Jason Pronger’s arson charge over Oasis Church fire dismissed

More than one year after a 33-year-old Gympie man accused of setting a church alight was found naked in a Central Qld parkland popular with families, his case has taken one last shocking turn.

A man accused of setting fire to a Rockhampton church, which was once the home of a popular leagues club, has had his charge dismissed.

Jason James Pronger, 33, from Gympie, was charged with one count of arson following a fire that destroyed Oasis Church on Glenmore Road, Park Avenue, on August 27, 2023.

Photos taken by Kent Murray of the fire destruction at Oasis Church on Sunday August 27.

Legal Aid lawyer Felicity Davis provided the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on October 14, 2024 with a copy of the Mental Health Court ruling that found Mr Pronger was of unsound mind.

Magistrate Lance Rundle then dismissed Mr Pronger’s arson charge.

Emergency services at the scene of a fire which destroyed the Oasis Church on Glenmore Road, Park Avenue, overnight. Crews were called at 2am on August 27, 2023.

Firefighters first attended the raging fire at the former North Leagues Club about 2am on August 27.

When firefighters arrived, the timber building ablaze and it took fireys several hours to contain the inferno, using aerial spraying and machinery to pull down the structure.

Five fire trucks battled the blaze for hours, with the last crew leaving more than nine hours later.

The fire collapsed the structure at the Oasis Church.

About 8.30am, Mr Pronger was found by a stranger near Kershaw Gardens.

The stranger contacted police and clothed Mr Pronger so he would not be naked when they arrived.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Kevin Mawdsley said a trail of clothing was found around Bob’s Bulk Booze and Domino’s shops nearby.

The fire absolutely decimated the former North Leagues Club building, more recently Oasis Church.

During a bail application on August 29, police prosecutor Corey O’Connor told the court Mr Pronger was “found afterwards laughing about what had happened” and “asking about other churches in Rockhampton”.

The 57-year-old building on Glenmore Road was originally built for the North Rockhampton Rugby Leagues Club, which sold it in 2000.

Members of the Oasis Church gathered at Kershaw Gardens, Rockhampton, after a fire destroyed their church.

About 2002, it was extensively renovated and transformed into Kershaw House and over the years hosted many weddings and events.

The Oasis Church purchased the building in 2014 for $1,045,000.

The church now host their services at the Birch Carroll and Coyle Cinemas.

Originally published as Jason Pronger’s arson charge over Oasis Church fire dismissed