A couple of weeks ago I attended the Fitness Australia National Awards. It was gala evening with fitness professionals not wearing lycra and runners.

Congratulations to Fitness Australia (FA) on a well run evening and the Op’s Manager, Rob Barnes for an excellent job at the MC. It showed how far our industry in Australia has come.

But . . . and you knew there had to be a “but” otherwise why blog?

Firstly though congratulations to the winners:

• C2K Fitness & Aquatic Centre – Australian Fitness Business of the Year;
• Succeed Personal Development – Australian Personal Training Business of the Year;
• Matt Patti & James Short – Australian Exercise Professional of the Year.

Here is my gripe . . .

With the 100′s and even 1000′s of personal trainers and exercise professionals running around the Australia, I find it difficult to believe that the same individual could win this award in consecutive years! In fact, I think it is wrong and a flaw in the Awards which detracts from them.

I would love to see the previous year’s winner hand over the ‘green tracksuit’ – the industry equivalent of the US Golf Masters Green Jacket.

My gut feel is that if businesses and individuals knew that each year we start from scratch and no-one has an advantage over others through previously winning, then we may get more nominations.

I think you cannot win the State or National Awards in consecutive years – period!

Further, I believe anyone involved in voluntary positions in the industry discount themselves from winning either state or national awards. This sounds harsh and perhaps unfair to the tireless volunteers but the key for me is transparency.

My feeling is that as a peak body you need to be fully transparent and when someone on a state or national committee wins a state or national award, people ask questions. And while I know the background on how the winners are chosen, many don’t which means they do not become involved/nominated in the future. They may even think, ‘You can only win if you are on the Board!’

With a new Award program beginning for FA, I would encourage them to consider these ideas so that the awards become inclusive for all the industry and in fact encourage nominations as people know they have as a good a chance as the next person! It would be great to have 100’s of nominations from all the people that are doing an awesome job in the community.

One final note . . . a much deserved award went to Susan Kingsmill, Fitness Australia President, as the industry contributor for the past year.  This should have been for the past 10 years . . . she has done an incredible job leading the peak body and deserves this award without any question in my mind or the fellow industry leaders. Well done Susan! Thank you and our industry would not be where it is today without your efforts.

But as the current President, maybe this award should have been given once she leaves as President, again emphasising the transparency!