Pyramid Views

10/06/2026

KNOW YOUR TREES
This monthly column profiles a different shrub or tree in our local area, sharing interesting facts and features about the plant. This column is compiled by local plant enthusiast Carolyn Emslie.

Plumeria – Frangipani
As you walk into Pyramid Parklands Gujura from Fisher Road you will see quite a few different trees planted fairly recently by the council. These trees include 3 varieties of Frangipani, a white flower, a pink, yellow and orange one (fruit salad) and a dark mahogany red. Richly fragrant flowers will be seen in Spring and Summer.
Frangipani are native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean and are widely grown as ornamentals in tropical and subtropical regions. Most species are deciduous and are large shrubs or small trees. They require full sun to grow and can be planted in large pots or in the ground. They are easy-care plants but the roots require good drainage or they will rot. Frangipani rust generally appears shortly before the leaves drop. All the leaves should be sprayed with a fungicide and any fallen leaves should be binned.
Australia has a native Frangipani which is found on the east coast of Queensland and New South Wales and also in New Guinea. It is an Australian rainforest tree known for its highly fragrant cream to yellow flower clusters. It grows from 6 to 8 metres, has glossy green leaves and attracts birds and butterflies. This evergreen species is only suitable for tropical and subtropical areas.
All Frangipani have a white, milky sap which can cause skin irritation so gloves need to be worn when striking a cutting. Ingestion of leaves and flowers can cause gastrointestinal distress. Despite this, Frangipani are a popular choice for small gardens and their scent is the ‘Smell of Summer’.

08/06/2026

Who is coming to the Gordonvale Sugar Solstice? Pyramid Views will be in the parade again along with our mascot, Bonny the cocker spaniel.

🚲🎭 The Sugar Solstice Parade is not to be missed! 🌞🍭
From decorated bikes to creative costumes and plenty of local spirit, the parade is always one of the highlights of the day! 💛
Pictured here are locals from Pyramid Views getting into the fun and showing off their community spirit in true Gordonvale style 2025. 🙌✨
Make sure you’re there for the parade kick off from 2PM and help us celebrate 130 years of the Crush and the beginning of the cane crushing season.
📍 Norman Park, Gordonvale
📅 Saturday 13th June 2026
Who’s excited for parade day?! 🎉

07/06/2026

A GUIDING FAMILY
Not too many Girl Guide Companies could claim to have active members from three generations of the one family. In this, its centenary year, Gordonvale Guide Company can proudly make that claim.
When Cherelle Stager’s daughter Stacey (now Pearce) joined Gordonvale Brownies in 1993, she had no idea that it would spark a family tradition. The following year Cherelle put her hand up to become a leader. Stacey’s sister, Rebbecca Lock also joined.
In 2014 Stacey’s daughter, Ella joined Gumnuts – a group for girls before Brownies.
Both Stacey and Rebbecca attained their Queen’s Guide awards as teenagers. Rebbecca now lives in Canada and for a time, was involved with Brownies there. She is a police officer in the Ontario Police Force.
Thirty-three years later and Cherelle (Jumjum to her Guides), Stacey (Sky) and Ella are heavily involved with Gordonvale Guides and Rangers.
Ella has progressed through Gumnuts, Brownies (both now combined as Junior Guides), Guides and is a now a senior Ranger Guide. This means she works with a team of Rangers to programme and gain skills towards their future endeavours. She is already the recipient of BP (Baden-Powell) and Duke of Edinburgh Awards and is working towards her Queen’s Guide, which she plans to complete next year.
Cherelle and Stacey share the leadership of the Gordonvale Guides and Ranger Guides. Cherelle is also a Co-Region Manager for an area that stretches from Cardwell to Weipa and west to the Atherton Tablelands, as well as being one of three Assistant State Commissioners for Queensland.
Like all the women involved in the Guiding movement, Cherelle, Stacey and Ella are providing an invaluable community service. BRAVO!

by Sallyanne Powell for Mulgrave Shire Historical Society

Photo : Cherelle Stager, Ella Pearce (holding QG certificate belonging to her aunt, Rebbecca Lock) and Stacey Pearce at Mulgrave History Museum, Gordonvale

05/06/2026

05/06/2026

MOVE BETTER, FEEL BETTER WITH CHERYL DEAN
After more than 30 years in the health and fitness industry, Cheryl Dean is helping Gordonvale residents improve their strength, flexibility and overall wellbeing through Pilates classes at the Gordonvale Hub and personalised reformer sessions from her home studio.
Cheryl’s fitness journey began in the days of freestyle aerobics, using cassette tapes for music. Over the years she has taught a wide range of classes, including BodyPump, BodyStep and BodyBalance, and now focuses exclusively on mat and reformer Pilates.
For Cheryl, becoming a Pilates instructor was a natural progression and one that has become a true passion. She values not only the physical benefits of the practice but also the lasting relationships she has built with participants, some of whom have attended her classes for more than two decades.
Pilates is a low-impact form of exercise that emphasises controlled movement, body awareness and proper muscle activation. Cheryl says regular practice can improve posture, balance, flexibility, strength and concentration, while also reducing the risk of falls and helping people maintain mobility as they age.
Her classes are suitable for all ages and fitness levels, with exercises easily adapted to suit beginners through to advanced participants. Many clients experience relief from aches and pains and notice improved strength and range of movement within a relatively short time.
Cheryl chose to offer classes in Gordonvale because she wanted to provide a convenient local option in a welcoming and supportive environment. Her Wednesday evening mat class at the Gordonvale Hub has developed into a friendly social group where participants encourage one another and enjoy a chat and a laugh.
She also offers one-on-one or small-group reformer sessions from her Gordonvale home studio phone 0407 175 737
New participants are welcome to attend the Wednesday mat class at 5.45pm at the Hub (17-19 Cannon St).

02/06/2026

Smoke Alert
Planned burn in Little Mulgrave National Park

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) conducts planned burns on parks and forests to support a healthy environment and reduce the risk and intensity of bushfires.

QPWS will conduct a planned burn in Little Mulgrave National Park between Wednesday 3 June and Friday 5 June, weather permitting.

As a result of the planned burn, smoke may be seen in nearby areas including Gillies Range Road, Little Mulgrave, and Goldsborough.

If visiting Little Mulgrave National Park, observe all signs, barriers, and directions from QPWS Rangers and never enter closed areas.

Avoid driving through smoke where possible and be aware of firefighters working in the area.

Planned burns are vital in promoting ecological health, biodiversity, and the conservation of species and habitats.

They also aim to mitigate the risk and intensity of bushfires and their potential impacts on communities, infrastructure, parks, and forests.

Planned burns are highly weather-dependent, generally requiring milder conditions and minimal wind.
These same weather conditions can also allow smoke to accumulate and linger until weather conditions change and winds assist in dispersing the smoke.

If smoke affects you:
o stay indoors and close windows and doors; and
o keep respiratory medication close by.

Public safety is the highest consideration in all QPWS fire management activities. To find out more visit the Fire management webpage.

Live air quality data, and information on smoke and dust health actions, can be found on the Queensland Government’s website: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/management/monitoring/air.

You can stay updated with local QPWS fire activities by visiting Park Alerts or by following Qld Park Alerts on X (formerly known as Twitter).

01/06/2026

THE SEASON OF CENTURIES AT PYRAMID RESIDENTIAL CARE

Is the secret to longevity found in the love of family, the strength of community, or the steady rhythm of a creative life? A few hours spent with the residents of Pyramid Residential Care Centre (PRCC) offers a moving glimpse into what a long, happy, and healthy life truly looks like.

This year, the centre isn't just celebrating birthdays; it is witnessing a rare "quadruple-century." Between May and August, four remarkable women—Linda, Elvira, Doris, and Irene—will celebrate a combined 401 years of life.

When these women were toddlers, the only ‘Web’ they knew was the one a spider made. If they needed to get somewhere, they loaded up a horse and cart or planned an adventure on a steam train. In a fast-paced digital age, they serve as a beautiful reminder that the most important things—family, service, and connection—never go out of style.

A Legacy of Service and Spirit
While their stories are as unique as their personalities, a single thread binds them: a deep, active connection to the communities, south of Cairns.

Linda Jones, who joined the "100 Club" on 14th May, has been a familiar face at PRCC since 2011. A former President of the local bowls club, Linda’s hands have rarely been idle; she has knitted over 100 special teddies for the hospital foundation and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Driven by a profound respect for war heroes and the memory of her late husband, she still carries the solemn honour of laying the wreath on ANZAC and Remembrance Days.

Elvira Fapani, known as Vera, kicked off this marathon of milestones, celebrating her 100th birthday on 11th May. Growing up in the farmlands of Aloomba she was surrounded by the warmth of her family and community that has known her for decades.

Stitching the Generations Together
Turning 101 on 29th May, Irene Rayment is the matriarch of the group. Having moved to Cairns in 1945, Irene’s life has been one of quiet service, from teaching at St Francis Xavier’s and Parramatta State School to raising an ever-growing family in Gordonvale.

Irene’s legacy is literally woven into the fabric of her family; she hand-made two of her four daughters’ wedding dresses. In a beautiful full-circle moment, one of her grandchildren even chose to wear Irene’s own 1940s wedding dress on her special day.

Her advice? "Keep busy and share the love you have for your family." Watching her beam with joy while chatting with her daughters, it’s clear she practices exactly what she preaches.

From Cane Farms to Centenaries
Rounding out the four is Doris Anderson, who turns 100 on 18th August. Doris is Gordonvale through and through. Her earliest memories are of working within a local trucking company, an experience she later used to help her husband run their cane-hauling business.
Her very entry into the world is a testament to the era she represents: her family still tells the story of her father fetching the doctor via horse and cart from Cairns to assist with her birth on the family cane farm in Aloomba.

As PRCC prepares to blow out a total of 401 candles, the atmosphere is one of profound gratitude. These four women are more than just residents; they are the keepers of our local stories and a testament to the fact that while the world changes, the importance of "fellowship"—of showing up for one another and staying involved—never goes out of style.

Words by: Dalitta Wright, Engage Creative Communication Solutions Pty Ltd