Gym goes from workouts to washed out within hours

Jetts Nambour owners Warren White and Jill Bingham, centre, and some of the helpers who pitched in. They gym has copped over $100,000 damage.

by Tanya Outridge 

When Jetts Nambour owners Jill Bingham and Warren White checked their cameras at 10.30pm on Sunday night, they saw members in the gym, working out.

“It was barely raining at all at that stage,” Warren said. “After a week of cyclone warnings, we went to bed thinking that we had really dodged a bullet.”

But after approximately 300mls of rainfall between midnight and 3am, Monday morning brought an entirely different picture.

“The water had come into the gym and was about a metre up the walls,” Jill said. “We were absolutely gutted. It has only been about three and a half years since the entire gym was refurbished and equipped with new gear, and now, there is at least $100,000 worth of cardio equipment that we will have to take to the dump.”

The couple did not have flood insurance, as the premiums were prohibitive.

“Our family and gym community have rallied around us to help us clean up,” Warren said. “It is almost a little overwhelming.”

“And the wider community has also been incredible,” said Jill.

“The local Dominoes donated pizzas for our clean up crew, who have hardly stopped since we came in here on Monday morning.”

The couple are now looking at how they move forward, but as always, are concerned with taking care of their members.

“Being part of the Jetts network means that our gym community is able to use other Jetts gyms while we sort things out,” Warren said. 

“We will find a way forward, and remain so grateful for our community and the Jetts Support Office.”

Flood waters outside the gym in the early hours of the morning.