DR RICHARD BAKA , PhD
In the late 1980s , prior to the establishment of AFN , I met Nigel and Greg due to our association with Reebok , which was sponsoring national fitness workshops and making itself the key sponsor within the fitness industry .
As the Victorian representative in this relationship , I encouraged both Greg and Nigel to accompany me on a fact-finding trip to Canada and the USA around 1986 / 87 . During our tour we visited fitness establishments in Vancouver and then attended the Ontario Fitness Council Conference in Ottawa , where we met with various fitness stakeholders and observed and presented at the conference .
Following this we went to Anaheim to attend the IDEA World Fitness Convention , which I had visited the year before . I was of the opinion that Australia needed to have a body similar to this and , therefore , Nigel and Greg were keen to explore this concept .
At this event we met with Kathy and Peter Davis , the founders of IDEA , as well as Reebok representatives . In addition we went to various conference sessions and observed how the conference was organised and how IDEA operated .
Over the next 15 years I worked with Network as the Victorian representative , promoting them in my state and setting up fitness leadership courses , such as the Network Personal Training Module established by Network in the 1990s .
In the last 10 years I have kept in touch with both Greg and Nigel even though we have had a less formal working relationship . It ’ s great to hear that my mates are being surprised with this celebration .
DAVID PATCHELL-EVANS
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CanFitPro is the top fitness conference in Canada , and we get 10,000 people coming to us because of FILEX . Twenty five years ago , I went to FILEX to present and it was here I learned how to start a conference and how to build it up . You guys are great , you ’ re geniuses . Nigel and Greg , you ’ ve always shared openly , you ’ re innovators , you ’ re leaders , and I ’ m lucky to have you as friends . We ’ ve shared ideas , we ’ ve presented for each other , we share presenters ; we ’ re totally connected in how to make this industry better . I ’ m so lucky to have had this ongoing , deep relationship . Congratulations on thirty years – you are the best !
TONY DE LEEDE
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Big congratulations to you guys . Greg , Nigel , Lisa and the team , 30 years is a wonderful achievement , and you guys have done more to further the health , fitness and now wellness industry , with the new exciting baby called “ Ignite ”. You ’ re on trend , you ’ re moving ahead , and you ’ ll continue to provide the platform for us all to get better at doing what we love , which is the health and fitness industry . Thank you guys , it ’ s been a great 30 years and I look forward to 30 years more .