Aerobics champ Sue Stanley vows to get Melbourne fit as she joins Team Reece in Lord Mayor race

Aerobics champ Sue Stanley, a close friend and sailing companion of Sam Newman, has vowed to make Melbourne healthy as she joins Nick Reece’s ticket in Lord Mayor race.

Former aerobics world champion Sue Stanley wants to make Melbourne healthy and has joined Nick Reece’s ticket in the race for Lord Mayor.

Stanley said she decided to be part of Reece’s team after being impressed by his support of the Docklands community, where she is a resident, and by his support of her plan to make health and wellbeing a focus for Melbourne.

“I don’t want to be someone who says ‘I could have, I would have, but I didn’t’. I am going to step up and, if I can, make a difference in changing people’s lifestyles,” Stanley said.

Sue Stanley with Nick Reece. Picture: Supplied

Stanley’s move towards council and her backing of Reece has the support of her close companion, former footy great and robust podcaster, Sam Newman.

Stanley has been on a boating adventure in Queenland with Newman for the past three months.

She got to know Reece when he engaged with Docklands residents over noise issues related to the ATET floating nightclub in 2023.

“For the community, he made a big difference,” she said.

Stanley said she was ready to step up.

“My discussion with Nick on what I can bring to the table is health and wellbeing,” she said.

Sam Newman and Sue Stanley after nearly running his boat Angst aground on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied

“My passion is to work on health whether it be men’s health or women’s health. Nick has a great passion for Movember (a men’s health charity).

“I am interested in getting the Melbourne community healthy. We want to make Melbourne the best and fairest and make it the healthiest city.

“I am interested in mind, body and soul, that is the heartbeat of Melbourne.”

Stanley’s companion Newman has voiced on several occasions his desire to run for Melbourne Lord Mayor, but she said this decision was hers alone.

“He does his thing and I do mine,” she said of Newman.

“Whatever I would do he will support me 100 per cent, like I would do for him.

“But I have my own voice and he has his own voice.

Sue Stanley and Sam Newman at a MMA fight. Picture: Supplied/John Tsialos

Sue Stanley at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame dinner in 2019. Picture: Supplied

“Sometimes we like to listen to one another’s comments and then we choose to digest them in whatever way we feel.”

Reece said he was pleased to have a “global icon in fitness” as part of his team for town hall.

“I’m so pleased to have Sue as part of Team Reece – she is an exceptionally gifted person, as well as a global icon in fitness,” he said.

“We both share a passion for encouraging people to live healthier, happier, longer lives. I look forward to working with Sue on our plans to make Melbourne even better, fairer, and healthier.”