Larni Mailer Named Franchisee of the Year at 2026 AUSactive Awards

By Larni Mailer

Larni Mailer was named Franchisee of the Year at the 2026 AUSactive National Awards, held at Sydney Town Hall on Friday 11 September. The event drew more than 520 guests, making it the largest…

Larni Mailer was named Franchisee of the Year at the 2026 AUSactive National Awards, held at Sydney Town Hall on Friday 11 September. The event drew more than 520 guests, making it the largest National Awards Gala the industry body has staged to date.

The recognition places Larni among the standout figures celebrated across Australia's fitness and active-health sector. Her win capped a year of momentum. She had been a finalist for the same Franchisee of the Year category at the 2025 AUSactive National Awards, listed then as Fernwood North Lakes, before taking the top honour twelve months later.

Larni is a multi-site Fernwood Fitness franchisee, owning the North Lakes and Morayfield clubs in Queensland. Fernwood is a women's-only health and fitness brand, and the Morayfield club offers Reformer Pilates, personal training, group fitness classes, weight loss coaching and 24/7 access. Larni says she now owns two clubs, employs around 50 women, and supports a community of over 2,200 members across the two sites.

Her individual award formed part of a strong showing for the Fernwood brand at the 2026 ceremony, which also saw Fernwood receive the Ten Thousand Feet Member Love Award for Big Box Gym. Larni says she brings over 25 years of experience in business management and ownership across diverse sectors, driven by a lifelong passion for health and fitness.

The Franchisee of the Year title reflects the club community Larni has built in outer-Brisbane South East Queensland, and the standard of member experience recognised on the sector's largest awards night to date.