Interview: Pausha Mosley - Personal Trainer at Mill Park Leisure

Born the 29th of March 1991 I was born 3months premature, I was the average size of a male’s hand. 

 

I come from a family of 5 - I’m the baby sister of two older brothers.

 

I attended Mill Park Heights Primary School and finished up my schooling at Mill Park Secondary. This was a successful time for me in my life - it was one of my goals in life that I wanted to achieve - schooling wasn’t my favourite thing to do. I completed year 12 in 2009, also accepting the Mill Park Secondary Sports Award. 

 

What do you do?

 

I studied my diploma in sport with SEDA which is also where I completed my cert 3 & 4 in fitness I first took on gym work at Contours in Epping. I now work as a PT / Fitness Instructor at the YMCA, I have currently been working for the company for 2 years. I also have a passion for working with children of all needs; I work on school holiday programs both with main stream children and special needs along with working after school care, and also work on reception a couple of days a week.
 

What is your definition of success?

My definition of success is setting yourself a goal and working towards achieving it whether its big or small it can be anything that’s going to make you a happy person or more successful in your life.
 

What do you think has enabled you to achieve success with the health and fitness industry?

 

I believe my success has come from growing up as a tom boy with two older brothers, also loving playing sport weather it was until the street lights turned on in the court or for a team or club. This would be a reason why I’m involved in the fitness industry.
 

What are 5 top tips you’d give the average person wanting to improve business performance?

• Set yourself the goal first
• Be organised
• Make it a life style change, rather than a time for just now
• Never give up on what you want
• Set yourself a time frame

After a great result, how do you celebrate?

I would spend time with either my family or friends on a night out for a dance or a dinner.

What’s the most satisfying thing you’ve ever done and why?

 

One of the most satisfying things I have done was to jump out of a plane, because I always wanted to do it but I definitely had to build up the courage to do so.

What do you do outside of work to relax and wind down?

I catch up with my friends or family, spend time visiting my nanna to talk about all the Goss, I play indoor soccer on a Thursday night.

Now’s the time for what we call the turbo 10. Ten quick questions...

• What is your favourite song? World’s Greatest
• Favourite athlete? Nathan Buckley
• Movie? Sister act
• Food? Lollies
• Holiday destination? I want to travel the world
• Most recent read book? The secret
• What really annoys you? People chewing with their mouth open or blowing bubble with chewy
• If you could do anything you wanted; what would it be? Participate in the amazing race
• The one thing you’d change in the world right now? Inequality in the world
• Where would like your life to be in 5 years? I would like to start my own family, and working in something I love doing. 

Interview: Michelle Fisicaro - Personal Trainer at Mill Park Leisure

Hi all, my name is Michelle I'm one of the new trainers on the gym floor, but an old face as I have been a member at Mill Park Leisure for 10 years before doing my Fitness Certificates in 2012. But lets wind it back a bit…


I was born in Parkdale so have a penchant for the beach and I don’t like winter at all!!!!!

I met my gorgeous hubby 21 years ago. After we got married, we moved to Sydney for a couple of years where I was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer. I find myself very fortunate to have gone through this process and have a clear health history in that area now, but it did lead to a couple of problems when we fell pregnant with triplets naturally. I delivered my first little boy Cooper at 21 weeks, sadly we lost him. We hung on tight to our other 2 babies who were born at 24 weeks, another boy and a girl. We lost Tyson at 8 weeks of age, but I have an amazing 14 year old daughter Mackenzie with a clear health history, so we are extremely lucky. It was an ordeal but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Within the next 2 years we decided to have another baby, this is with much decision as it meant I was to have an Trans Abdominal Suture through my uterus, to be able to carry another pregnancy. So cut a long story short, there was a joke should we put a zip in my abdominal region, for having had 9 operations in a matter of a few years.

Of course you giggle and laugh at it now but it took a toll on my exercising - this is why I like to keep in shape, as you never know what is around the corner. We also now have a gorgeous hazel eyed son Dante who is very cheeky and full of character. I wouldn’t change anything about my life…

Having had a few hiccups over the years, I have always known I wanted to be a Personal Trainer and so I decided to take myself back to school last year, after not having been at school for 30 years. I found this very daunting but it was last year or never…

So here I am at my second home! Instead of being a member I'm now here to help all our members with any health issues they may have or if its just to have a chat get something off their chest…  

1. What do you do?
I also work on Reception as well as Gym floor and Personal Trainer.

2. What is your definition of success?
Success is to see my clients walking out of here happy but knowing they have had an awesome workout and how we are training is working specifically for them and their needs.

3. What do you think has enabled you to achieve success with the health and fitness industry?
Being of a mature age has given me life skills to be able to talk to all types of people from all levels.

4. After a great result, how do you celebrate?
I spend time with my family because they are my greatest influence.

5. What’s the most satisfying thing you’ve ever done and why?
Having my children is the most satisfying as there was a stage we though we may not have children but also going back to school has helped me overcome some of my own hurdles with which I put up…

6. What do you do outside of work to relax and wind down?
Spending time with family and friends we like to be social on the weekends and especially when the warm weather comes….

7. Where do you see opportunity in the health and fitness industry in the next 5 years?
My goal is to learn as much as I can about the industry and to turn this into helpful information for our patrons…
 
8. Now’s the time for what we call the Turbo 10. Ten quick questions…

• What is your favourite song? Over The Rainbow- Judy Garland
• Favourite athlete? Cory Everson                                            
• Movie? The Way We Were                                                    
• Food?  Everything - Chocolate                                              
• Holiday destination? Bali                                                      
• Most recently read book? Women's Health                              
• What really annoys you?  Housework                                    
• If you could do anything you wanted; what would it be? I'm doing it!!!!!!!
• The one thing you’d like to change in the world right now? A cure for cancer!    
• Where would you like to be in 5 years time?  Still here having a wonderful time with my friends at Mill Park……      

Interview: Tristan Simmons - Healthy Living Director at Mill Park Leisure

I am a true Northern suburbs boy. I was born in Preston back in 1984 before my parents moved to Wallan. We were only there a short time before we moved to Bundoora where my parents still live now. I’m the eldest of 4 boys…poor mum, with the youngest being 10 years old.

Growing up I wasn’t one to sit down and study, I loved playing sports right throughout primary and high school. Instead of studying I was playing footy or cricket with my mates. Throughout my schooling I played a number of schools sports which included football, cricket, golf, table tennis, volleyball and hockey.

Outside of school I started playing junior football when I was 8 years old and finally hung up the boots when I was 26 , winning 3 premierships along the way with Bundoora. I had some tough times during my career after sustaining certain injuries -  the worst was being diagnosed with a bulging disc at 21 years of age. I endured months of rehab before I was able to return playing. I think overcoming these injuries have made me a stronger person. I’m still involved with the club to date, finals are about to start so hopefully we can bring home the big one.

In 2011 I was lucky enough to marry the girl of my dreams, Sharon, in Hurstbridge. I first met Sharon back in 2004 at my cousins wedding. We bought our first house together in 2009 and recently bought ¼ acre where we’ll build our new home. Earlier this year our beautiful daughter Emerson was born and words can’t describe what she means to both of us.  I also have 2 dogs which make up the rest of the family. Maddie is maltese terrier cross which we adopted because she wasn’t being treated well and Sam is a Kelpie we got from the Whittlesea show.

Both Sharon and I love to get away whenever we can. We have been lucky enough to travel overseas a few times. We’ve been to Thailand and Malaysia twice plus we went to Mauritius for our Honeymoon. If we don’t travel overseas we love to head down the coast for weekends away. We have a family beach house down Phillip Island which her grandfather built himself 50 years ago. Both Sharon and I holidayed down the island when we were kids and now Emerson will get to experience it as well.

I’ve been in the industry for over 8 years now and met so many wonderful people. Getting up in the morning knowing I’m helping individuals change their lives forever is a great feeling and that’s why I love what I do.

 1. What do you do?
I’m the Healthy Living Director for Whittlesea YMCA at Mill Park Leisure

2. What is your definition of success?
To me achieving goals you set is success. It doesn’t matter if the goal is small or large, a goal is a goal. 

3. What are your thoughts on the parallels between business and sport?
When I was playing sport, I had a hunger to improve myself to succeed on the field. The same goes for business – there are different measures for success but the principles are the same. In sport the drive was to win a premiership, in business its to lead a successful team in changing the lives of other people.

4. I think we can sometimes learn more from the mistakes we make. What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made along the way? And what did you learn from this?  I’ve made numerous mistakes over my life but the biggest one for me was not trusting my own judgement in a certain situation. I learnt a lesson that day and now I back my instincts (also one of my tips below).

5. What are the 5 top tips you’d give the average person wanting to improve business performance?
- Trust your instincts
- Set goals
- Continue to develop yourself
- Be a sponge and learn off others along the journey
- Take a risk

6. How do you consistently sustain performance in your business/career?
I always look to develop myself – whether it’s as a trainer or a leader – you never stop developing and if you choose not to develop yourself unfortunately you’ll miss out.

7. And your thoughts on how to turn a mix of different people and personalities into a world class team?
A great team has a diverse group of instructors, everyone is on the bus but to turn them into a world class team – my job is to make sure everyone is in the right seats.

8. Who has had the greatest influence on your career and what lessons did they teach you?
Two people have influenced my career:
First is my wife Sharon – she has been so supportive in everything I’ve wanted to do and helped me out where possible – she gives me the confidence to go after my dreams.
Secondly my dad – When I was young, he and my mother had just built there first house and he was working 3 jobs to support us. I know he was up 5am and didn’t get home till 10pm Monday – Friday plus he worked both Saturday and Sunday. It taught me to work hard and support my family but also find a balance between family and work life.

9. After a great result, how do you celebrate? 
A nice relaxing day out with the family.

10. What’s the most satisfying thing you’ve ever done and why?
Helping clients achieve their goals because I walk away knowing I’ve changed their lives forever.

11. What do you do outside of work to relax and wind down?
There are a couple of things I like to do – either spending time with my beautiful wife and 5 month old daughter or I love my footy so sitting down and watching a good game of AFL footy.

12. Where do you see opportunity in the health and fitness industry in the next 5 years?
I see more opportunity in local sporting clubs, especially local football – AFL and VFL football is becoming more and more professional which is slowing filtering down to local clubs employing fitness coaches. There will be more opportunities to work with local clubs but also the possibilities of more sports training facilities opening up.

13. Now’s the time for what we call the Turbo 10. Ten quick questions…

• What is your favourite song? Mr Brightside – The killers   
• Favourite athlete? Simon Black                          
• Movie? Forgetting Sarah Marshall                                          
• Food? Thai/Mauritian Food                                                   
• Holiday destination? Grand Baie - Mauritius                             
• Most recently read book? A decade of Pride – History of the Brisbane Lions           
• What really annoys you? Election advertisements                    
• If you could do anything you wanted; what would it be? Play AFL football 
• The one thing you’d like to change in the world right now? Childhood obesity
• Where would you like to be in 5 years time? Definitely still in the fitness industry – maybe managing my own club and continuing to help young PT’s achieve their business goals.