The faces of those affected.... Hopes up in smoke
CHRIS QUAGLIATA
17Sep07
THE fire that ripped through a Condon commercial complex last week could still tear apart more than just the buildings.
Thuringowa City Gymnastics is on the brink after the club's home was gutted in a fire that also destroyed businesses NQ Tile Styles and Home Timber and Hardware at the Herveys Range Road complex last Thursday.
The club, which has almost 250 members and provides services to the Endeavour Foundation, had been renting the premises at a reduced rate from the owners, the Rebgetz family.
Maarten Zuhorn, whose daughter Kaley, 14, was an active member, said the club would not survive if it had to pay full market value for another premises.
"The club will not be sustainable," he said.
"It's not that it might not be, it will not be.
"We just can't find a lease for $100,000 a year – we can't pay it."
Co-owner Natalie Moore bought the club with her mother Robyn in 2001 when it was known as Heatley Gymnastics.
"The previous owner was going to close it and I didn't want to see it close down so we decided to go all out and purchase it," she said.
"We moved into this facility in 2004 and the Rebgetz family was very helpful in giving us reduced rent. Membership was building, things were going really well."
Some of the club's more successful members will suffer if a new home can't be found, she said.
"Three girls are going to Brisbane in two weeks and then we're supposed to be taking a group of six kids to Hawaii in January," she said.
"But if we have nowhere to train, then I don't know if we're going to be able to continue with that."
A school has offered its gym to the club as a short-term solution but Ms Moore said the club could not survive without a permanent home.
She said the club's equipment was insured and could be replaced – all that was needed was a place to put it.
"If we can find a venue that's going to be financially feasible to set up again, then we're all ready to keep it going," she said.
"But it's a matter of getting that community support from someone that's willing to help us."
Anyone wishing to help the club can contact Natalie Moore on 0418 868 819.
Meanwhile police are offering a $25,000 reward to catch the arsonist suspected of starting the blaze at Home Timber and Hardware.
The reward is being offered to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest or conviction.
Anyone with information should call Townsville Police on 4759 9777 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333000.
CHRIS QUAGLIATA
17Sep07
THE fire that ripped through a Condon commercial complex last week could still tear apart more than just the buildings.
Thuringowa City Gymnastics is on the brink after the club's home was gutted in a fire that also destroyed businesses NQ Tile Styles and Home Timber and Hardware at the Herveys Range Road complex last Thursday.
The club, which has almost 250 members and provides services to the Endeavour Foundation, had been renting the premises at a reduced rate from the owners, the Rebgetz family.
Maarten Zuhorn, whose daughter Kaley, 14, was an active member, said the club would not survive if it had to pay full market value for another premises.
"The club will not be sustainable," he said.
"It's not that it might not be, it will not be.
"We just can't find a lease for $100,000 a year – we can't pay it."
Co-owner Natalie Moore bought the club with her mother Robyn in 2001 when it was known as Heatley Gymnastics.
"The previous owner was going to close it and I didn't want to see it close down so we decided to go all out and purchase it," she said.
"We moved into this facility in 2004 and the Rebgetz family was very helpful in giving us reduced rent. Membership was building, things were going really well."
Some of the club's more successful members will suffer if a new home can't be found, she said.
"Three girls are going to Brisbane in two weeks and then we're supposed to be taking a group of six kids to Hawaii in January," she said.
"But if we have nowhere to train, then I don't know if we're going to be able to continue with that."
A school has offered its gym to the club as a short-term solution but Ms Moore said the club could not survive without a permanent home.
She said the club's equipment was insured and could be replaced – all that was needed was a place to put it.
"If we can find a venue that's going to be financially feasible to set up again, then we're all ready to keep it going," she said.
"But it's a matter of getting that community support from someone that's willing to help us."
Anyone wishing to help the club can contact Natalie Moore on 0418 868 819.
Meanwhile police are offering a $25,000 reward to catch the arsonist suspected of starting the blaze at Home Timber and Hardware.
The reward is being offered to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest or conviction.
Anyone with information should call Townsville Police on 4759 9777 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333000.
The North Queensland Newspaper Company Pty Ltd Copyright © January 2007
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