For the first time in history a Sutherland Shire fitness centre has been honoured as the best small gym in New South Wales.

Cronulla Fitness was presented with the “NSW Small Fitness Business of the Year” award by industry group Fitness Australia at their awards night on Saturday 10 October 2008 at the Sydney Tower Sky Lounge.

This is the top accolade awarded by the fitness industry in Australia.

“In these days of intense competition within the industry, it is a wonderful acknowledgement to be awarded with such a title,” said Cronulla local, June Stephenson, manager of Cronulla Fitness. “We work hard at our philosophy of being the ‘friendliest gym in town’.”

The 2008 Fitness Industry Awards of Excellence were given to five categories of the fitness industry: Fitness Professional, Personal Training, Small Fitness Business, Medium Fitness Business and Large Fitness Business.

Fitness professionals from all over NSW congregated at Centrepoint for a celebratory cocktail evening with a glorious view of Sydney Harbour and surrounds as the backdrop for their exciting event.

Areas in which businesses were judged were longevity, marketing, training, individuality and how the club contributed back to the fitness industry.

Cronulla Fitness owner, Carol Cropper said that a key factor in Cronulla’s success was the joint project with Diabetes Australia to provide a new specialised fitness training programme for diabetics – a first for the fitness industry in Australia.

Carol was thrilled with the result. “I am blessed to have such a wonderful team at Cronulla Fitness, and without them this would not have been possible. They are all so passionate about the industry and this flows on to the members personal experience at the gym,” Carol continued.