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Internal walls more about 20m from the point of initial impact on the Walkerston club’s front entry were found to have moved as a result of the repeated crashes during the January 6 break-in.
The walls are cracked and have moved from the load-bearing pillars, suggesting the damage was more extensive – and expensive to repair – than first thought.
Wests Leagues Club general manager Kingsley Theiber said structural engineers had inspected the building last week, with a grim report. Wests Leagues Club has had to close its doors to the public after a failed break-in attempt in the early hours of Wednesday morning caused thousands of dollars worth of damage.
A hunt is underway for a masked driver who allegedly rammed a stolen ute into a community leagues club, causing thousands of dollars of damage.
The Toyota Hilux utility smashed through the front doors of Wests Leagues Club Mackay, on Queensland s east coast, at about 3am on Wednesday.
Queensland Police allege the ute caused extensive damage to doors, walls, the ceiling and reception as the masked driver tried to steal money from an ATM.
A hunt is underway for a masked driver who allegedly rammed a stolen ute into a community leagues club, causing thousands of dollars of damage
The Toyota Hilux utility smashed through the front doors of Wests Leagues Club Mackay, on Queensland s east coast, at about 3am on Wednesday
Mackay sports club hit by early-morning ram raid
WedWednesday 6
updated
WedWednesday 6
JanJanuary 2021 at 12:51pm
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The Western Suburbs Leagues Club at Walkerston, near Mackay, was only just getting back on its feet after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic when disaster struck on Wednesday morning.
Key points:
The Western Suburbs Leagues Club in Mackay is picking up the pieces after a ram raid
The club was forced to close for more than three months last year because of the pandemic
Three minutes of chaos and destruction have torn the heart out of a community club and reduced its manager to tears. I m six foot three and a 135kg and I ve cried three times in my life, and once was this morning about 3.30am, Western Suburbs Leagues Club general manager Kingsley Theiber said. I wasn t prepared to see what was on site this morning. Crews cleared the significant damage left at Western Suburbs Leagues Club after a ram raid tore through the entrance of the Walkerston club at 3am on Wednesday January 6. Picture: Zizi Averill Mr Theiber said in just three minutes the ute rammed the front entrance 15 times, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the Branscombe Rd business.