Newsletter

Achilles Adelaide Newsletter

Next Training – 8 August

Location: Glenelg Rotunda
Meet from 8.45am for a 9:00am start
Session led by Katherine

Next guide training and monthly social coffee catch up – 5 September

RSVP HERE: Helps us pair guides and athletes smoothly. You can update your plans later if needed – just message us or redo the form.

Achilles Adelaide 2026 Membership is now up – Please follow the link to register. Achilles Adelaide 2026 Membership Registration

What’s next:

• Expressions of interest in for Australian Masters Games in Perth – March 2027. Info session details are here
• Blind Sports Challenge Day – 16 August (entries now closed)
• First transport trial – 5 September
• City Bay – 20 Sept (Achilles organised) link here City-Bay Fun Run (Everyone choose Achilles Adelaide as your team and guides choose “carer” option). Complete this form to get a guide or say you can guide

This Months Upcoming Activity

Saturday 8 August – Regular training – led by Katherine

Saturday 15 August – Regular training – led by Justine

Sunday 16 August – Blind Challenge Day lead by Blind Sports SA

Saturday 22 August – Regular training – led by Justine

Saturday 29 August – Regular trainng – let by

Next Months Upcoming Activity

Saturday 5 September – First transport trial, monthly Coffee and Guide Training led by Justine

Saturday 12 September – Regular training – led by Katherine

Saturday 19 September – Regular training – led by Justine

Sunday 20 September – City – Bay

Sunday 26 September – Regular training – led by Justine

🏅 Achilles Adelaide – Member of the Month – August 2026

Featuring: Tony Davis

Meet Tony

This month we are delighted to introduce one of our valued athletes, Tony Davis.

Tony is one of those people who reminds us that a full and active life doesn’t come with an age limit.

Born in Wales in 1940, Tony has lived through wartime Britain, worked underground in coal mines, survived a serious mining accident, migrated to Australia with his young family, raised five children, returned to study at the age of 48, worked in occupational health and safety, volunteered in his community and, more recently, adapted to life with vision loss.

Today, at 85, Tony remains determined to stay active, involved and connected.

A local resident of Somerton Park and a familiar face at Achilles Adelaide, Tony brings warmth, humour, life experience and a wonderful sense of community to our Saturday sessions.

And he has a goal.

Having already completed his first five-kilometre “fun walk” in 59 minutes, Tony now wants to complete five kilometres in under 50 minutes.

Knowing Tony, we wouldn’t bet against him.

From Wales to Australia

Tony was born on 8 August 1940 in the West Wales village of Llanreath and was the eldest of seven children.

His earliest years were shaped by the Second World War. With many of the men away fighting, Tony remembers living in a household with his mother Rita, her two sisters, his grandfather and a cousin around the same age.

Despite the circumstances, his memories of those early years are happy ones.

“I fondly remember sunshine and walking with my grandfather, my mother, her sister and my cousin.”

When the war ended, Tony and his mother moved to Bath, his father Christopher’s home town.

Like much of Britain after the war, housing was in desperately short supply. Tony’s family moved into one of the prefabricated aluminium houses imported from Canada.

“They were what they called ‘plugged in’ with plumbing and electrical. You moved straight in. They were aluminium houses bolted together on a concrete base with everything included inside.”

Sport was also part of Tony’s childhood, although perhaps not always in quite the way we would imagine today.

“I remember playing football at school and the teacher telling me, ‘That’s your position’, so I held that position and didn’t run anywhere!”

There was plenty of freedom too.

“We would go off on our bikes and, as long as we were home for dinner, we were okay.”

Rugby became a favourite, and Tony also enjoyed swimming and athletics, both of which were encouraged at school.

Coal Mines, Rugby and a Life-Changing Day

Tony left school at 16 with plans to join the Navy after being involved in the Sea Scouts.

There was just one problem.

“I found out I was colour blind, so the Navy didn’t want me.”

As Tony points out, colour recognition is fairly important at sea.

“Did you know red indicates port on a ship, while green indicates starboard?”

With his naval ambitions over, Tony began an apprenticeship in the coal mines approximately 14 kilometres south of Bath.

He bought himself a Triumph motorbike, continued playing rugby for his local team and eventually worked underground as a maintenance fitter on the coalface.

Work ultimately forced him to give up rugby.

Then came a day in 1964, around two and a half years into the job, that changed Tony’s life in more ways than one.

While working underground, the roof of the mine collapsed and Tony suffered a serious injury to his forearm.

At almost exactly the same time, his pregnant wife had been rushed to hospital.

While Tony was underground dealing with the aftermath of the accident, his first son, Richard, was born.

Doctors managed to save Tony’s arm, but his injuries meant he could no longer work underground.

It would be two weeks before he finally met his new son.

That moment remains one of the most important memories of Tony’s life.

“I’ll always remember the day the nurse pushed my wife and my new son Richard towards me in a wheelchair in the hospital. We’d been apart for two weeks and I was so proud.”

A New Life in Australia

Approximately six months after the accident, Tony saw an advertisement seeking maintenance workers with coal-mining experience for jobs in Sydney.

It presented an opportunity for a completely new beginning.

In 1965, Tony, his wife and baby Richard packed up their lives and moved to Australia.

They initially settled in Sydney, where they remained for around a year.

Health concerns, particularly breathing difficulties, eventually led specialists to recommend either Adelaide or Perth.

They chose Adelaide.

Tony and his family moved to South Australia in 1966.

And one particular date remains firmly etched in his memory.

On 14 February 1966, Tony’s second son, Bryn, was born.

It also happened to be Decimal Currency Day — the historic day Australia changed from pounds, shillings and pence to dollars and cents.

Tony still remembers it simply as “Dollar Day”.

The family settled in Fairview Park, and Tony began working as a fitter at General Motors, where he remained for approximately 20 years.

Having called Adelaide home for six decades, Tony has watched the city change enormously. He points in particular to the improvements in public transport and the bus service — and still remembers when Rundle Mall was a thoroughfare for cars.

Family Life

Family has always been central to Tony’s life.

His children are Richard, Bryn, Senta, Neil and Maxine, and each carved out their own interests and talents.

His late son Richard was a talented musician who played trombone and tuba.

His late son Bryn struggled academically at school but discovered his niche through athletics, particularly race walking.

His daughter Senta was an excellent flute player and loved little athletics, especially race walking. She would also later play an important role in helping Tony rediscover opportunities for activity and connection as his eyesight deteriorated.

His son Neil became an accomplished basketball player and travelled to the west coast of the United States through his sport.

Following Tony’s divorce, his daughter Maxine was born. Maxine played flute and went on to travel extensively around the world as a dancer. She now lives in Portugal.

Today Tony’s family has expanded to include four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

“They support me — or tell me off!”

Back to School at 48

After approximately two decades at General Motors, Tony required back surgery and eventually accepted a redundancy.

For many people, that might have marked the beginning of slowing down.

Tony went back to school.

He completed his matriculation at Elizabeth TAFE before commencing university studies at UniSA at the age of 48.

His studies eventually led to a contract position at the University of Adelaide, where he spent approximately four and a half years undertaking research and working with small mines and quarries in occupational health and safety.

It was an interesting full-circle moment for someone whose working life had begun underground on a coalface.

Unfortunately, Tony’s back problems eventually returned and he was forced to leave the workforce and move onto a disability benefit.

Losing His Sight – and Finding New Opportunities

Before COVID, Tony began noticing significant changes in his vision.

One particular incident made it impossible to ignore.

“I remember going through a red light.”

The following day he walked to Specsavers at Marion. That eventually led him to Flinders Medical Centre, where he learnt that he had macular degeneration.

Adjusting to vision loss meant reconsidering how Tony could safely remain active and connected.

His daughter Senta began looking into activities that might help him get moving again.

Tony became involved with Beyond Blindness, where he met fellow Achilles Adelaide athlete Lauren.

Lauren mentioned Achilles.

Tony decided to give it a go.

Finding Achilles Adelaide

Tony admits he was initially unsure when he arrived at his first Achilles Adelaide session.

“I was a bit self-conscious at first.”

But he returned for a second week.

“And everyone has made me feel so welcome.”

Ask Tony today what impact Achilles Adelaide has had on his life and the answer is wonderfully uncomplicated.

“It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. It’s so enjoyable.”

One of the greatest freedoms Achilles gives Tony is the opportunity to move at a pace that is difficult for him to achieve independently.

“It allows me to walk quickly with a tether without a cane.”

For someone experiencing vision loss, that simple opportunity to move freely and confidently can mean an enormous amount.

And Tony is certainly not there just for a leisurely Saturday morning stroll.

He has goals.

His first five-kilometre “fun walk” was completed in 59 minutes — an achievement that remains one of his favourite Achilles memories.

Now he wants more.

His next target is to complete five kilometres in under 50 minutes.

When asked what he is most proud of since joining Achilles, however, Tony doesn’t mention a time or distance.

“I’m proud every week that I still turn up, even when it’s pouring with rain.”

What has surprised him most about Achilles Adelaide?

“There’s so much effort that goes into making it happen.”

Life Beyond Achilles

Achilles Adelaide is only one part of Tony’s remarkably active life.

He volunteers at Flinders Medical Centre and keeps himself busy and connected through cookery classes, Pilates, the Marion Council men’s breakfast and different activities at Guide Dogs.

And, of course, there is always family.

Tony says staying active has become increasingly important as he has grown older, particularly after experiencing periods when he wasn’t particularly active.

His philosophy on life is refreshingly straightforward.

Asked what advice he would give younger generations, Tony says:

“Be involved, be happy, do what you enjoy — and do as you’re told!” 

And the life lesson that has stayed with him?

“Get involved with volunteering and be a good friend.”

A Few More Things About Tony

Favourite place in Adelaide?

The Art Gallery and Museum.

Favourite holiday destinations?

Barcelona and Amsterdam.

Favourite food?

With daughter Maxine living in Portugal, Tony has developed a particular fondness for Portuguese food.

Favourite café or restaurant?

The Duke of Brunswick.

Tony’s daughter and grandchildren are coeliac, so the Duke of Brunswick’s gluten-free menu means the whole family can enjoy eating there together.

Beach or hills?

Beach.

Sunrise or sunset?

Sunset.

Early start or sleep in?

“If possible, sleep in.”

Walk and chat or quiet reflection?

“Walk and chat. Ask any of the guides at Achilles!”

Favourite music from your younger years?

The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Little Richard and Tom Jones.

And why Tom Jones?

“Because he’s Welsh.”

A book that has stayed with you?

Tony has read countless books over the years, but one he often finds himself thinking about is James Joyce’s Ulysses — following a day in the life of an Irishman in Dublin.

If you could have dinner with anyone, past or present, who would it be?

Tony would choose the people closest to home.

“My grandfather, who lived with us in Wales and came to live with us in Bath. He always had lots of time for me.”

He would also love the opportunity to sit down again with his parents.

“They were lovely to me.”

If you could relive one day of your life, what would it be?

Despite everything Tony has experienced across more than eight decades, his answer takes him straight back to that hospital in England.

“The day in the hospital when they wheeled my wife and Richard to me. We’d been apart for two weeks and I was so proud. I’ll always remember it.”

What are you most grateful for today?

“That I am alive, enjoying life and keeping fit.”

“I have good health, plenty of friends and family — even four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.”

Final Word

Tony’s story is one of resilience, adaptability and continuing to find ways forward.

From a childhood in wartime Wales to coal mines outside Bath; from surviving a serious workplace accident to migrating across the world with a young family; from raising five children to returning to study at 48; and from adjusting to vision loss to discovering new ways to stay active at 85 — Tony has spent a lifetime adapting to whatever has come next.

Perhaps that is why his advice is so simple:

Be involved. Be happy. Do what you enjoy. Volunteer. Be a good friend.

At Achilles Adelaide, Tony reminds us that success isn’t always about running faster, going further or crossing the biggest finish line.

Sometimes success is turning up on Saturday morning — even when it’s pouring with rain.

Sometimes it is being able to leave the cane behind for an hour, take hold of a tether and walk freely and quickly alongside someone you trust.

Sometimes it is completing five kilometres in 59 minutes and deciding that next time you’d quite like to do it in under 50.

And sometimes it is simply being 85 years old and being able to say:

“I am alive, enjoying life and keeping fit.”

We think that’s something worth celebrating.

Tony, we are incredibly grateful to have you as part of the Achilles Adelaide family.

Now, about that sub-50-minute 5km…

#AchillesAdelaide #MemberOfTheMonth #AchillesAthlete #BlindAndLowVision #InclusiveSport #ActiveAgeing #CommunityConnection #MovementForAll #Accessibility #SouthAustralia

Images – 1. Kirrily and Tony coming back from a windy, rainy training session. 2. Tony and Karyn HW coming back from training. 3. Helene and Tony at park run with Serin running in the opposite way in the background. 4. Georgie and Tony walking along the foreshore at Glenelg with the sea in the background. 5. Cassie, Emma, Georgie and Tony walking along the foreshore at Glenelg