Celebrating 30 years of Achievement Celebrating 30 Years of Achievement | Page 31

LISA CHIVERS
Thirty years ago in Perth WA, the Network workshops planted a seed that “yes”, there could be a career in fitness. This
took me overseas to pursue a career in fitness education as an international fitness presenter based in the UK. Upon
my return to Australia, Network offered me a workshop tour and lecturing on the ACHPER courses. This snowballed to
a position with Network, as Training Manager from 1998 to 2004, which included the development of correspondence
courses, opportunities in China and Taiwan, and presenting at Network conventions. Since then, I have been heavily
involved with fitness education with Australian Institute of Fitness. Greg and Nigel have greatly influenced my career and
desire to help people realise their ambition, and I am forever grateful for that.
Network has always been groundbreaking and visionary, leading the way to create an awesome fitness industry at a
national, international and government level. The fact that they are responsible for training thousands and thousands of
fitness professionals over 30 years is a huge achievement. I have had the privilege of working closely with both Nigel and
Greg and always found their support, trust, and freedom to develop projects empowering. Their vision, 'can do' attitude,
high standards and motivation to excel has made it a joy to be part of the Network family. Congratulations Nigel and Greg
on such a fabulous achievement.
KERRI PARKINSON
After completing the ACHPER fitness leader program, which was held in a little gym beside the railway line at St Leonards
in Sydney, my certificate of completion was signed by someone named Nigel Champion. It was some time around 1988
or 1989 and this was the first time I ever met Nigel.
Along with Lexie Williams and Matt Church, Nigel presented the course. I was absolute rubbish at aerobics but I didn’t
care because I was heading straight out of the studio and into the pool. I came out feeling like a pumped professional;
ready to tackle the aqua world. My dream was becoming a reality.
We started a magazine called AQUA Network, which soon developed into a small strand of aqua sessions at the Network
convention. This was 1996. I was given a title as Network’s Aqua Advisor and when the offer arrived in the following year to
travel to New Zealand for Network’s fitness conventions, I jumped at the chance. There I found myself on a bus with Nigel,
Matt Church and Alan Bolton, and my photo shared a place on a brochure with Cathy Spencer, Adam Rock (Rockwear) and
Garry Egger (Gutbusters). I’d died and gone to fitness heaven!
Soon after, Network’s Aqua Training course was launched and I was thrilled to now have the opportunity to share my
knowledge and teaching skills to create qualified aqua instructors. We had 25 to 30 people on each course and ran the
courses three times a year. The way swimming pools were used had changed forever! Wherever there was a pool, there
was an aqua program.
Upon reflection, I could have done more. I could have done things differently. But one thing’s for sure, I could not have
done any of it without Nigel Champion and Network.