Varsity Lakes Trampoline & Gymnastics Club on Gold Coast facing new challenge after floods, COVID-19

This Gold Coast gymnastics club has survived a devastating flood that destroyed its equipment followed by an exodus of members during the COVID-19 shutdown. It now faces its biggest challenge yet.

VARSITY Lakes Trampoline and Gymnastics Club owners Paul and Jill Needham face a nervous wait to see if they can survive the devastation wrought by a flood and then COVID-19.

On Monday, the third school term begins and the Needhams will get the first indication of whether the same people that embraced their club last year will come back.

Recreational students are the bread and butter of the Burleigh-based club – competition students being the “icing on the cake” – and prior to Christmas they had hundreds of them.

Between 2014 and 2019 the club grew from 60 to 350 members, offering training for all ages and all levels.

Gillian Needham and Paul Needham from Varsity Lakes Trampoline and Gymnastics. Picture: Jerad Williams

However, when the couple were enjoying a break in Vanuatu in January – their first holiday in 15 years – they got the news their premises had been flooded.

Heavy rains had caused water to run down the hill behind their gym causing more than $200,000 worth of damage to the floor and gym gear.

Mr and Mrs Needham then had to fight to get the insurance paid out so they could replace the equipment, including beams and uneven bars.

“It took us a long time for the insurance (to pay out) because they don’t understand gymnastics and wanted us to go to Bunnings to get MDF to do the floor,” Mrs Needham said.

The Varsity gym uses sprung flooring – a layered type consisting of wood, foam and timber commonly used for gymnastics.

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“We had to get the CEO of Gymnastics Queensland to meet with our insurance assessor to explain what we needed the equipment for.

“It was mentally draining to the point of thinking: is this even worth it?”

Their insurer paid out most of their claim in late March. However, a loan was needed to cover the shortfall to pay for things like thick matting around the landing areas.

When March rolled around the gym, still shut because of the flood, faced a new challenge in the COVID-19 pandemic.

A number of parents had asked for their fees to be refunded because of the gym closure and now, facing a more extended shut down, more parents asked to be reimbursed.

However, there have been silver linings to the crisis.

Varsity Lakes Trampoline and Gymnastics Club have been through hell these past six months. Like the phoenix rising from the ashes they will reopen for training on July 13 ironically in a stronger position after having managed to attracted elite coaches and gymnasts to the club from another one. Olive Davis 9 and Lyla Proctor 10 training at the club. Picture Glenn Hampson

The first is they have been able to purchase second-hand Olympic-grade SPIETH equipment that means they will be able to host competitions.

The second has involved senior gymnasts moving to Varsity.

This has put the club into a strong position ahead of Monday.

But their survival long-term still hangs on the recreational gymnasts from ages five through to 14. The students pay $20 an hour per lesson.

”We have sent back surveys to see whether people will come back and we’ve had a really good response,” she said.

“Most people say ‘yes’ but until they turn up and pay you really don’t know.

“We are waiting for the start of the school term to see if it is going to be viable.

“Hopefully people come back and we can carry on. We’ve put everything into it.”