Newsletter

Achilles Adelaide Newsletter

Next Training – 20 June

Location: Glenelg Rotunda
Meet from 8.45am an 9:00am start
Session led by Justine

Next guide training and monthly social coffee catch up – 4 July

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 2026
• Optical Education Session – 15 June
• Hills to Henley – 26 July (self organised) link here Hills to Henley SARRC registration form
• City Bay – 20 Sept (Achilles organised) link here City-Bay Fun Run (Everyone choose Achilles Adelaide as your team and guides choose “carer” option)

This Months Upcoming Activity

Monday 15 June – Online Optical Education session

Saturday 20 June – normal Glenelg training

Saturday 27 June – Glenelg Training – led by Katherine

Next Months Upcoming Activity

Saturday 4 July – Monthly Coffee and Guide Training led by Angela

Saturday 11 July – Regular training – led by Angela

Saturday 18 July – Regular training – led by Dani

Saturday 25 July – Regular training – led by Justine

Sunday 26 July – Hills to Henley

🏅 Achilles Adelaide – Member of the Month – June 2026

Featuring Dragan Bekric

Meet Dragan

Dragan is a valued member of the Achilles Adelaide community, known for his consistency, determination and genuine commitment to supporting others.

Living with Retinitis Pigmentosa, an inherited degenerative eye condition resulting in low vision, Dragan brings not only lived experience but also a deep understanding of the barriers people who are blind or have low vision can face when accessing sport and physical activity.

That insight is reflected in everything he does — both on and off the course.

A Life in Sport & Leadership

Dragan’s involvement in sport extends well beyond his participation at Achilles Adelaide.

He is an active participant and competitor in Blind Tennis and Blind Cricket, and through his strong community connections has helped foster closer relationships between athletes, sporting organisations and groups such as the South Australian School for the Vision Impaired (SASVI).

Dragan also plays a significant leadership role as a Board Member and Chairperson of the Blind Sports Foundation South Australia — a registered charity dedicated to helping people who are blind or have low vision experience the joy, confidence and connection that sport and recreation bring.

Since 1996, the Foundation has raised vital funds to support safe and meaningful participation in sport across South Australia — and Dragan has been instrumental in driving that impact forward.

His contributions include:
• Supporting the development of the annual Blind Sports Camp, a heavily subsidised program giving children the opportunity to try a range of sports, build confidence and develop life skills
• Playing a key role in establishing a partially-sighted futsal league, expanding access to new and inclusive sporting opportunities
• Helping facilitate grant opportunities, including support for some of our own Achilles Adelaide athletes

Through this work, Dragan continues to create pathways for others — ensuring more people can experience the benefits of movement, sport and community.

Questions & Personal Reflections

How did you first hear about Achilles Adelaide and what made you decide to come along?
A friend of mine, Ricky Segura, joined the group last year and we’d chat about it. I then heard about a couple of the other athletes, Johnny and Cassie (through grant applications), which allowed me to learn more. Finally, attending the one year birthday celebration at Government House, I spoke with even more people involved in Achilles so felt ready to come along and give it a go.

What was your first session like and how has your journey evolved since then?
My first session I walked. It was a lovely experience and the guides made me feel comfortable in the surroundings that I felt confident enough to attempt a run — which I did the following week.

What does movement and sport mean to you personally?
I love being mobile and being able to just go. My eyesight limits what I can do safely. Sometimes I feel like a truck navigating small city streets and Achilles has shown me some more open roads where I can move a bit more freely.

Since joining Achilles Adelaide, what goals have you been working towards?
I want to increase my fitness. At the moment I’m undertaking intermittent running to help me achieve this. With this I’m wanting to finish a parkrun without needing to walk during it. I have also added wanting to run a 1500m at pace after seeing some athletes do it. It looked great.

We know you completed your parkrun goal at Easter — was this your first completed parkrun and what did that achievement mean to you?
It was surprising. I had this as my end-of-year goal. Achieving it early gave me the confidence and motivation to extend what might be doable. Ironically my sights have now been set beyond the horizon — pardon the pun.

You’ve now mentioned wanting to run the full 5km by the end of the year — how is that journey going?
I’m progressing but I’m not sure I’ll be able to. This past weekend one of the runs I did was 500m (a PB for me) and it took quite a few minutes to recover. I don’t know how others have gone with building up distance but I feel that I’m not progressing fast enough. I still hold out hope that my body will endure and I can push myself to do it, but I’m also trying to be realistic considering the body I am working with.

If you could aim for any goal with the help of Achilles, what would it be?
It would definitely be to help keep me motivated. Every guide I’ve had so far has been absolutely wonderful and I’ve enjoyed every session as a result. I look forward to coming out the next week.

What do you enjoy most about the Achilles Adelaide community?
The Achilles community seems to be populated by genuinely caring people who want to help others discover how good running and walking is.

What has surprised you most about Achilles Adelaide or being part of the community?
How big it is! I have mentioned Achilles to several people that I knew participated in parkruns and they had already known about it.

What do you think makes the blind and low vision sporting community so special?
The blind and low vision sporting community is like everyone else except they do not get to access and experience sport and activities as easily as everyone else. We are very thankful to groups like Achilles that help overcome hurdles so we can enjoy it too.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Playing games with family and friends, listening to podcasts and chatting with people I know.

Favourite place in Adelaide?
Home.

Favourite food?
Pizza, pasta, roasts and stews.

Favourite travel destination?
I’ve only been to three places outside Australia — Yugoslavia, New Zealand and Spain — and I can’t pick a favourite.

Beach or hills?
Hills.

Early start or sleep in?
Sleep in.

Walk and chat or quiet focus?
Walk and chat.

Go-to music or podcast?
My main Spotify playlist has Sabaton, Manowar, Alestorm, Beast in Black and Amaranthe. But I also have an 80s/90s Australian rock/pop playlist that I go to which includes Ratcat, Cold Chisel, Paul Kelly and Divinyls.

Final Word

Dragan is someone who not only shows up for himself, but consistently shows up for others — helping to create opportunities, build connections and make sport more inclusive across South Australia.

He is passionate about building connections across the blind and low vision sporting community and helping organisations work together to create more opportunities for participation.

We’re incredibly grateful to have you as part of Achilles Adelaide.

Images – 1. Dragan and Mick. 2. Group photos at Shaw and Partners cheque hand over. 3. Dragan and Justine and Paka Park run. 4. Group photo from paka park run. 5. Emma, Dragan and Jenny beachside. 6. Group photo at Glenelg