting our community” 

5/12/2017 9:25 AM

MARK & ELLEN’S CASH STORE 

Depending on the era of your residency, 

you may know 42 Riverstone Road 

only as it is now, the premises of North 

Queensland Equine Clinic or if you have 

been around Gordonvale for a while you 

will remember a number of businesses 

located at this corner of Riverstone 

Road and Moller Street. 

42 Riverstone Road. ‘Mrs Van’ had the 

shop until 1980 when it was purchased 

by Mark and Ellen Trevor. It became 

‘Mark & Ellen’s Cash Store’ and 

continued to offer the same popular 

lollies everyone reminisced about years 

before. It was a place to catch up with 

local news. Shopkeepers had the time 

to have conversations and get to know 

their customers. 

Wayne and Marjorie Maitland continued 

to use the premises as a corner store 

until they relocated the business next 

door in 1986. Mark and Ellen still owning 

the premises leased it out, modernising 

and adapting to cater for different types 

of businesses. 

Mark, Ellen and Christine Trevor 

Records could be found back as far as 

1931 when Michael McCabe owned/ 

leased this corner. Searches with the 

Department of Natural Resources and 

Mines revealed future owners/lessees 

Thomas & Anna Bowen (1939); Albert 

and Annie Thomsen (1946); Edward & 

Mary Hunter (1948); Alfred Way (1949); 

Francis & Edna Dwyer (1951); Archibald 

& Lorraine Daddow (1952). Despite 

research, not much information could 

be found about what happened at this 

location prior to Daddows owning and 

managing their shop. 

Perhaps locals upon reading this will be 

able to provide some further history. 

Archie’s Shop (Archibald) was probably 

quite typical of corner stores from that 

time. It was a general store stocking 

the basic essentials including bread, 

milk, cigarettes ….and of course lollies. 

Recollections about Archie’s Shop 

from residents during this time always 

mention the lollies. This was a common 

thread right up until when Maitland’s 

had the store. Mark Trevor also recalls 

eating by- jingos with his mates sitting 

on the wooden stool at the front of the 

shop. 

McCallum Family 

From that time on these premises were 

used for purposes other than a general 

store. The outside physical features of 

the building have not changed much 

over the years but the inside structure 

has been modified to suit the particular 

businesses leasing them including Qld 

Health; Fast Eddy’s (Pizza), Punky’s 

Pizza & Pasta (Colin and Carollyn 

McCallum), Phil Harvey Real Estate and 

today, North Queensland Equine Clinic. 

SR PEST 

CONTROL 

QBCC: 15006342 

Gordonvale family owned and operated 

PEST AND TERMITE MANAGEMENT 

Phone Ben Rains on 0477 007 601 

www.srpestcontrolcairns.com.au 

E: srpestcontrol@outlook.com 

Safe Pest Solutions 

Domestic, Industrial & Commercial 

In 1972, this corner of land was 

subdivided and Susie Aileen Van 

Lynette Morrison and Mark Trevor 

Leeuwen purchased the premises at 

Words by Sandra Charlton 

Page 3 - PYRAMID VIEWS, FEBRUARY 2018 “Celebrating and connecting our community”

FROG FRIENDS 

Frog Pad 

My first green frog experience was on Daru, 

1973. Charlie, the big crocodile on Green 

Island in the ‘70s was on Daru at the time. 

Charlie was a gentle giant in a chicken wire 

fence and he enjoyed a chat and pat on the 

head. His flight out of Daru chained to a long 

plank of teak full of valium, plus all that local 

art, is an interesting story in itself. For my six 

weeks on Daru I was billeted with “Crazy” 

who had been on the island too long. He 

had two pet green frogs that were on the 

back railing every morning waiting for “a 

rub”. Wild frogs as pets. 

Now I am ‘the crazy’ with frogs around the 

house, two of whom like a wash of water 

when on the window sills. The old guy at 

the back door has been in the same water 

base pot for seven years. He likes to stick 

his nose out and watch the world go by 

much to the delight of the g-kids. I can rub 

his nose in the pot and pick him up when he 

is out. He survived a recent two day effort 

by a full sized iridescent blue tree snake to 

get him. Had to use some homemade ‘shoo 

snake’ to make it move. Less fortunate were 

some of the frogs in the trees behind the 

house that we lost to a speckled monitor. 

The g-kids heard those plaintive frog cries 

so we decided to make some frog pads to 

protect them in the future. Frog pads are 

storm water pipe lengths providing hiding 

spaces with frog friendly opening. 

The 2017 mosquito illness report for Cairns 

Dengue Fever, Barmah Forest (a Forest is in 

Victoria) virus and malaria are all declining. 

Green frogs do their mosquito thing. But 

micro bats (the 5cm ones) do better, a 

thousand insects a night (but they do suffer 

from associated bad bat media coverage) 

and birds like the Spotted Pardalote 

contribute. 

The Gordonvale Community Garden is 

working on housing for each of these 

options. See them at the markets. 

Words and photo by Peter Noonan 


IN THE GARDEN 

with Carmel Peatey 

When you walk through the gate of Carmel 

Peatey’s one acre property on the outskirts 

of Gordonvale, you know you are in for a 

special treat. This garden is a true labour 

of love, time and knowledge for what plants 

work well with little water in the dry times. 

Deep mulching with shredded prunings 

from their shrubs and trees is an integral 

component in drought proofing the garden 

and there is not a weed in sight. 

The boundary beds are full of contrasting 

shrubs and trees including many gorgeous 

Maniltoa lenticellata, ‘Handkerchief tree’. 

All the numerous garden beds have been 

raised and edged with substantial rocks 

creating neat and easy mowing spaces. 

You feel compelled to meander through 

shaded lawn areas designed for quiet sitting 

and contemplating. Other striking trees in the 

garden are the dainty leaved Radamachera 

‘Chrystal doll’, Xanthostemon chrysanthus 

variegated, ‘Golden Daintree gem penda’, 

Xanthorrhoea ‘Grass trees’, together with 

many citrus trees. 

Carmel has a keen interest in bromeliads 

and has a huge collection with riotous 

colour everywhere including shade houses 

chocked full of stunning well maintained 

beauties. 

It is no wonder that Carmel has been the 

worthy winner of Cairns Garden awards for 

many years when it was running. 

TASTE BUDDIES 

with Tenielle Massey 

Perfect Lemonade 

A great way to use up lemons and quench 

your thirst. 

Ingredients 

1 cup of brown sugar 

1 cup of water 

1 cup of lemon juice 

2 to 3 cups of cold water to dilute 

Method 

1. Make a syrup – place sugar and water 

in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. 

Stir so sugar dissolves completely and 

remove from heat. 

2. While the water is heating for the simple 

syrup, juice your lemons. 4-6 lemons 

should be enough for one cup of juice. 

3. Pour the juice and the syrup water into 

a jug. Add 2-3 cups of cold water and 

taste. If the lemonade is a little sweet for 

your taste add more straight lemon juice 

to it. 

4. Refrigerate for 30-40 minutes 

REAL ESTATE MATTERS 

with Robyn Hawley-Whitton 

What Do I Do to Get the Best Price 

for my property? – Part I – Selling. 

If you are thinking about putting your 

property on the market for sale it is 

surprising the little things that you 

can do to improve your end price. For 

Example: 

• Declutter your home, especially if 

you have years of memorabilia and 

treasures everywhere. Buyers want to 

be able to imagine their own belongings 

in the property. Sometimes it is worth 

renting a shed or starting to sort and 

pack, something you will have to do 

anyway. 

• “Kitchens and bathrooms sell houses” 

so, depending on your budget, it can 

be as small a change as replacing old 

taps, shower and towel rails, replacing 

plastic or timber handles for chrome, 

that make such a difference. 

• Moisture readings from leaking 

bathroom and kitchen taps caused by 

cracked grout and silicon are always 

found during a building inspection and 

can be easily avoided if attended to 

prior. 

Written by Robyn Hawley-Whitton from 

Cairns Property Office South 


LOCAL ARCHITECT DESIGNS POLICE AND FIRE STATIONS 

Shortlist for QLD Bluescope Steel Award. 

Sentimental about the Gordonvale 

projects, Julianne said, “ I was very 

honoured when Julianne McAlloon 

Architects were successful in tendering 

the Police and Fire Stations at Gordonvale 

and we took on the challenge with a 

great sense of pride and ownership. 

Both buildings were designed to sit 

comfortably within the context of their 

surrounds and to relate well to their 

MULGRAVE MILL 

APPRENTICE BEST IN FNQ 

Mulgrave Mill electrician Austin Fox has 

capped off the 2017 season by winning 

the Paul Quagliata Memorial Bursary as 

the most outstanding final year apprentice 

in the Far North Queensland sugarcane 

industry. 

Austin, who was a finalist in the Electrical 

and Refrigeration Apprentice of the Year 

category at the TAFE Queensland North 

Trade Excellence Awards earlier this year, 

won the prestigious award over the best 

fourth year apprentices from Mossman, 

Tableland, South Johnstone, Tully, 

Macknade and Victoria mills. 

Julianne McAlloon 

Designing two very significant community 

buildings in her home area was personally 

very satisfying for local architect, Julianne 

McAlloon. The new Gordonvale Fire 

Station on the Gillies Road and Police 

Station at 14 Draper Street were both 

designed by Julianne. Upon learning that 

a person originating from the area was 

the architect of these two projects, the 

community has responded with pride and 

interest. 

Julianne grew up on her parents’ cane 

farm at Meerawa. Robin and Anne’s farm 

was only 30 metres away from Meerawa 

State School, a school with enrolment 

numbers of generally less than 10 in the 

late 1980s. After attending Meerawa 

State School, Julianne completed her 

secondary schooling at Gordonvale State 

High School and was Dux in Year 12. 

Being a creative thinker, a lover of the arts 

with a natural ability in both science and 

maths led her to studying Architecture at 

QUT and receiving the QUT Medal, The 

Board of Architects Prize, The Deans 

Award for Excellence for Faculty of Built 

Environment and Engineering, Andrew 

Brock Memorial Prize and the Noel 

Robinson Architects Prize. 

environment, capturing the prevailing 

breezes, having the civic street presence 

and appearing welcoming and engaging 

to the community at the same time”. 

Curtis Pitt, Member for Mulgrave said, “I 

was thrilled to learn that local architect 

Julianne McAlloon was successful in her 

tender to design both the Fire and Police 

stations. It is pleasing to see talented locals 

being engaged on significant community 

projects. Construction of Gordonvale’s 

new $3.5 million Fire Station was brought 

forward under the Labor Government’s 

Accelerated Works Program with the 

works complete in December 2017. 

Officers are now operational from the 

new site with the official opening of the 

station scheduled to take place in early 

March. While the future use of the existing 

fire station is yet to be determined, it is 

my preference to see it retained by the 

Queensland Government as an asset for 

shared use by local community groups 

and associations.” 

Words by Sandra Charlton 

Photos by Andrew Watson Photography 

Austin Fox 

The award is sponsored by the Far 

North Queensland Institute of Sugar Mill 

Engineers (FNQISME), and is named 

in memory of Paul Quagliata, a chief 

engineer at Tully Mill at the time of his 

passing in 2012. 

Paul was a strong advocate of the 

apprenticeship system. He spent a 

lifetime in the cane industry and was a 

proud supporter and promoter of the 

FNQISME and ASSCT (Australian Society 

of Sugar Cane Technologists). 

Finalists were judged on work ethic, work 

performance and future studies. 

Over the past 22 years Julianne has 

completed award winning projects 

across the North. In 2005, she formed the 

company Julianne McAlloon Architects. 

Recent awards include: 

2017 AIA (Australian Institute of Architects) 

FNQ Regional Commendation for the 

O’Shea House, Machans Beach, it also 

took out the “People’s Choice Award” for 

that year. 

2017 The Trinity Bay State School – Senior 

Learning Centre received the “Project of 

the Year” for the QMBA FNQ region. 

2015 AIA FNQ Regional Commendation 

and People’s Choice award for The 

Australian Armoury and Artillery Museum. 


ANIMAL ANTICS 

With Steph Williams BVS MANZCVS 

NORTH QUEENSLAND EQUINE CLINIC 

The strange things animals ingest! 

Pets chewing objects up is one thing, 

but when pets ingest these non-food 

objects it can be a big problem. I thought 

it would be interesting to touch on just 

a few of the experiences I have had in 

dealing with animals ingesting random 

objects. 

Let’s start with the obvious, Dogs! It 

is a dog’s instinct to chew, and this 

behaviour can be amplified when a dog 

is a puppy, he/she is bored, or suffering 

anxiety (being left alone, noise phobic 

and so on). My own dog regularly passes 

bits of toys that he has decided to chew 

up and swallow! Unfortunately, not all 

objects can be passed and instead 

have to be manually remove from 

dog’s stomachs and intestines. Some 

common examples include corn cobs, 

golf balls, fish hooks, rocks, cooked 

bone fragments, bras, undies and even 

socks! Obviously, prevention is better 

than the cure in this instance, so keeping 

these objects out of reach and providing 

your dog with lots of SAFE alternatives 

to chew is essential. 

Most people probably don’t realise that 

cats can find themselves on a surgery 

table for foreign body removal too. Some 

cats, especially kittens that have been 

removed from their mother too soon 

may develop unusual sucking behaviour, 

whereby they suck and ingest fibres 

from wool blankets or even sometimes 

whole pieces of string. Cats tend to be 

better at hiding the signs of intestinal 

obstructions than dogs are, so it pays 

to identify these behaviours early and 

speak with your vet about how to avoid 

an emergency situation. 

I regularly get phone calls from clients 

who have right in front of their eyes 

watched their horse eat plastic bags and 

twine from hay bales. Some horses love 

mangos and while some clever horses 

learn to spit the seeds out, we have had 

to retrieve the odd mango seed from a 

horse’s oesophagus when he has been 

a bit too greedy. Ingesting chook food 

or dog food or even large quantities of 

grain after breaking into a feed shed can 

be life threatening for horses. Seeking 

veterinary advice as soon as these 

situations occurred is recommended. 

Perhaps one of the coolest cases I have 

seen was a tree snake who ingested a 

golf ball! The poor tree snake snuck into 

a chook nesting box, where the owner 

of the chooks had placed a golf ball to 

help encourage the chooks to lay their 

eggs in this spot. Apparently, to a snake, 

a golf ball with the scent of chicken on 

it, it is close enough to an egg and it will 

have a crack at it (pun intended). 

For this poor snake it could have been 

well over 6 months that the golf ball sat 

in her intestinal tract, preventing her from 

being able to eat anything else. She was 

very skinny when someone handed her 

in to the clinic. After rehydrating her and 

radiographing her we went to surgery 

and removed the golf ball (still in perfect 

condition!). She went into intensive care 

and was hand fed slowly before being 

rehabilitated and released. 

I could go on for ages about all the weird 

things animals have eaten, but I am over 

my word limit and when it comes to 

letting you know about ALL the items I 

have seen animals ingest, it’s probably 

best I keep the content PG, if you catch 

my drift! 

WHALE OF A TALE 

Lloyd Badger 

Young Lloyd Badger at 18 years of age, 

has scored his dream job as a crown of 

thorns (COTS) research diver. 

Looking for adventure, Lloyd applied 

online and progressed successfully 

through the interview stages then 

completing a rigorous 6 months of 

training. Lloyd’s qualifications include 

current Dive Master, Certificate of 

Business and a First Aid certificate 

including use of O2 and defibrillation. 

He would like to complete Coxswain 

and/or Master 5 ticket, enabling him to 

drive the research vessel. 

Lloyd’s job entails controlling COTS 

outbreaks, collecting live specimens 

for local and out of state universities; 

and completing reef health and impact 

surveys. 

One of Lloyd’s many highlights of the 

8 months he has been in the job is 

sighting a 6 metre whale shark on the 

edge of Rib Reef, 50 km off the coast 

of Mission Beach. This is not a common 

experience with Lloyd’s dive buddy on 

the day confirming he had never seen a 

whale shark in the 20 years of diving on 

the Great Barrier Reef. 

During the routine 40 minute COTS 

control dive, the large shadow passing 

over Lloyd was initially quite unnerving 

for him. Relief set in when Lloyd realised 

it was a large whale shark drifting past 

him at a close distance and then he was 

able to enjoy the experience. 

Page 7- PYRAMID VIEWS, FEBRUARY 2018 “Celebrating and connecting our community” 

Words by Sandra Charlton Photo by Shane Harris

YARRIE YARNS 

with Vince Schrieber 

PUMP STATION IS ARTIST’S 

CANVAS 

“Being king, it was handed down 

from generation from my Great Great 

Grandfather so I’m fifth generation of 

bloodline. My Great Great Grandfather 

took the first role as he was the son of 

the first leader of Yarrabah. When the 

church came to Yarrabah, to the shores 

in those days, like how you guys (Police) 

get sworn in as Cops, you swear on an 

oath to the Queen so that’s the same 

oath I take on the seal of the cross. 

My Great Great Grandfather he was 

acknowledged as the tribal king of 

this community but the Kingship didn’t 

come until later on. In white man terms, 

when the church came to our shores, 

the sign of the cross had to be anointed 

before he could be acknowledged as 

the King. 

In traditional ways he was acknowledged 

as the king and the leader but in white 

man terms he was just acknowledged 

as a leader. To take that and work with 

the church in those days he had to 

have a title so they gave him the title of 

‘King’. He had to be anointed by sacred 

oil and that was handed down from him 

to his next son then to my Grandmother 

to my Father. It stems back a long way, 

I get to the first part and then keep 

going back and back and back. It 

brings out the strength in me when I 

think of that tradition. Back then being 

a tribal leader you had a lot of ground 

to cover in a small area. The area looks 

small but map wise it’s a big huge area 

where he used to control, we go back 

right up the coast, past Bessie Point 

to Gordonvale/Edmonton even to the 

bottom of the Cairns area. 

I have been the King for five years. It’s 

pretty good, I’m trying to work with 

everyone trying to keep Yarrabah the 

way it should be. There is some things I 

can do and some things that I can’t, it’s 

a bit of a challenge. 

I think learning from past experience 

and being around my Dad and 

Grandmother has been good. You 

either entice, embrace it or you can go 

with the flow but things could get out 

of hand if you do that. I would rather 

entice it, embrace it and then go with 

the flow because it makes life more 

easier, not only for me, not only for my 

family but for Yarrabah as a whole. 

As well as King I work for the Yarrabah 

Council where I have worked for thirty 

something years, I am the Water and 

Waste manager, I was in roads and 

construction before that with my Old 

Man, I learnt the tricks of the trade in 

that. It wasn’t a challenge anymore so I 

swapped jobs. It is my tenth year as the 

Water and Waste manager. 

I’m also involved in the Yarrabah 

Seahawks Rugby League club and 

have been involved since it started in 

2010, we are only a young club. I help 

out as a sports trainer.” 

Yarrie Yarns is a project promoting positive 

posting on social media with the catch 

phrase “Post Positive” It is a community 

involved project where members of Yarrabah 

tell their stories (in their words and views) 

about life in the community. 

The sewage pump station between 

the industrial area in Gordonvale 

and the Bruce Highway became the 

canvas for artist Anthony Vanghoua 

Vue. Vue is a multidisciplinary artist 

working in painting, sculpture, drawing, 

installation, public art and communitybased 

art. The work is titled RAWS 

ROOB (following mountains). 

Councillor Brett Moller said, “During 

2017, the Water & Waste Department 

proposed an art project incorporating 

public art on some of Council’s 

infrastructure. That was taken from our 

Water/Waste committee to a workshop 

and the whole of Council were in 

support of the project”. 

Vue draws on popular culture, street 

art, DIY ethic, and art history to bring 

aspects of his Hmong heritage into a 

contemporary art context. 

Sewage pump station 

Mountains have played a significant 

role for the Hmong as sites of conflict, 

fortress, refuge, sustenance, home and 

belonging. In this mural, the mountains, 

trees, and built structures of both past 

and present homes, including the 

surroundings of Long Cheng, Ban Vinai, 

Phu Bia, and Cairns’ southern suburbs 

of Mount Sheridan, White Rock, 

Bentley Park, Edmonton, and the town 

of Gordonvale are selected, abstracted 

and recombined into a reimagined 

landscape of bold lines, colours and 

forms. 

Page 8- PYRAMID VIEWS, FEBRUARY 2018 “Celebrating and connecting our community”

TEA COSY AND POT HOLDER COMPETITION 

MUSEUM 

PHOTOGRAPHIC 

COMPETITION 

The Mulgrave Settlers Museum at 

60 Gordon Street Gordonvale is 

hosting their inaugural Photographic 

Competition and it is sponsored by 

MSF Sugar Ltd. 

The Mulgrave Settlers Museum at 60 Gordon Street Gordonvale is holding their 

Tea Cosy and Pot Holder Competition and they are sponsored by Piccones Village 

Supermarket. 

All entries must be received by 11th August 2018. 

Tea cosies can be knitted, crocheted or any other medium. Pot holders can be in 

any medium. First, second and third prizes as well as a popular choice prize will 

be awarded. 

Entry forms can be obtained by emailing the museum at 

settlersmuseum@bigpond.com or by phoning the museum on 40561810 between 

10am-2pm Monday –Saturday. 

Subject is “Pyramid Views” (Must show 

Walsh’s Pyramid from any aspect) 

All entries must be received by 11th 

August 2018. First, second, third and 

popular choice prizes!! 

For Entry Forms please email 

settlersmuseum@bigpond.com or 

phone the museum on 40561810 

between 10am-2pm Mon-Sat. 

WELCOME BACK BABINDA KAYAKING 

It’s a hot summer’s day in Far North Queensland and there is no better way to cool off than to hit the water. It is great to see 

Babinda Kayaking up and running again under the new ownership of Paul O’Brien. Paul has 15 years experience as a white 

water tour guide and Operations Manager so he knows his stuff but enough about Paul, let’s talk about the Babinda Kayaking 

experience. 

Once you arrive you are warmly welcomed by Paul who gets you kitted out before a safety briefing then we head down to the 

Babinda Creek and start our self guided journey. 

The creek is a pristine environment with crystal clear water enabling you to clearly see many species of fish, turtles and if 

you are lucky an elusive platypus as you travel the 9km journey down stream on this sandy creek. Babinda Creek is an easy 

paddle even for the novice paddler. You can sit back and just let the current take you whilst listening to the birdlife chatting 

away on the creek banks and you really get the feel of being right back with nature. Along the way there are plenty of spots 

to pull up the kayak on a sandy bank and get out for a swim and it is well worth it. You could even boil a billy and enjoy a 

nice cuppa. 

In total the journey will take about 3 hours if you really relax and enjoy it. There are single or double kayaks and for the more 

adventurous, Stand Up Paddleboards. Babinda Kayaking is family friendly catering to all age groups (we had a 4 year old on 

our trip) and is even dog friendly so it really is a fun day out for the entire family. At present there is a 20% discount making 

it a fun, affordable family day out. 

There are mornings or afternoon sessions and bookings are essential. Bookings can be made at 

www.babindakayaking.com.au 

Paula Villiers and Cherie Glare 


TRY HYDROTHERAPY 

Helen Cooper at Gordonvale 

Physiotherapy has been using 

Gordonvale Aquatic Centre in Sheppard 

Street as part of patient rehabilitation for 

neurological conditions, arthritis, spinal 

pain and post-surgery. 

PYRAMID POWER’S INNOVATIVE PROGRAM 

Gordonvale’s own Pyramid Power 

Australian Rules and Sporting Club Inc 

have created an Australian and probably 

a World First Youth Community Program. 

Called the Pyramid Power Community 

Program it has initially 5 key pillars of 

work which is driven by our Local Youth 

Aged Club Members. 

Dave Chalk 

Standing in water can make painful or 

weak movements easier. She has one 

client who cannot walk on the land but is 

safe to walk and swim in the pool with a 

floatation device. 

Access is easy. The ramp means that 

people can walk into the water holding 

a rail or be pushed in on the water chair. 

Even if you cannot swim there is plenty 

of activities you can do in the water to 

improve strength, flexibility, balance and 

general fitness. 

If you are unsure about how to start, 

book an appointment with Gordonvale 

Physiotherapy and they can assess your 

needs and safety and devise a program 

for you. Otherwise get down to the pool 

and feel the freedom of moving in the 

water. 

1/ The Power of Caring - Visiting and 

supporting sick kids at Cairns Hospital 

Children’s Ward 

2/ The Power of Respect - Visiting and 

helping elderly at Local Aged Care 

Centres 

3/ Power of Anzacs - Helping set up and 

run Anzac Day 

4/ Power of Support - Helping support 

the running of The Great Pyramid Race 

5/ Power of Hope - Raise money for 

a “Make a Wish” for kid/s from Cairns 

Hospital Children’s Ward 

“In a society where it just seems to be 

“take, take, take” we want our members 

to experience the Power and Joy of 

Giving and the value it gives to everyone 

including themselves”, Power’s President 

Jimmy Floyd said. 

“Youth are sometimes talked about 

negatively and our kids want to show 

and prove that they are beautiful, caring 

people if given a chance. It is a win for 

everyone - the community, our club and 

the “Power Youth” themselves.” 

To join in on The Pyramid Power 

Community Program please contact 

the Club either via their members or 

Facebook or email or Jimmy Floyd direct 

on 0409349875 anytime. 

TABLE FOR SALE 

SILKY OAK DINING 

SUITE 

$500 

Ph: 0404846066 

Photo by Helen Cooper 


STREETS AHEAD 

Buzacott Street 

Gillies Highway. It was towed behind a truck 

to smooth and level out the road. Pictured 

in the photo is Don and his daughter Sharon 

Inskip. (nee Leighton) 

Named after Jim Buzacott, one of the first 

entomologists at the Sugar Experiment 

Station at Meringa, just north of Gordonvale. 

He joined the Meringa staff in 1927 and set 

out in simple form a means of identifying 

species of grub that were detrimental to the 

sugar cane plant. He worked for the Bureau 

for 44 years, and his work culminated in the 

use of Gamma Benzene Hexachloride BHC 

– Gammexane, the only effective control 

measure against the Grey Back grub pest, 

which is one of the most damaging insect 

pests the Qld cane growers have ever had 

to contend with. Pictured are his four 

children from left is Jim Buzacott, (Jnr) Chris 

Smith, (nee Buzacott) Barb Manassero, (nee 

Buzacott) and Marguerite Rodman. (nee 

Buzacott) 

Leighton Crescent & Park 

Don Leighton is who these two land marks 

were named after. Don was a director of the 

Mulgrave Sugar Mill for 32 years and was 

Chairman from 1981 to 2003. Don’s father 

Richard bought their Aloomba cane farm in 

1921 and Don and his son Jeff continue to 

farm there today. Don tells the story that in 

his father’s era, most of the time the roads 

were impassable between Gordonvale and 

Aloomba. 

Wienert Close 

This close was named after the Wienert 

family. 

Peter Wienert and his wife Wilhelmina were 

born in Holstein, Germany and sailed to 

Cooktown on the S.S. “Dorunda”, in 1885. 

They moved to a cane farm at Highleigh, 

east of Gordonvale in 1906. They then 

moved to Fishery Falls in 1911. Heinrich 

(Harry) Wienert was one of 16 children born 

to Peter and Wilhelmina Wienert. Harry 

worked on the farm at Fishery Falls with 

his father Peter and his brother Augie. Viv 

Wienert (Harry’s son) and his son Graham 

and nephew Daniel are still cane farming 

there today. 

Viv is a very community minded person and 

has over the years volunteered his time at the 

Gordonvale Swimming Club as President, 

Secretary of All Saints Anglican Church at 

Gordonvale and has been a member of the 

Aloomba Progress Association for over 50 

years. 

Pictured from left are Graham Wienert, Viv 

Wienert, Daniel Wienert and Viv’s cousin Roy 

Moss. (Great-grandson of Peter Wienert) 

Words and photo by Julie Amadio 

Mulgrave Historical Society 

Part of the Gordonvale 

community since 1923 

Welcome, Gary Recklies! 

Meet our new principal, Gary Recklies. From 

one St Michael’s to another, Gary comes to 

us from St Michael’s on Palm Island. During 

his eight years there, Gary was instrumental 

in the delivery of quality education for 

students, professional learning programs for 

staff, and engaging the parent body to create 

a positive and supportive community, 

focused on children. 

Gary knows the importance of strengthening 

partnerships between school, parish and the 

wider community and is keen to embrace his 

new responsibilities! 

Being very attuned to the characteristics 

of our local community, we know his faith 

commitment, sensitivity to 

the needs of others and 

natural leadership style 

will be a great asset to 

our school community. 

A warm welcome to Gary 

and all our new and 

returning families. 

4056 1614 

www.stmichael.qld.edu.au 

secretary.gordonvale@cns.catholic.edu.au 

The only reliable way to get between the two 

settlements was to use the cane rail line. 

Families would design their own makeshift 

railroad handcar and manually push up and 

down to go along the track. When they 

saw a train coming, they would all jump 

off and lift the handcar off the track until it 

went past, then put it back on the track and 

continue on their way. The old grader that 

you see in Norman Park, was bought by Don 

at a council auction for 25 pounds and he 

donated it back to the town of Gordonvale. 

This grader was used to help build the 


SCENE OUT 

Capturing our community members out and about in Gordonvale and surrounds. To be featured in Scene Out, text us a photo with names, 

location and the photographer 0438563176 

Chair Yoga - Irene Murgatroyd and Nan Marsh 

MELSONROCK 

Daphne Elliott 

Greg Smith at Atherton Bike Trails 

Maree Kirkman’s 70th birthday with her daughters Jodie and Claire 

NURSERY ABN: 31 283 064 870 

Ask The Experts… 

Sekti and Jason Curmi 

Plants for all situations 

and FREE garden advice 

10-14 Burnett Street, 

White Rock, 

Cairns, Qld 4868 

PHONE: 

(07) 4036 1377 

EMAIL: 

melsonrocknursery1@yahoo.com 

TRADING HOURS: 

Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 2 pm 

Sunday, 9 am to 12 noon 

Jodie and Jett Lawrence at Gordonvale 

Aquatic Centre 

Daryl and Emma Poyner at Pyramid Estate 


COUNCIL CONVERSATIONS with Brett Moller 

FEBRUARY 2017 

A big welcome back to Gordonvale and 

district Division 1 residents for the 2018 

and I hope everyone enjoyed their 

Christmas/ New Year break. I am certainly 

keen to get started on a number of 

projects that I would like to see come to 

fruition this year. 

I thought I would cover off on the new 

car parking charges in the Cairns CBD. 

Residents may not be aware that the 

meter rates have not increased over 

the last four years and there has been 

a modest increase this year of 20 cents 

from $1.20 to $1.40 per hour. As all 

sensible thinking people know nothing 

stays the same and whilst product and 

service costs increase, Council has to 

be mindful of the need to ensure our costs 

that need to be increased to match the 

increasing costs of living, are reasonable 

and affordable to the rate payer. However 

there is a broader vision at play in our 

parking strategy. This is on the back of 

feedback of many employees taking 

advantage of car parking CBD spaces 

and swapping parks every few hours 

to the detriment of the businesses they 

work for as customers and clients of the 

business are denied access to 

parks to be able to transact business. 

Increased fines will be a deterrent for 

those over staying in a parking bay. This as 

well as now introducing regulated parking 

on weekends so it is now 8.30am to 6pm 

seven days a week will ensure there is 

a regular turnover of vehicles providing 

much needed spaces for those wanting 

to shop and dine in the CBD. Please 

note though centre medium parking will 

continue to be free, seven days a week. 

Some say this is just revenue raising by 

Council when what we are trying to do 

is to change a culture around the way 

people view CBD parking. In fact any 

money raised will be reinvested 

into improved parking options. Over the 

last five years over $8.5M dollars has 

been spent on parking, 450 new spaces 

created, new machines accepting credit 

cards to make it easier, and a major 

upgrade to the Lake Street car park that is 

still underutilised and has availability. We 

are supporting a Smart City technology 

approach investigating the ability to find 

car parks through sensors, real-time 

signage and parking apps, so watch this 

space going forward. 

It was great to invited to a Mulgrave 

Cricket Club old players reunion and 

meet current players at the new Walker 

Rd Sporting Complex at Edmonton 

recently. Council has worked with cricket, 

soccer, baseball and softball to create 

a wonderful venue so these sports can 

grow and service our southern corridor. 

Likewise the next stage of the Alley Park 

upgrade at Gordonvale will 

continue this year with a new club house/ 

club room to be constructed for the user 

group. 

The Council depot team have started 

building a footpath that will complete the 

Gordon and Mill Streets section around 

the perimeter of Norman Park, from 

funding I allocated from my discretionary 

funds, which will compliment the new 

playground equipment to go in to the park 

in the next few months. 

So yes it was good to have the break, 

but already your Council is working hard 

to deliver improvements for community 

benefit and I look forward to continuing 

to work with our community to get things 

done. 

Until next time in 2018, stay safe and 

enjoy being part of our local community. 

Cr Brett Moller 

Division 1 


WHAT’S HAPPENING IN GORDONVALE? 

Monday 

CARDS 

Every second and fourth Monday 

1:30-4:30pm 

All Saints Anglican Church Hall 

Contact: Elaine Sues 40561440 

$5 Afternoon tea provided 

GORDONVALE GIRL GUIDES 

Gumnut Guides 5-7 Years Monday 

4pm-5.30pm 

Brownies Guides 7-10 Years Monday 

4pm -6.00pm 

Girl Guides 9-13 Years Monday 

6.30pm-8.30pm 

Church Street GORDONVALE 

Contact: Jamie 0419668097/40676825 

SENIORS STRETCH CLASS/CHAIR 

YOGA 

Every Monday 1:15- 2:15pm 

Community Hub, Gordonvale 

$8 per class 

Contact: Marilyn 40542485 or 

0423045145 

YOGA 

Monday 5:45-7:15 

Gordonvale CWA Hall 

Contact: Marilyn 40542485 or 

0423045145 

Thursday 

BINGO 

Thursday 9:30AM 

All Saints Anglican Church Hall (will be 

going back to the RSL Hall) 

Contact: Dave Chalk 0409780271 

YOGA 

Thursday 9:30am- 11am 

Gordonvale CWA Hall 

Friday 

BAREFOOT BOWLS FOR BEGINNERS 

Friday 4pm onwards 

Gordonvale Bowls Club 

Bowls provided free 

Steak burgers & sausage sizzle after 

6pm 

Contact: 40561050 or admin @ 

gordonvale bowls .com.au 

CUPPA IN THE PARK 

Tea, coffee, cake and a chat 

Friday 4:30- 6:30 

Norman Park 

Contact: Hugh O’Brien 0401754863 

HYDROTHERAPY 

Friday morning by arrangement 

Gordonvale Aquatic Centre 

Contact: Helen Cooper 0401942903 

Contact: pyramidpowerafl@iinet.net.au 

0409349875 or 0417702032 

RED CROSS CENT SALE 

17th March 2018 

Gordonvale Primary School 

Doors open at 1pm for a 2pm start 

SOUTHS JUNIOR SOCCER CLUB 

SIGN ON 

Saturday 3rd February 

1-5pm 

Johnson Park, Gordonvale 

Sunday 

MUD CRABS- ADULT SWIMMING 

CLUB 

Training and Stroke Correction 

Sunday 9:15-10:15am 

Gordonvale Aquatic Centre 

Secretary: Barb Williamson- 07 4036 

0772 / 0431056572 

G O R D O N V A L E / B A B I N D A 

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 

Welcome Rev Ross Davies as their new 

minister. 

Church times are: 

Sunday at Babinda 8.30am 

Sunday at Gordonvale 10.30am 

All welcome 

Tuesday 

CRAFTER’S GROUP 

Tuesday 9:30am- 12:00 

All Saints Anglican Church Hall 

Contact: Maggie Lindsay 40565578 

GORDONVALE GIRL GUIDES 

Ranger Guides 13-17 Years Tuesday 

7.00pm-9.00pm 

Church Street GORDONVALE 

Contact: Jamie 0419668097/40676825 

Wednesday 

MAINLY MUSIC 

Music session for 0-5 yr olds 

Wednesday 9:30-11 

All Saints Anglican Church 

Contact: Maggie Lindsay 40565578 

PILATES 

Wednesday 5:45- 6:45 

CWA Hall 

Contact: Cheryl Dean 0407175737 

MONTHLY ROAST NIGHT 

3rd Friday of each month (starts 16th 

Feb) 

Gordonvale Bowls Club 

Contact: 40561050 admin@ 

gordonvalebowls.com.au 

Saturday 

BRYCE’S ARCADE & MAIN STREET 

MARKETS 

3rd Saturday of each month - 7am to 

12 noon 

100% local content 

Contact: Ian 0434 331 223 or Daryl 

0409 389 558 

GORDONVALE COTTAGE MARKETS 

1st Saturday of each month 

Norman Park 

Contact: Kevin 0407129656 

PYRAMID POWER AFL FUN DAY 

Saturday 3rd February 

4-6pm Norman Park 

Come try AFL all ages welcome 

Club caters for both boys and girls 

Fun day/Sign on/information day 

If you would like to notify us of a a regular 

event please email details to Sandra 

pyramidviewseditorial@gmail.com 



2/58 Norman St, GORDONVALE 

Committed To Locals! Get The Results You Deserve! 

JORDAN ROOKE | 0423 602 081 

Sales Associate | jordan.rooke@raywhite.com 

Ray White Cairns Central 

Heritage Brady Funeral Directors 

70 - 76 Maher Road 

Gordonvale 

Funeral Home, Crematorium, 300 Seat Chapel and Catering Facilities 

Phone: 0740561627 Website: wwwheritagebradyfunerals.com.au 

Locally owned and operated by the Heritage Family.

Pyramid Views FEBRUARY 2018

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