General News
5 February, 2025
Gymnastics coach lost for words after clubhouse destroyed by fire
Trudy Adams has been a club stalwart for 30 years and has been left devastated by the alleged arson.
Leichhardt Gymnastics Club stalwart Trudy Adams says she was left devastated after getting the phone call to say the long-standing Mount Isa clubhouse had been destroyed by fire.
Emergency services were called late on Friday to reports of a structure fire on Wellington Road.
By the time they arrived, it was too late to save the historic clubhouse, which was once a school building before it was relocated to its current site in the 1980s.
It didn’t take long for police to find the alleged culprits, who were still nearby, according to sources.
Five young people were arrested, and three charged, said Mount Isa Superintendent Tom Armitt, who arrived on scene before 7am on Saturday.
North West Weekly spoke to Ms Adams, a long-time coach and the face of the Leichhardt Gymnastics Club, on Sunday morning.
“I’m still shocked,” she said.
“I’d just been there at five in the afternoon with the building assessor to take photos of the damage to the building that they caused.
“I just put in a claim on Tuesday because they broke in and trashed the place on Monday.
“I hadn’t slept properly since Tuesday because they had torn out the security system off the wall.”
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At least one of the alleged arson offenders was linked to the earlier break-in.
Ms Adams, who has been with the club since 1996, said losing the not-for-profit organisation would be a blow to many families in Mount Isa.
“We were in a good position because we owned our building, which meant we could keep costs low so that lower and middle income earners could afford to do gymnastics,” she said.
“We didn’t have to pay rent, we only had to pay rates and utilities.
“It was a community-based gymnastics club rather than a privately owned one. At the moment, that’s gone.”
Rebuilding won’t be easy and will be impossible at the current site, due to its flood rating.
“At a rough estimate, the building and contents, we’re probably looking at about three quarters of a million dollars to rebuild,” Ms Adams said.
“I’m not sure if we will (rebuild). It’s up to the committee and if we can get more coaches and that sort of stuff.”
Police said a 14-year-old Happy Valley girl was charged one count each of arson (structure or building) and enter premises with intent to commit indictable offence.
She appeared in Mount Isa Children’s Court on Saturday.
A 14-year-old Pioneer boy was been charged with two counts of stealing one count each of arson (structure or building) and enter premises with intent to commit indictable offence.
He also appeared in Mount Isa Children’s Court on Saturday.
A 15-year-old Townview boy has been charged with one count each of count of arson (structure or building), enter premises with intent to commit indictable offence and endangering particular property by fire.
“He was dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act,” a Queensland Police Service spokesperson said.
“Two further young people are assisting police with enquiries.
“Anyone with information that may assist investigations is encouraged to contact police.
“Investigations are continuing.”
North West Weekly understands that two of the alleged offenders are in police custody after they were denied bail on Saturday.
Ms Adams praised police for their quick arrests and thanked the firefighters and community for their support since the blaze.