Palmwoods
District News

October
1998

Page 8

Issues we've covered

Some of the main issues covered by the Palmwoods District News during the past seven years:

In January 1992, Palmwoods Singers’ Marjorie Murray was named Maroochy Shire Citizen of the Year. Popular Palmwoods railwayman Bernie White retired in February and it was announced that the Woombye rail facilities were to be upgraded.

Palmwoods traders launched an ambitious shopper promotion in March, which was supported through the pages of the Palmwoods News for its duration.

It was announced in May 1992, that community fundraising for a Palmwoods community swimming pool had already reached $20,000 of its $80,000 target.

Palmwoods State School put down a time capsule in June. It is to be opened on October 21, 2039.

A fire levy to assist the Palmwoods Rural Fire Brigade carry out its work, was introduced to Maroochy Shire rates in August, the same month that Clint Robinson became the town’s local hero after winning gold at the Barcelona Olympics. The town turned out to celebrate and welcome him home.

The Sundale Hostel in Jubilee Drive opened in April 1993 and a month later, the landmark water reservoir which offered views of the whole Palmwoods/Woombye valley, was demolished to make way for the larger but inaccessible tank which now stands in its place.

A facelift for Kolora Park, with the installation of a drinking fountain, lighting and improved paths, was announced in November 1993. In March 1995, plans were released for the rotunda to be moved from the park into the lagoon.

The December 1993 edition celebrated the splash opening of the "state of the art" Palmwoods pool.

The Palmwoods District News was first with the news when a shocked community came to terms with four of its rural fire volunteers and a fire truck being burnt at Bells Creek in November 1994.

The injured firemen - Clive Gauldie, Chris Robbins, Neil Dingwall and Terry Bobak all received inaugural Palmwoods Citizen of the Year awards at the Australia Day presentations of 1995.

Colourful murals which now hang in the centre of town, were painted by local children under the expert eye of nationally acclaimed artist and local resident Liz Duguid at Australia Day 1996.

Another big announcement was closure of the ANZ Bank in April 1997, after almost a century of banking in the town.

Issues regularly covered by your local paper include traffic problems, particularly the Keil Mountain intersection; annual burnoff warnings from the rural fire brigade and planning issues such as the Outline Development Plan, the Local Area Plan, the Maroochy Shire Strategic Plan and Orange County.

A hardy regular issue was the recycling tip at the entrance to the railway station which was an eyesore until its eventual removal.

The Palmwoods News has always been at Anzac Dawn Services in both Palmwoods and Woombye, Australia Day celebrations in the park and many other community events.

Trucks hitting the railway bridge at the centre of town and stories reporting vandals defacing the Nicklin clock and main street pot plants have also cropped up in its pages too often.

Founding publisher/editor Dot Whittington
hands over the files to new owner Ross Garrad

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