We were in Sydney last weekend for the FILEX convention to stay in-tune with the trends and direction of the ‘Wellness’ industry at large, we spoke with the CEO of AUSACTIVE, Barry Elvish.
Barry was excited to share that he had just returned from meetings with a variety of Australian Government leaders. Several committed to financially to support a health and fitness initiative later this year. He was also extremely pleased that the Shadow Minister of Health, The Hon Anne Ruston, last Wednesday made a very significant public statement. She said, “A one thousand dollar gym membership makes better economic sense than a $30,000 joint replacement”.
Barry spoke at FILEX about his quest to generate an understanding of the benefits of exercise within the Government. He said that the most effective way to make a major impact on the health of the nation, would be a TAX DEDUCTION for gym memberships. That way the individual would be incentivised in the pocket and rewarded for making the right moves.
Trying to get our New Zealand Government to take notice of the health benefits provided for by the health and fitness sector has been a long-road for both the current CEO of EXERCISE NZ, Richard Beddie, and for Club Physical itself.
For example, Club Physical founded New Zealand’s first 12-Week Transformation programme around 1992 which resulted in several thousand documented ‘health-transformations’.
Later, upon hearing about the huge costs involved with a heart-transplant in our country (approx. $NZ130,000 each at the time), I personally organised a University study of our 12-week results. This was then packaged into a presentation and Tina and I delivered the documented system and results to the Minister of Health at the time, Dr Jonathan Coleman.
Our presentation highlighted a similar study in USA where a large number of participants who were awaiting heart-transplants, were instead offered twelve months gym and exercise training, along with diet modifications. After the 12-months, most no longer required the transplant. We discussed this with Coleman. We emphasized the comparative cost of a NZ Transplant verse a year at the gym along with a Personal Trainer once or twice weekly. He seemed interested and grateful for the presentation, BUT we never heard back.
Despite the apathy of our leaders, the economic benefits of working-out are a direct and often immediate benefit of YOU and I. They include less sickness, less likelihood of debilitating falls, increased mental acuity, greater energy, being better able to control stress. This all leads to a higher quality more productive lifestyle.
There will be examples of this benefit all around you. One-day YOU will be able to receive a tax-deduction on your gym membership as happens indeed happens already in some countries. But until then, rest assured, the value of the effort you put into exercise is something YOU can enjoy RIGHT NOW!
This week’s newsletter can be found here
