Where we began.
Axis started as dream. It was too big to call it anything else. Em and Rod certainly hadn’t seen anything like it before. Many places had done a few similar things, sure. But all of it under the one roof? Surely they were dreaming.
A popular local gym had a small amount of space available which would have suited a small sports recovery set up. They had bigger ideas but it seemed like a good place to start. The week that they began measuring up the space, a larger site became available across the road. It was the perfect location. It was so close to home and was merely meters away from where they had already planned to open. It seemed too good to be true. Em told Rod it was too big and put the squash on it quickly, only to reflect on it later in the day, call the real estate agent and book a tour the following day. As they wandered around the space together with their builder- they started imagining the performance zone, the treatment rooms, the reception area, the ice baths… It was the perfect amount of space for their dream facility. The only problem was, they thought there was no way that they could make it happen. The plans were too grand.
One night, over fish and chips, they started drawing their ideas on the fish and chip paper. Researching costs on the spot (which were VERY wrong about, mind you) The plans that they drew on the fish and chip paper that night went on to become the exact layout that you see today.
With a dream and their architectural drawings based on their fish and chip plans, they spent 18 months turning an old party food shop into Victoria’s premier Athlete development facility, Axis Performance.
Rod juggled lecturing at RMIT, treating patients at both Epworth Hospital, Monash Health and coaching Athletes at a local gym while Em juggled raising their 2 kids, was pregnant with their 3rd and oversaw the entire build- designing, refining and developing not only the build but all of the services and offerings that would become Axis Performance. It was an arduous time of exhaustion, little sleep and set back after set back. The extremely long and delayed build ended up being a blessing, as many of the services that visitors know and love today would not have been possible without those 18 months of further research and additional planning. Em and Rod risked everything in the process, selling their family home and giving everything they had to make this dream a reality. After endless blood, sweat and tears (so many tears) they still sit back full of pride and gratitude for the team that have joined them along the way and the facility that Axis has become and continues to evolve into.
Today, you will find Rod rehabilitating injured firefighters by day, and managing the operations of Axis as well as Coaching by night. You’ll also find him at local sporting clubs partnering with them to offer both a High Performance Program and Performance Rehabilitation with at least one of his kids in tow. Em prefers more of a behind the scenes style role and manages the Company and back end of Axis Performance remotely, predominantly from home to ensure she can also be available for their 3 children. Both Em and Rod still survive off very little sleep. Would they trade it for anything? Absolutely not. To them, what they have built is still a dream come true and their goal remains the same- To provide Athletes with an institute like facility to help them grow into the greatest and most powerful, resilient Athlete that they can be.
Meet the Team.
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Rod Blackbourn
DIRECTOR & CO FOUNDER
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Em Pike-Blackbourn
BRAND STRATEGIST & CO FOUNDER
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Steve Evangelinos
SPORTS SCIENTIST & RECOVERY SPECIALIST
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Michael Schreiber
HIGH PERFORMANCE COACH & EXERCISE SCIENTIST
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Blake Barnes
HIGH PERFORMANCE COACH & EXERCISE SCIENTIST
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Bailey Fielding
DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR & VIDEOGRAPHER
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Alex Antonopoulos
PERFORMANCE REHABILITATION SPECIALIST & PHYSIOTHERAPIST
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Chris Allen
PERFORMANCE REHABILITATION SPECIALIST & PHYSIOTHERAPIST
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Matt Goulas
PERFORMANCE REHABILITATION SPECIALIST & OSTEOPATH
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Jake Helen
HIGH PERFORMANCE COACH & EXERCISE SCIENTIST
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Dan Atkinson
EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST
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Jade Roberts
DIETITIAN & HIGH PERFORMANCE COACH
Contact us.
Does Axis Performance seem like the right place for you, your sporting club or organisation? We would love to hear from you! Let us know what you are looking for and we will be in touch to discuss how we can best help you.
You are also welcome to email us directly to info@axisperformance.com.au