Their priorities . . . their health!

Last week end, while the majority of Australians were chomping on a hot cross bun or sinking their teeth in to a pie while watching the AFL, NRL or the Super 14, Tony Abbot was slugging it out for 14 hours in the Port Macquarie Ironman.

And 3 cheers for Tony Abbott . . . he completed a grueling event, which according to previous competitor and fellow politician Rob Oakeshott, he would struggle to do based on his lack of training.

I think the media for the first time have reported accurately on this event. They have summed up the effort brilliantly and they are taking Kevin Rudd and his ill-informed, unhealthy, non-exercising comrades to the cleaners for their irresponsible and immature retorts!

Three cheers to Natalie Barr . . . this morning on Sunrise she ripped into the Canberra politicians for their bagging of Tony Abbott and his ability to have a high profile job and still be able to exercise at an elite level.

Three boos for the Australian Labor Party . . . I cannot believe the audacity of the Kevin Rudd team to say Tony Abbott should be focused on his job and not exercising. Why can’t he do both?

Three boos for Nicola Roxon . . .  stating that “Mr Abbott’s exercise regimen has affected his policy development.”  Please Ms Roxon, do you know anything about preventative health care and the benefits of exercise? Do you understand that exercise allows you to think with greater clarity?

The current buffoons we have in Canberra really piss me off, when they make such inane statements.

My question is why does Tony Abbott have to defend himself for his hobby in keeping himself fit and healthy? Why do we have to bag the fit guy?

Whether Abbott did this for “fun” or a political stunt (one of the toughest political stunts you may ever see) is irrelevant. He showed that you can have a very important job and still exercise:

• Up at 5am for his run;
• Swim after question time;
• And week end cycles.

Tony Abbott showed with proper planning that one of the busiest men in Australia still has time to exercise. Just as one of the busiest men in the world can too. It is about planning and priorities.

His exercise regime should be inspirational for the many non-exercising and week-end warrior Australians. I love his quote in Sunday’s paper that he takes his frustration and stress out swimming after question time. Most Australians take their frustration and stress out with alcohol.

Three cheers for Barnaby Joyce . . . “He sends a message back to the Australian people that it doesn’t matter what age you are, if you stay active you give yourself the best chance of having a healthy lifestyle.”

Three cheers for Christopher Pyne . . .  “There’s a particular snobbery about them saying that people shouldn’t be able to play sport or be in a triathlon … as well as have serious jobs.”

For all those that read this blog, I have no allegiance to any political party. But I am passionate about getting Australia healthier and happier. And in the last 48 hours Tony Abbott has done more for making Australia healthier than Kevin Rudd since being elected.

Three cheers for Tony Abbott’s effort . . . hip hip horay! Hip hip horay! Hip hip horay!