13 years of helping the Gympie Community
Reflection
The past few years
So, what now?
Reflection
It has been such an enjoyable time helping the people of Gympie over the past 13 years. In particular, some of the veteran community. I have learnt so much, like SO much. I recall within the first month I had said countless times “uni didn’t prepare me for this”. The real world is very different to the text books.
I didn’t appreciate or realise at the time, but starting off at the Cooloola Fitness Centre with Paul back in 2011 was the most influential and personal growth period of my career to date. I could sum it up in the phrase: ‘welcome to the real world, junior’. Learning about life, peoples habits / human behaviour, communication, working full-time, and a bit of exercise prescription and health promotion to compliment. After the wise owl passed the fitness centre over to Adam I experienced an incredible amount of welcoming and generosity from the Cross family. I wouldn’t be where I am today if these 2 beautiful men hadn’t entered my life.
Over the years there has been many highs and enough lows - the circle of life can be emotional at times. It has all impacted the journey and led the company and I to where we are today. I’m still uneasy with putting a label or title on the humans who let me help them. These clients/veterans/people who have chosen to work and socialise with me since 2011 are amazing. When you sit back and actually think about it - I’ve spent more time with them than my family or closest friends. As such, many I do call friends. They’ve taught me so much, I hope I’ve taught them a bit about their health in return.
The past few years:
We tried to make the best out of a shitty situation which was COVID in 2020. At this point we had been operating at the new ARC since they opened. Unfortunately they had to close during this uncertain time, but we wanted to continue helping everyone. Enter Paul: he had just opened his new PT studio on Channon Street and we had been reconnecting over the previous few months. So there he was again - helping me out without hesitation. Thank you Paul, I hope you fathom how impactful you have been to the Gympie community 🙏🏽
By 2020 we had spent a few years saving our pennies and decided to go on a shopping spree, an EP’s wet dream. Like all uni kids, we did our research and purchased a bunch of gear from all corners of the world that we thought would be awesome and help people improve their health. It had to be different to the standard equipment, because there’s no point in just replicating what else is already on offer to everyone. We eventually found a space to call our own by the end of 2020 and we’ve been at 58 Channon Street, Gympie ever since.
We had a change in identity in 2020 as well. We now offer complimentary services to our core exercise physiology services. The addition of nutrition and dietetics has resulted in goals being achieved in a quicker timeframe and a more wholistic approach to improving a persons health. Helping the veterans of Gympie live healthier lifestyles is what we are about. We don’t buy into the discussion of what is more important out of what you put in vs what you put out. Both are important - and we can now help with the more wholistic approach 😀
How we think we can help you with your health:
So we’ve been using the clinic space at 58 Channon Street for a few years, with our own equipment. From an EP’s perspective this has been really cool to have tools that we feel are best suited to help our people (compared to using the generic equipment found in those 24/7 gyms which is designed for the masses, rather than individuals). The 4 treatment rooms also allow us to have more intimate and personable consultations - this has helped veterans open up to us more which allows us to then provide a more personalised service. Not to mention the efficiency of using a treatment table. Having never had this prior in my career, it’s been a game changer and definitely made our treatment more efficient.
Since 2011, the topic of “free gym membership for veterans” has always been a talking point. We aren’t a gym so we don’t offer this - we offer our clinic space to everyone we provide a service to. So come in and use it any time - before your appointments, after your appointments, in between your appointments - any time during our opening hours of 8-4 Monday - Friday. We practice what we preach (lifestyle balance) so our weekends are time for ourselves.
I love socialising so I heavily encourage everyone to hang out, chat with others, make a new friend, work on you, improve your health - love life. Our clinic space in Gympie is set up for this, please take advantage of it
Thank you to the service men and women for allowing me, my friends, my family, people I don’t know, and this country to be the way it is. I have travelled to lots of places - this is by far the best country to live in, and we have you to thank for it.
If, after reading this you feel that I can help repay you - please reach out. My purpose on this planet is to help people with their health. I’ll give you all I can to help you improve your health and well-being.