Competition: Regional Victoria's best personal trainer and finalists revealed
Dozens of inspiring PTs were entered into the competition to crown regional Vic's best. Now the drumroll moment is here to announce the winner and finalists. Find out who they are.
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The moment has arrived to announce the winner and finalists of regional Victoria's best personal trainer competition.
Has your PT helped you achieve your fitness goals?
The best PTs create tailored programs to suit their clients, give nutritional advice, assist clients with their diet plan and maintain personal fitness.
But these trainers not only assist their clients with fitness, they are also prominent role models to the community.
They are able to give constructive advice on what you want to get out of the gym.
Whether it’s losing weight, building muscle, improving stamina and strength or helping people both physically and mentally, a great PT can do it all.
And now the drumroll moment is here to see which personal trainers received the most votes from the audience.
Find out who they are and read their journeys below.
FINALISTS
TAMMY MYERS: VOYAGE FITNESS - WARRAGUL
West Gippsland holds hidden talent and passion.
Tammy Myers from Voyage Fitness in Warragul is a well-respected personal trainer in the Gippsland region and beyond.
Ms Myers has been named a finalist in the competition, with an entrant describing her as "motivating" and "extremely supportive".
She works at the 24/7 gym that boasts state of the art facilities and equipment.
JED ZIMMER: THE HEALTH PROJECT - BENDIGO
Building rapport with the Bendigo community and surrounds is Jed Zimmer from the Health Project.
Aside from being a personal trainer, Mr Zimmer is also a nutrition expert.
He is also the founder of THP Performance & Recovery Lab, which also has an infrared sauna and an ice bath experience.
TRACEY ROBINSON: ELEMENTS HEALTH & FITNESS - BALLARAT
Both inspirational and hard working is Ballarat personal trainer Tracey Robinson, who is the owner and operator of Elements Health & Fitness.
Ms Robinson's dedication to her clients allowed the audience to vote for her, also making her a finalist.
Her Hertford St gym offers more than 50 classes a week.
ANGUS (GUS) MARTIN: THE SHED GYM - BALLARAT
Also from Ballarat and smashing goals is Angus Martin, also known as Gus, from the Shed Gym.
Mr Martin has been a personal trainer for about 12-and-a-half years.
"I have been working in the gym industry for 14 plus years now though, which involved a stint working in Gymbox over in London of all places," the 32-year-old said.
He said it was a "real treat" to be a finalist in the competition.
"I never really focus on personal accolades, it’s always been about creating a fun, safe and unreal community at The Shed Gym," Mr Martin said.
"To be recognised for it is nice, but I’m more thrilled by the fact that people have probably wanted to vote due to the awesome community we have down at The Shed."
He said the best thing about being a PT was watching people learn and grow.
"And I don’t mean that in just a physical sense - it makes me so happy to watch people going from a phase of never even going to the gym, feeling uncomfortable exercising and having low self esteem, to being confident, fit and part of a community," Mr Martin said.
"I know of a lot of people that have suffered from multiple forms of mental illness, and have found a love of exercise and community in The Shed, so that would definitely be something that makes me love being a trainer."
Mr Martin added that being a successful personal trainer depends on what you value.
"Some would view it as a financial figure, some as popularity, and for others it’s about how much knowledge you have," he said.
"Personally, I feel that a successful PT is someone that can relate to their client in a genuine way and educate them on best practices for the client to train and better themselves."
Mr Martin said a day in the life of a PT was different for each trainer, but his included waking up at 4am and having coffee, followed by classes with clients from 5am to 10.30am.
"If there’s any other little breaks in there I’ll clean the gym or assist in making reels (I’m no good at admin, my lovely wife and one of our other trainers Mitch are the brains of the operation)," he said.
"People would say it’s a bit hectic - but I love being a PT - so it’s never felt like I’ve worked a day in my life."
ALLISON EVERETT: FITQUEST 360 - BALLARAT
The region of Ballarat is definitely a goldmine for personal trainers, because the next one to be announced is Allison Everett, the creator of FitQuest 360 - a home grown owned and operated boutique gym.
Ms Everett shared to the FitQuest 360's Facebook page that the gym was born from a desire to give to what fitness gave her, her life back.
"Fitness is more than a workout or a diet - it's a unique transformation from the inside out to completely change you," she wrote.
"From physical strength you see a change in your inner strength to be stronger and braver - and more opportunities in situations that you might now see as obstacles and impossibilities.
"It's a journey - it doesn't have an end date."
RUNNER UP
KATE MAHER: F45 - BALLARAT
Placing runner up for the amount of votes received in the competition is personal trainer Kate Maher, 32, from F45 in Ballarat.
Ms Maher has been a PT for three years, and said once she made the career change into the fitness industry she had never been happier.
She said she was shocked when she found out she was a finalist.
"My jaw dropped when I found out - it took me by surprise and I couldn’t believe I was nominated," Ms Maher said.
"I love what I do so much, I felt incredibly special, and you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face."
She said she loved being a personal trainer because every day was different.
"Every single member I connect with I can be their safe space for them to share with me what’s happening in their life," Ms Maher said.
"Their wins, their challenges, their goals in and out of the gym - we create a bond and create memories whilst being able to teach them about the strength of their bodies and their minds.
"It never feels like work - I get to be that person's reason to smile and be challenged - I get to watch them grow and learn."
She said there were many things she loved, especially connecting with each individual.
"From being a stranger the first time you meet to forming a bond and friendship, I’ve been so incredibly blessed with everyone I’ve ever met and trained," Ms Maher said.
"There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not grateful and proud for what I do."
Mr Maher added to be a personal trainer, you had to be genuine and authentic in the space.
"People come to you and they trust you," she said.
"You adapt to each individual, every single client or member is a different age, gender, fitness level and being able to deliver that same level of care and passion in a way that relates to them.
"There is no 'one approach' fits all, there’s no judgment, there’s no competition, it’s you vs you. Teaching members their only competition is themselves, and to be the best version of themselves always."
WINNER
TAMARA BROCKLEY: FUTURE FITNESS 24/7 - COBRAM
Receiving the highest number of votes in the competition was Tamara Brockley from Future Fitness 24/7 in Cobram.
The 23-year-old has been a personal trainer for four years at Future Fitness and worked at Future Fitness in Nathalia for more than five years.
"I got straight into the industry once I left school and have never looked back," she said.
Ms Brockley said she was thrilled to have won the competition.
"I was absolutely shocked to begin with, excited and emotional all at once," she said.
"To have won the competition I feel honoured to be honest, to know that these people that have voted for me whether I have trained them one-on-one, they’ve trained alongside me, met me whatever it may be that I’ve impacted their lives in some type of way."
Ms Brockley said being a personal trainer was not just about training individuals.
"It’s so much more than that - you are being your most vulnerable self for others, helping them be their best possible selves," she said.
"I love watching the process of a client coming in nervous as hell (which is completely normal by the way) then months down the track they are a totally new person, have made friendships, doing group classes and thriving in the gym on their own.
"That’s what makes it all worth it - watching people succeed."
Ms Brockley said a day in the life of a personal trainer varied.
"Each and every day is different - it’s early mornings and late nights, most people either train before work or after work so that’s where I have most of my day booked," she said.
Ms Brockley is currently in the process of opening a BodyFit Training studio in Yarrawonga.
"So lots of time prepping the opening of that, which will again provide so much opportunity for the Yarrawonga and surrounding communities," she said.
OTHER PTS WHO WERE NOMINATED/RECEIVED VOTES
There were dozens of other PTs nominated who also received a number of votes — see below who they were, in no particular order.
ALBURY WODONGA AREA
— Brendan Mooney: World Gym, Albury
— Grace Exton: F45, Wodonga
— PT Fitness, Wodonga
— Nathan Crisfield: Peakshape, Albury
BALLARAT & WEST AREA
— Fiona Woodroffe: Club Lime, Ballarat
— Todd Sporton: Fitness Avenue, Ballarat
— Bek Gallagher: The Playground Gym, Ballarat
— Mitchell Lewis: Anytime Fitness, Ballarat
GIPPSLAND & BASS COAST AREA
— Lioness Fit, Cowes
BENDIGO & NORTHWEST AREA
— Bradley Cunningham: Silver Strength & Supplements, Bendigo
— Ryan Jeffrey: TKO Fitness, Bendigo
— Brett Little: Anytime Fitness, Kennington
— Michael Talbot: Achieve It Fitness and Exercise, Bendigo
GOULBURN VALLEY AREA
— Emma O’Keeffe: The Shed, Shepparton
— Daniel Cleave: Resolute Gym, Shepparton
— Michael Stride: Resolute Gym, Shepparton
— Kailee: Resolute Gym, Shepparton
— Troy Tremellen: VIPT Health & Fitness Studio, Shepparton
—Marcus Cipriani: Resolute Gym, Shepparton
MILDURA & SUNRAYSIA AREA
— Chris Brown: Fun & Fitness Chris Inspiring Fitness Success
— Bradley Elder: Elder PT, Mildura
— Brendan Simm: Simmply Fit, Gol Gol
— Brock Johnson: Limitless PT, Mildura
— Sarah Carn: Sarah Carn PT/Home Studio, Mildura
— Shanai Bucceri Fit and Flex: SF8 and the Yard, Mildura
— Nigel McWilliam: Iron Fist, Mildura
WARRNAMBOOL & SOUTHWEST AREA
— Mel Bryron: Body Blitzer Fitness Centre, Warrnambool
— DC HIIT Fitness and Personal Training: Warrnambool
THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOMINATIONS & VOTES
Congratulations to all our finalists and winner of the competition.
Stay tuned for the finalist announcements in other upcoming comps.
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Originally published as Competition: Regional Victoria's best personal trainer and finalists revealed
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