Mackay Dolphins Football Club devastated by shocking fire, vandalism

A North Qld sporting club has been left reeling after it was targeted by arsonists who lit a fire inside the clubhouse, in what is just the latest in a spate of cruel attacks.

Secretary Ali McArthur and her husband Ty stand in the aftermarth of the burnt remains of the Dolphin Soccer Club home canteen Picture: Heidi Petith

The Bucasia community is rattled after volunteers discovered vandals had lit a fire inside their soccer clubhouse just days before Christmas.

The blaze, which ripped through the Dolphins Football Clubhouse, melted the switchbox, buckled the freezer, coated the walls with soot, and left the community-run club with an extensive damage bill.

Secretary Ali McArthur said the groundskeeper found the desecration about 8am Monday, the crime taking place under the cloak of darkness unbeknown to neighbours.

The remains of equipment and appliances in the aftermath of arsonists attack on the club. Picture: Heidi Petith

“Everybody is in a bit of a shocked state,” Mrs McArthur said.

“It’s not a great lead up to Christmas for all the volunteers.”

The unpleasant surprise comes off the back of repeated attacks at the club.

Mrs McArthur said vandals targeted their clubhouse in 2021 but on that occasion, the culprits handed themselves into the police, with their punishment being to clean up their mess.

She said there were similarities between the two strikes as the persons responsible had seemingly scoped out the club the night before.

The fire at the weekend inside the besser-block clubhouse destroyed gear in the storage room where it was lit as well as the canteen area with thick soot clinging to the walls and ceiling, and smothering the food and liquor in the fridges.

Mrs McArthur said the offenders also trashed the clubhouse, with items strewn all over the cupboards and floors.

The club’s back room where equipment was left scattered across the floor as the vandals destroyed anything in their wake. Picture: Heidi Petith

She said they somehow managed to bypass a numbered lock and pry open a roller door to get inside, getting past security measures installed in the wake of previous attacks.

“Please let us know if you have any relevant information,” Mrs McArthur said.

“If you do live close by, please contact police if you see any unusual behaviour at our club.

“We are a resilient club.

“We will push on and strive to make another big impact in 2023 for our community.”

The club’s alcohol was ruined after arsonists came back to the club after a previous attempt to break in the night before. Picture: Heidi Petith

The burden before Christmas follows on from what has been one of the most successful years in Dolphins Football Club history after it took home both the region’s and the state’s best community sporting club awards.

Mrs McArthur said the club would likely run fundraisers in the new year to help install even stronger security measures and make sure 2023 starts off positively.

For those who would like to help, keep an eye out on the Dolphins’ Facebook page.