‘I can see everybody here. It’s
for all ages, all body types and
all levels of fitness. There will be
mums and bubs classes, kids’
classes after school, classes for
ultra fit people, and we’ll also have
sessions for the ‘grey fits’
I ask how the preparation is going. Kate
laughs and says, ‘Grace, she’s... artistic. She
has a hundred different things going on! Right
now she’s also working on a speech she’ll be
delivering at the Women of the World Festival
in Katherine’.
It sounds to me, however, as if Kate has a
few things going on too. The annual Power of
Pallets gala fundraiser is coming up, and the
TEDxJCU talk falls one day before the grand
opening of her brand new venture, Fit360.
An interactive gym that uses PRAMA technology,
it is the first of its kind in Australia. Picture
a giant, glow-in-the-dark arcade and you’re
imagining what Fit360 looks like. The gym floors
and walls integrate light, sound and sensors
and in an ultimate rejection of treadmills and
stationary bicycles, the technology responds to
touch and pressure, and prompts gym-goers to
react to visual cues.
28
| w w w. o a s i s m a g a z i n e . c o m . a u
Unsurprisingly, Kate dislikes
traditional gyms. ‘They are so
anti-social! With Fit360, there’s
no mirrors, no scales, it’s all about
better health in a fun way.’ The new gym
is completely inclusive. ‘I can see everybody
here. It’s for all ages, all body types and all
levels of fitness. There will be mums and
bubs classes, kids’ classes after school,
classes for ultra fit people, and we’ll also have
sessions for the ‘grey fits’ - people like my
mum. She told me she will only set foot inside
the gym if it’s playing Elvis, though, so I said
“Okay mum, I’ll play Elvis just for you”’.
I ask Kate how she manages all of these
commitments and she talks about her
strong support network. ‘I have lots of
business ideas but everything needs to fit
within our family schedule. Family is a huge
priority for me. I have a fantastic husband.
My whole family is great! We all help each
other; we just get in there and get it done.
The day of CIAF we’re all running around
stupidly to get Grace’s stuff sorted. At a
Power of Pallets event, Grace will jump in
and run the bar all night.’
She laughs about all her upcoming events and
says, ‘September and October will be a write
off for me. Bring on November, things will
slow down on a bit. Doing nothing on a Sunday
would be wonderful.’
However, judging Kate on her past projects, I
get the feeling that, come November, things
won’t stay slow for very long.