Twisters Northcote (above) and Ross Gage (below).
Focus! Focus! Focus! Ross Gage introduces Gymnastics Clubs Australia Limited
F
ocus! Focus! Focus! was the cry coming from a strong section of the ‘gymnastics’ provider community in Australia, that led to the establishment of Gymnastics Clubs Australia Limited (GCA) with a common sentiment being “we want help with our business, management and related operational needs.” While understanding that Gymnastics Australia and the state associations are the rightful custodians of the sport of gymnastics - driving activities such as accreditation of officials, championships and liaison with the likes federal and state sporting departments and the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Commonwealth Games Association - what GCA sought to deliver was a peak industry body to focus needs around workforce development, customer
experience and business compliance. For over 10 years, a core group of club owners and managers operated the Gymnastics Professionals of Australia (GPA), which, as resources permitted, provided forums, seminars, networking functions and webinars. It was the vital webinars while the pandemic was at its most devasting during 2020 that fully brought home the critical need for a fully functioning industry body, as nobody knew the business of the providers, like the providers themselves. A taskforce from the GPA engaged my business - RG Social Enterprises Club to aid in conceptualising and establishing what was to become GCA, based on my experience in conceptualising, establishing, developing and driving similar industry bodies including Swim Australia, in 1998, and the Australian Swim Schools Association in 2016. The taskforce put in place the inaugural Board of Directors, lead by Chair, Sarah Reid of Twisters; and with James Devlin, Jets; Vicki Flamsteed, Allstar; John Mitchell, Delta; and Natalie Rutsche, Balance Brisbane. As the formation process unfolded, the Board offered me the position of Chief Executive. I didn’t hesitate in accepting as it suited my skill-set perfectly and the prospect of helping make a significant difference for the providers and consequently gymnastics and associated activities, was enormous. Importantly, the Board were successful,
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expert, experienced, passionate ‘true believers’ … and had already brought on strong supporters. One of the Board’s first actions was formulating its purpose and associated reasons for being. The starter was provided by Mitchell, who explained “GCA’s focus is on helping clubs be the best version they want to be of themselves. “Helping the Members - the Clubs with their various needs is what GCA is about. Great, sustainable, enduring Clubs is the goal.” In communicating the target membership, quotations marks (‘ ’), particularly with ‘gymnastics’ and ‘clubs’ is regularly used. This is to bring attention to GCA’s commitment to help its members in all their operations (such as, those who also teach the likes of cheer, dance and ninja, also belong); and whether they operate under a traditional ‘club’ structure or not. To be clear, GCA is not focused so much on helping the providers’ staff be better teachers/coaches of skills to their students/athletes. The initial success of the association was ensured with a much better than anticipated take-up of the Foundation Membership opportunity. Clubs, small and large, single and multi-site, regional and metro, and for and non-profit, took up this option - resulting in an even sounder financial foundation. While enjoying the exclusive benefits
