When we formed the fledgling company that later became Australian Fitness Network , there was no internet , no government-recognised training courses , no personal trainers and music for ‘ aerobics ’ classes was played on cassette decks . A lot has changed in 35 plus years !
In those early days we realised that the fitness industry needed a publication that provided instructors with current trends , latest research and industry happenings from Australia and around the world . So , we produced a black and white newsletter that we called the Network News . Little did we know that it would eventually morph into a full-colour , beautifully designed and edited 72-page magazine ! We took great pride in the magazine being a leading-edge source of information for tens of thousands of Australian and New Zealand fitness professionals .
Producing the Network magazine has been a mammoth task , and we would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge
the very talented and dedicated editors who , over the years , committed their time and energy to the task . They are Lyn Guilhaus , Jan Smeaton , Justine Northcott , Annalee Gale and , for the past 15 years , Oliver Kitchingman . We ’ d also like to warmly acknowledge Jack Lee , whose creative design skills have made the magazine look so professional , as well as the hundreds of contributors who , over the years , shared their knowledge and expertise . Thank you to you all .
The saying ‘ all good things must come to an end ’ is now true , and it ’ s a bit sad to say farewell to this legacy , but we feel very proud of having been a part of the creation and development of Network magazine . Knowing that so many fitness professionals loved the publication and found it incredibly useful makes us feel that all the hard work was very well worth it .
Nigel and Lisa Champion , Co-Founders , Australian Fitness Network
Well that has been a long journey . Our first publication in 1987 / 88 felt revolutionary . It coincided with the emergence of the Macintosh computer and Pagemaker . Self publishing was in its infancy and it was a two colour print in orange and black , but under the direction of several great editors the newsletter grew to become a beautiful glossy magazine . The Network magazine was a trailblazing publication for a sunrise industry . It grew in tandem with the fitness industry and together became more professional , diverse and far-reaching . Thank you to every person who worked on , contributed to , or read Network magazine . Sure , it is sad to have a final edition , but I also feel joy about 34 years of uninterrupted publication and 200 + editions . What a ride we had .
Greg Hurst , Co-Founder , Australian Fitness Network
Feeling rather emotional working on this last issue of Network magazine . The magazine has been part of my creative career for more than 15 years . I can say it ’ s the one publication I have worked on that truly holds its integrity and quality , I ’ m sure it will be missed by many .
Jack Lee , Network designer and Director of Novu Creative
This publication , literally , changed my life and the lives of so many others - for so many different reasons . Well done to everyone involved in its production over the years . When Justine Northcott handed the Network mag gauntlet over to me I was not sure that I had the kahunas required to do this important role justice . But , I gave it a red hot try and managed to keep it alive and breathing , before passing the baton on to Oli !
Back then , I used to receive the hardcopy proofs via Tony Perini from IntoPrint , whose company grew alongside us . We would mark them up by hand , and then return them , often multiple times before the edition was signed off on ! Slowly , but surely , email replaced the fax machine ( thank goodness ), yet what never wavered was the eagerness of industry experts to continue generously sharing their knowledge in exchange for the exposure that the magazine afforded their profile .
Many an industry superstar were born from within those pages , and many careers blossomed as a result of that magazine – mine included . And I , for one , will always be grateful for that .
Analee Gale , former Network editor and Director of All Smiles Creative
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