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Newsletter October 2009

The Achilles Heel - Newsletter of the Achilles Running Club - Sydney

PO Box 240, Randwick,2031:
info@achilles-sydney.org.au
www.achilles-sydney.org.au

October 2009 Edition

In this Edition:

· New committee

· Database updates

· Bush walk

· City 2 Surf

· Sydney Tower Stair Climb

· Guide needed during week

· Nick goes to New York City

· End of year picnic

· Future events

· Membership

· Parking permits

· Club clothing

· Achilles website

· Guide training

· President’s Report

· Volunteer Roster

A big spring heading into summer “HI” to everyone.

Since the last newsletter, lots has been happening in Achilles. Large numbers of disabled and volunteer members continue to turn out on Sundays; we had a large and successful contingent of Achillians in the City 2 Surf and the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival; the AGM was held and some great new committee members were elected, namely Ben Phillips, Ian Cohen and Brian O’Dea. A very big and warm welcome to all of them. Below is the list of the committee for the next year. Also, the President’s Report is included at the end of the newsletter.

New committee

Ellis Janks - President

Martin Ruane - Vice President, webmaster & membership database co-ordinator

Ian Cohen - Treasurer

Ben Phillips – Events co-ordinator

Charlie McConnell – Events co-ordinator

James Howard – Minutes secretary

Nick Gleeson – Membership recruitment

Karen Parker – Minutes secretary

Brian O’Dea – Newsletter & events co-ordinator

Doug Ritchie – Training co-ordinator

A big welcome as well to the large numbers of new members and volunteers who have been coming to training on Sundays

Database update

We are presently updating all the contact details for our members. You will soon be asked (by email) to please give us relevant information. Please note that all information which we have about out members is kept confidential, is used only for Club purposes and will not be divulged to any person or organisation outside of Achilles. For example, you will note that when you receive group emails, the recipient list is suppressed so as to hide your email details.

Bushwalk

Another bushwalk is being planned and will take place in the next few weeks (probably Sunday 22 November). The details of the bushwalk have not been finalised but Bobbin Head in the Ku-ring-gai National Park is being earmarked. We are trying to hook up with people from the Parks and Wildlife Department who will accompany our group and be able to give interesting commentary on the bush and environment. Details of this bushwalk will be sent to you very soon. Please respond if you are interested to Charlie (9636 3727 charlie.mcconnell@auspost.com.au ) or Ellis (9664 4824 janks2@optusnet.com.au )

City 2 Surf

Once again, perfect weather greeted all those who made their way to Hyde Park on C2S Sunday, keeping intact the amazing record of this event never having been rained on. The following members snaked their way either walking or running, most being highly visible in their bright yellow singlets.

Phil Cook, Michael Levy, Lindy Hou, Doug Ritchie, Joe Habib, Martin Ruane, Ben Phillips, Ted Magen, Helen Simon, John Simon, Andrew Moller, James Howard,Charlie McConnell, Ian Cohen, Michael Bassil, Kathy Newby, John Domandl, Ellis Janks.

Well done to all of you. Once again, after the race, we received a large number of enquiries about Achilles. It is important that our members participate in these high profile events and that they wear the yellow singlets to make themselves extra visible

Sydney Tower Run

Getting to the highest point in Sydney is always going to be exciting, but getting there by foot makes it exciting fun! Phillip Cook (20mins13secs), Rael Cohen (13-30), John Domandl (12-48) and Doug Ritchie (13-56) got up the Sydney Tower, being ready to collapse after running up the 1504 stairs to the top. Rael did it twice! First he ran in his age category and if this wasn’t enough, he then guided Phil through the initial maze of passages and then up the stairwell. Congratulations to all 4 of you!

Guide needed – Haberfield area

One of our disabled members is keen to train during the week and is looking for a guide. This is in the Haberfield area and a slow running pace for about 5 km is envisaged. Anyone who is available, please contact the Club email info@achilles-sydney.org.au or janks2@optusnet.com.au

Nick goes to NYC

Nick Gleeson is always looking for a challenge. Once again, he has headed off to the Big Apple to take on the New York City Marathon on November 7. While in NYC, Nick will be meeting up with Achilles members from around the world both at a workshop which he will attend and during the event. Nick will be running with a guide from NY Achilles as well as a friend of his who lives in the USA. Best of luck to Nick – we are looking forward to hearing about the trip and event.

End of year picnic

The last training day will be on Sunday 13 December. The end of year picnic will take place after training on the lawns across the road from our unofficial Clubhouse (the Art Gallery of NSW). Besides giving us the opportunity for a slap-up feast, the Andrew Bristow Awards will be presented and it is always a great way to socialize and catch up with all the other members who are rostered on different Sundays and whom you don’t get to see during the year. Please mark this special day in your diary and bring your family and friends.

The first day of training in 2010 will be on 31 January, the 1^st Sunday after Australia Day.

Future events

We are planning a Club weekend away where all of our members can participate in an event. The Orange Colour City Running and Walking Festival on Sunday 7 March is being earmarked. There will be a 5 km fun run/walk, 10 km fun run and a half marathon. We plan to travel to Orange (NSW) on Saturday by bus and stay overnight. More details in the near future.

The Striders 10 km Series takes place on the first Saturday of each month from February to November. There is a 60 minute cut-off, so it is a good way for our running members to aim for fast times.

In the new year we will be letting you know about events our members can participate in. If you have an event in mind that you want to do, please let us know.

Membership

The renewal date for annual membership is 1 July each year. Annual fees are $20.Some of last years members have not renewed their membership (often they have just forgotten to) It is really important that you all renew your membership. Apart from the fact that Achilles uses membership fees for its running costs, we are also trying to secure corporate sponsorship. This is far easier to achieve with a larger membership base. Please forward your membership fees to our PO Box (240, Randwick 2031), or bring them to Sunday training and Ian or Ellis will issue a receipt. If your contact details have changed in the last year, please make sure that we have your current details.

Parking Permits

This is a reminder to everyone who brings a car to Sunday training – please make sure that you have a yellow parking permit. We have a supply of the permits so that all guides who drive in can keep one in their car – they will probably need to be kept in the boot or under the floor mat as they are A4 sized. Please don’t lose your permit – there are a limited number. These permits MUST BE DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD otherwise we could be issued with a parking violation ticket that will NOT (as has been the case in the past) be cancelled. If by any chance you do not have a permit, at the least put a club brochure or a note with “Achilles – disabled” on the dashboard. This will suffice if the usual rangers are on duty, but sometimes there are new rangers who are not familiar with Achilles. You can get a permit from Ellis at Sunday training.

T-shirts, singlets and sloppy-joes

T-shirts with the yellow sleeves ($10) and club singlets ($20) are available for sale. There are still some old club t-shirts (all white) available ($5) for those who are keen on having a collectors’ item. There are also some sloppy-joes available ($30). Unfortunately there are limited numbers of small sizes in all the shirt ranges (not the singlets). Please let Ellis know (janks2@optusnet.com.au) if you want any of these items. There will be some shirts available for sale at Sunday training.

Achilles Website - www.achilles-sydney.org.au

The Achilles website is up and running and has lots of Club information eg roster, latest news, contacts. Please use it as an information resource.

Guide Training

To promote the ongoing safety and enjoyment of Achilles members, short and informal training sessions have been organised for the benefit of all volunteer guides, even those who have had years of experience at Achilles.

Sessions will take about 20 minutes and will be done before or after Sunday training. Participation is completely voluntary and don’t worry, there are no tests or evaluations after the session.

The course will concentrate on the most appropriate methods of guiding a person (Sighted Guide Techniques) who has vision impairment or a total vision loss. Recommended techniques for various situations will be shown and guidelines will be given for effective communication. If you wish to, you will be given the opportunity to walk/run (with a guide) in blindfold. The expectation is that you will gain a better understanding of the difficulties involved when moving around with a vision impairment.

Doug Ritchie will facilitate the sessions. Doug, who works for Guide Dogs, brings a wealth of experience to this course. Doug has been a long time guide/member of Achilles and has assisted in numerous events.

Doug will be delighted to hear from you if you want to arrange a session. Contact him at dritchie@guidedogs.com.au or at Sunday training.

We really do recommend that every guide makes use of this training.

President’s Report 2008/2009

The past year has been most positive and productive for Achilles thanks to the wonderful input by many individuals, groups and donors. There have been a number of significant events and activities which I will mention briefly.

1. Membership

Record numbers of people have consistently attended Sunday training and participating in organised runs and walks and social get-togethers. A large number of new members (volunteer and disabled) have joined this year, which has been very pleasing. The present membership is 60 made up of 18 disabled, 32 volunteers and 10 honorary members.

2. Finances

The financial status of the Club continues to be very sound. Funds have been received via membership fees, bank interest, the sale of clothing and donations. Sizable donations were received from The Ravine Foundation (funded the setting up of new website), The Prospect Shop (funded the hosting costs of the website for 12 months) and from Nick Dreyton and Viv Kartsoulis.

Special mention is made of Ted Magen who has been Treasurer of Achilles for the last 8 years. A big vote of thanks goes to Ted who has not only spend many hours of hard effort keeping the Club finances in check, but has tirelessly done many administrative functions like producing grant applications and communicating with Government regulatory bodies. Much of the successes of Achilles in the last 9 years is due to Ted.

I welcome Ian Cohen who will be taking over from Ted as Treasurer.

3. Events

Members participated in various events during the year, including the following: the Mothers Day Fun Run/Walk, Six Foot Track Marathon, Walk for Shirley, City2Surf, the Sydney Tower Run Up, various ultra-marathons (by Ultramarathon Man Mike Lovric), Canberra Fun Run and walk (Helen & John Simon), Cairns to Melbourne Cycle Event (Lindy Hou) . Social events included the end of year picnic and social breakfasts after Sunday training. Of particular note was the Club sponsored breakfasts held in conjunction with the plaque presentations for our supporters The Hastie Group and New Horizons Computer School.

Two bushwalks were held in October and April. These were both extremely successful and had very positive feedback from disabled participants and guides alike.

Special mention is made of John Simon — after completing this year’s City 2 Surf he is still part of a select group who have completed every C 2 S since its inception.

A number of members got together to train during the week and outside of Club training times. Some of our members participated in events (swimming, golf, dragon boat racing, cycling) outside of Achilles.

4. Uniforms

Part of the success in getting record numbers of enquiries about becoming involved with Achilles must be attributable to the high visibility of the club singlets and t-shirts. I suggest that the club should consider getting highly visible caps with the Achilles name and website address prominently displayed, as is the case with the singlets.

5. Training

Thanks again to Doug Ritchie for running a training program for volunteers. Volunteers who have made use of the program have responded very enthusiastically. Thanks too to Rozanne Green for keeping the Sunday volunteer roster in order.

The parking permits issued by the Botanic Gardens Trust are being used. An effort has been made to supply those who frequently bring their car on Sundays with their own permit to be kept in their car. It is imperative that a permit (or at the least, a Club brochure or a note saying that you owner of the car is with Achilles) is displayed on the car dashboard. Parking fines will not be cancelled in the future.

Special thanks goes to Trevor Heaslip from the Botanic Gardens Trust for organising and supplying the parking permits.

6. Awards

The Andrew Bristow Memorial Awards were once again presented to a disabled member and a volunteer at the end of year picnic. This year’s recipients were Shane “Woody” Woodbridge and Chris Laing. Criteria for the award include the member’s contribution to Achilles, participation in the Club in general and the achievement of personal goals.

7. Website

The Achilles website has finally been replaced and is now fully functional. There has been a large increase in the enquiries being received through the contact email on the website (10 in the last few weeks) and we can now monitor various aspects of our website usage eg numbers of visits, average time spent viewing. I believe that the new website is one of the major factors for the large increase in numbers of people at Achilles.

Special note is made of the invaluable massive contribution that Martin Ruane has made in getting the website up and running.

8. Thanks

Thanks go to:

New Horizons Learning Centre and in particular Mark Davis, who has most generously continued to provide the venue for our meetings and to Carol Cooke for organising for a room to be available.

The Hastie Group for their efforts with the website.

The Prospect Shop for paying for the hosting costs of the website for 1 year.

Ravine Foundation for a donation which was put towards the costs of setting up the new website.

Marianne Von Lucken who resigned earlier this year from the committee after several years on the committee and as an active member.

Ted and Martin as mentioned before.

Nick and Charlie who have done enormous amounts of behind the scenes work

To the Committee for the excellent work they have put into the running of Achilles, and the time and effort they have generously given.

And of course thanks to all Achilles members for their excellent contributions and their enthusiasm. As always it has been a pleasure working with you.

9. Achilles in the future

I see exciting times ahead for Achilles. With the new website up and running and soon to be added to, there is likely to be more information readily available to the public and members and hence increased enquiries about Achilles and increased participation in Club events by the members.

More disabled members are needed. The marketing committee needs to get some of their ideas actioned.

The bushwalking events, which have been so popular, need to be pursued. At present we are in contact with the Department of Parks and Wildlife regarding further bushwalks and new venues and getting them involved as well.

Yellow head caps with the Club and website details on them would be a good way of promoting Achilles.

I know that there are a large number of people who have derived an enormous amount of benefit from their involvement with Achilles. For this reason I feel very positive about the place Achilles has in and the contribution it makes to our community.

I wish Achilles every success, and positive growth in the future.

Ellis Janks - President

ACHILLES CLUB ROSTER

Updated 2/9/2009

NOVEMBER 1- Colin Bradford, Nikki Caminer , Karen Parker, Ellis Janks, Angie Macken Volunteer Required

NOVEMBER 8– Mark Houlihan , Stephen Lenn, Ted Magen, Volunteer Required

NOVEMBER 15- Chris Laing, Diane Mcewin, Doug Ritchie, Martin Ruane, Volunteer Required

NOVEMBER 22- Marilyn Gould, Nikki Caminer , Karen Parker, Ellis Janks. Angie Macken Volunteer Required

NOVEMBER 29- Colin Bradford, Stephen Lenn, Ted Magen, Volunteer Required

DECEMBER 6 – Mark Houlihan, , Diane Mcewin, Doug Ritchie, Martin Ruane, Volunteer Required

DECEMBER 13 – END OF YEAR PICNIC

If you are not on the roster, but wish to be included, please email rozanne@bigpond.net.au

Jan 2010 Newsletter

The Achilles Heel

Newsletter of the Achilles Running Club - Sydney

PO Box 240, Randwick,2031:
info@achilles-sydney.org.au

January 2010 Edition
www.achilles-sydney.org.au

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In this Edition:

President’s end of year message

Picnic in the Park and Andrew Bristow Awards

Matt makes a splash

Lindy goes to Canberra

Michael scales the heights

New York Nick

Sri Chinmoy Race

Rebel Run4Fun

Coming Events

2010 Volunteer Roster

PRESIDENT’S END OF YEAR MESSAGE

We have finally come to the end of a very busy and successful year at Achilles. There have been record numbers of members attending Sunday training and participating in the various athletic and social events during the year. The Club singlets and our revamped website have been instrumental in "marketing" Achilles. There is definitely a buzz of activity and excitement in the air in our Club. Next year is looking to be a very good one with various events planned for all members to participate in.

I hope that you all have a very merry festive season and a happy, healthy and active 2010. I'm sure that, come the first training session on 31 January, we all will be raring to go withall that is planned at Achilles.

Ellis

PICNIC IN THE PARK and THE 2009 ANDREW BRISTOW MEMORIAL AWARDS

In beautiful weather, we rounded off the Achilles year with the Picnic in the Domain. About 30 members and guests enjoyed a fine array of food and friendly banter in one of Sydney’s most pleasant spots.

During the breakfast, Club President Ellis Janks welcomed everyone, including Mrs Brenda Bristow. He also announced 2009 Andrew Bristow Memorial Award winners which were presented by Brenda.

The Disabled Athlete of the Year Award was won by Michael Bassil. Ellis praised Michael for being an inspiring example of a person who had overcome substantial difficulties and who had contributed much to Achilles. During the year, Michael underwent knee surgery and still made the effort to come to Sunday training, bandages, limp and all!

The Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Rael Cohen. Although in his HSC year, Rael had been present for most of the Sunday training sessions. His infectious enthusiasm had been appreciated by volunteers and athletes alike.

Ellis also commended the members of Foresight (Woody, Shayne, Joe and Sue) for their consistent support of the Achilles Club and its ideals.

MATT MAKES A SPLASH

Achilles member and Paralympian Matt Levy won six Gold Medals and broke six World Records at the recent World Multi-Disability Short Course Swimming Championships in Rio de Janeiro.

Matt’s impressive medal haul resulted from wins in the 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 100m individual medley. He was also part of the successful 4 x 100m freestyle and 4 x 100m freestyle relay teams.

After a short break, Matt will be training for the National trials in March in preparation for the World Championships in the Netherlands.

Matt is quite am inspiration in and out of the pool and we wish him well in his attempts to qualify for the World Championships.

Matt and his relay teammates waiting to receive Gold.

LINDY GOES TO CANBERRA

As Matt was winning his Gold Medals in Canberra, another Achilles Paralympian, Lindy Hou, was preparing for a move to Canberra. Lindy and her dog, Harper, joined us for a training session on Sunday December 6^th. Afterwards, those at training joined Lindy for a farewell breakfast in the park.

After arriving in Canberra, Lindy sent the following message:

“I would like to thank all the volunteers who guided me through those Sunday mornings runs. You folks are great, without your help we wouldn't get to enjoy those morning walks/runs. Congratulation also to those vision impaired people who managed to get out of bed on those Sunday mornings.

Harper & I will certainly keep up with our running and we plan to join the group for a run when we are in town.”

Lindy will be missed by her Achilles club mates but soon we will be able to follow her new challenges and triumphs on her website - http://www.lindyhou.com

MICHAEL SCALES THE HEIGHTS

For most people, running a Marathon is daunting enough. So consider the feat (and the feet!) of Achilles member and noted Ultra-runner Michael Lovric (Milo). He has just competed in the Coast to Kosciusko Ultra race. The C2K is 240 kilometres long and stretches from Boydtown Beach to Charlotte Pass, with a detour to the summit of Mount Kosciusko just before the finish. This is equivalent to 6 uphill marathons back-to-back. Michael finished the gruelling event in 4^th place in a time of 32 hours 7 minutes.

This is Milo at the summit. No he’s not smoking a cigar; he is eating a cookie.

NEW YORK NICK

In the October Newsletter, we wrote of Nick Gleeson’s plans to run the New York Marathon. Prevented from running the 2008 New York Marathon because of injury, Nick felt a little short of peak condition for this year’s race and a niggling injury refused to go away. Nonetheless, Nick and his guide completed the race in a shade over 6 hours.

Nick and friend Vina experience a Runner’s “Hi” in New York.

We were able to follow Nick’s progress on the internet. The only worry we had was that he was referred to throughout as “Nick Gleeson of Austria”. We wondered whether he would be bundled onto a plane for Vienna at the end of the race. However, he returned safely to Sydney and has resumed his running with Achilles.

“When we crossed that finish line everything became so very special. Achilles members were always in my thoughts.” – Nick, soon after the race.

SRI CHINMOY RACE IN CENTENNIAL PARK

Be and Martin approaching the finish.

After completing the Rebel Run4Fun (see below), Ben Phillips was keen to enter another race. The Si Chinmoy series is a popular set of races and Ben, guided by Martin Ruane, ran the Centennial Park race in November. On a hilly course over different terrains, Ben completed the race in 49 minutes.

REBEL RUN4FUN

Brian, Ben, Diana, Oscar and Phillip

On a blustery and wet Sunday, Ben Phillips (guided by Brian O’Dea and Oscar Frangiocomo) and Phillip Cook (guided by Diana Saleh) ran the inaugural Rebel Run4Fun race at Homebush. Philip completed the twists and turns in 62 minutes, while Ben, in his first race, got home in 71 minutes. Also running in the race was Colin Bradford, who took the above photograph.

COMING EVENTS

First day of training in 2010 is Sunday 31st January

The new season’s training will start at 0810 on Sunday 31^st January from our usual spot at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. In 2010, we will be adding some variety to the Sunday sessions in order that people can monitor their fitness. We will let you have the details when they are finalised.

Volunteers: Don’t forget to bring your Parking Letters on 31^st January. If you do not have one, we will provide it on the day of training.

Orange Running Festival – March 6^th and 7^th.

As mentioned previously, we intend to take a team to the Orange Running Festival, which takes place on Sunday March 7^th. The events will be a half-marathon, 10K and a 5K family run/walk. The official website is here. However, at the time of writing, it is still under construction. During the coming weeks, details will be posted on the site.

We plan to arrive in Orange on Saturday 6^th. In order that we can arrange the bus hire and the Orange accommodation, we will need to have a list of entrants by the end of January. We will contact you early in January to advise how to confirm your interest.

Sri Chinmoy

The Sri Chinmoy 2010 series of races begins on Sunday February 21^st in Centennial Park. Held monthly in different parts of Sydney, these races cater for the competitive and the first-timers. Courses range from 4K to the Half Marathon. The post-race pancake-breakfast is sufficient incentive for some people. The 2010 Sydney running calendar can be found here.

Sydney Striders

The Sydney Striders is one of Sydney’s best known running clubs. Its programme includes a series of 10K road races. These take place on the first Saturday of each month, from February to November. Currently, these races are run over three courses: Lane Cove, Homebush and North Head.

Because of restrictions placed on Sydney Striders, there is a cut-off of 60 minutes in each of these races. So, go easy on the holiday festivities and start training.

Let us know if you wish to enter any of the 2010 series. The first race is at the hilly Lane Cove course on February 6^th. The Sydney Striders website is here.

Sydney Marathon Clinic

The Sydney Marathon Clinic is another great Sydney club. Its team of volunteers are friendly and efficient. There is great camaraderie among the runners and the SMC will welcome runners from Achilles. The monthly events include a 5K walk, 10K run and a longer race, which can be 21.1K, 25K or 30K.

The 2090/2010 series is underway, with the next races being run on 17^th January. (The series runs from October to June). All races are held at Smithfield. If any of our disabled members is interested in running in any of these races, contact Brian O’Dea at b.odea@bigond.net.au .

The Sydney Marathon Clinic website is here.

2010 VOLUNTEER ROSTER

January 31^st is not far away and we will soon be working on the Volunteer Roster. If you wish to be removed from or added to the current roster, lease contact Rozanne at Rozanne@bigpond.net.au

Newsletter July 2011

President’s Message

We have been blessed with a very mild winter in the last month or so. Our members have certainly been taking advantage of this, coming to Sunday training in great numbers — fantastic! We decided that the season called for a hot drink when everyone had finished running and walking, and have begun providing tea and coffee. This idea has proved its worth. It seems that having warm beverages waiting after Sunday training is not only providing heat and hydration, but is also proving to be a catalyst for socialising, with most people hanging around for a chat after training. A great way to get to know more about those who attend Achilles Sunday exercise sessions.

See you on Sunday for some exercise and a cuppa!

Ellis

Trailwalker Ben

Readers will recall that Nick Gleeson was part of Senator John Faulkner’s 2010 Melbourne Trailwalker team. The Trailwalker is a gruelling 100-kilometre race through rugged bushland.

Senator Faulkner is a veteran of 8 Trailwalkers, and his 2011 team included Achilles Club member Ben Phillips. Ben had met Senator Faulkner when the 2010 team was training on a section of the Great North Walk in Sydney.

Before the start of the April event, Senator Faulkner and Ben were interviewed on ABC Radio. You can access the ABC link here.

A good description of the event was contained in Senator Faulkner’s Adjournment speech to the Senate on June 20^th. The attached link will take you to a transcript of the speech. It is well worth reading, as it describes the course and Ben’s reaction on completing the event 35 hours after he had started.

This extract gives a good illustration of the toughness of the course:

“The final stage of Ben's epic began with the most awkward climb of the 100-kilometre trek. This steep, narrow section of the track is very slippery and has steep drop-offs on both the left and right hand sides of the tracks. Ben needed to concentrate hard and switch his focus and line, as the track poses dangers on both sides. The team handled this stage with military precision. We made it to the top of the hill and onto the fire trail in record time and began the run home. On the last couple of hills, where the track is covered in scree, every step felt like a dagger through the soles of our shoes. But, you will be pleased to hear, we made it to the top of the last hill and began the final precarious descent. Partly grass and partly loose rubble but all treacherous, the surface is as unpredictable as a Benji Marshall show-and-go. I have gone base-over-apex on that hill every year we have participated!”

[The speech to the Senate also contained a reference to Achilles stalwart Nick Gleeson. It’s hard to imagine other circumstances in which two Achilles members would appear in Hansard on the same day!]

In recognising Ben’s great achievement, we must pay tribute to Senator Faulkner. His eight Trailwalker teams have raised $215,000 to help some of the world’s most disadvantaged people.

City to Surf

The City to Surf is one of our key events of the year. Among the disabled athletes that will be wearing the Achilles colours in 2011 will be a sight-impaired Paralympian Gold Medallist, and totally blind members who have climbed Kilimanjaro, walked the Kokoda Track, been to Everest Base Camp and run several marathons.

At the other end of the experience-scale, we will have blind walkers who will be entering for the first time but who are no less excited.

On Sunday August 14^th, we will have disabled competitors whose finishing times will range from about 70 minutes to two hours. Their times might be widely different but they will share the common bond that is Achilles.

The able-bodied guides are also an eclectic group, ranging literally from barrister to barista*.” One of them is one of the City to Surf “Legends”, John Simon, who has completed all C2S events since its inception. He will be fronting up again this year and will be walking with his blind wife, Helen, who was featured in the October 2010 Achilles Heel. Not far behind John is long-time member Colin Bradford, who has done all but two City to Surf races.

[*We also have a trainee barista – See later item titled, “Coffee on the Run”]

Last years City to Surf team

ITU World Championship Triathlon

In April, Achilles entered a team in the Age Group section of the ITU World Championship in Sydney. The Age Group competitors got to start at 0600, with the plan being that they would have dragged their stiff and sore bodies off the course by the time the elites competed later in the day.

Our team was unusually large, with 8 team members distributed over the three legs. The reason: the official team of 3 were blind. Charlie McConnell was swimming the 1.5K first leg. Charlie had never swum further than 1K before, and he was guided through the crowded and tricky “M”-shaped course by Michael Levy. This was the first time that Charlie and Michael had swum together and they had to battle through the noisy, crowded and bruising frenzy that is an inherent part of the swimming leg. They received deserved plaudits when they emerged from the water.

Paralympian gold-medallist Lindy Hou was our cyclist and she shared a tandem bike with guide Paul Archer. Lindy and Paul clocked the 3^rd-fastest cycling leg in the team competition (46 riders)

Our sight-impaired runner was visiting student, Kamilla Ryding*, from Denmark. It was Kamilla’s first 10K race but she had trained hard for the event, running sub-50 minutes in training. Because the course was narrow with plenty of twists and turns, we decided on 3 guides for Kamilla. Eamonn Kennihan was tethered to Kamilla’s wrist, Ellis Janks (President of the Achilles Club) ran slightly ahead, clearing a path through the drink stops and past the runners that we were overtaking. Brian O’Dea ran slightly behind Kamilla and Eamonn, warning them of faster runners overtaking us and steering these runners safely past Kamilla.

The team beat its 3-hour target by 10 minutes. In doing so, they came 29th out of 47 teams, beating several all-male teams in the process. It was the only “disabled” team in the race.

The Achilles team celebrated the event by sitting in a kerb-side café, replacing lost carbohydrates with lots of unhealthy pastries and watching the start of the traffic jam that hogged most of the following day’s headlines.

[*Kamilla was a regular and popular attendee at the Achilles Sunday sessions during her stay in Sydney. She has now returned to Europe and we wish here every success in her studies and future career. ]

Paul and Lindy head out

Michael and Charlie prepare for the swim.

Winners!

Achilles on a Larger Stage.

On Saturday 28^th of May, two Achilles members had roles in Giselle Mesnage’s play, “The Window”. The play was based on Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, which dealt with illusions, perception and reality. The setting had been updated to the fictional radio station, Radio Cave.

The subject was made doubly poignant because each of the seven-member cast is visually impaired. Achilles members Nidhi Shekaran and Ben Phillips were part of the cast.

Nidhi explained her role as “that of a soft spoken naive French girl who gets dumped by the DJ and then learns about how men might behave in relationships, and she, therefore, had to become strong.”

The DJ in question was played by Ben. In the role, he “treats women with little or no respect but gradually learns the right way to treat women.”

Nidhi mentioned by the time the production was over, she found herself responding to off-stage questions in the voice of her stage character. So, don’t be surprised if you greet Nidhi at Achilles and she responds in a lilting French accent.

On the other hand, do warn us if Ben reverts to the character of the dastardly DJ.

Coffee on the Run

In recent weeks, the Sunday morning training sessions have been wintry affairs. Although the lashing rains of May and early June have receded, the sunnier Sunday mornings have an entry fee of bitingly cold temperatures.

The ever-generous Ellis Janks has warmed hearts and hands with copious supplies of tea and coffee as the runners and walkers return. [Less hardy souls have pleaded for the beverages to be poured at the beginning, or instead, of the sessions.]

As is well known, Achilles does not have any facilities and Ellis has to play barista on the steps of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Thus the transporting and setting up of the paraphernalia is not an easy task. His car is a trusty Hyundai Sportswagon, but it is increasingly taking on the characteristics of a Romani vardo. It is now almost constantly full of T-shirts, caps, banners, membership forms, tea, coffee, milk, sugar and hot water. The kitchen sink is, no doubt, in there somewhere.

Ellis and his customers!

Achilles 15^th Anniversary

In December 2011, the Achilles Running Club will be 15 years old. To mark the occasion, we will be holding celebratory late breakfast in November. We will be circulating the details in the near future. In the meantime, we are seeking volunteers to help us organise the event.

We have a particular need for a person skilled in the manipulation of a database (Access or Excel) and the despatch of email invitations from that database.

If you are such a person, or know of such a person, please contact us at info@achilles-sydney.org.au

Membership renewal

Membership renewals were due on July 1^st. Please do renew your membership and give us your details for the update of our database. Do note that we do not give out the personal details of our members to any third party. Details are kept strictly within the Achilles database and used only for Achilles business. Also, we do encourage people to join Achilles as members. The bigger our membership, the more weight we carry and the more effectively we can attract attention in the media and acquire Club sponsors. Applying for grants is also easier when we have a greater membership base.

Anyone who joined the Club this year (i.e. after we resumed training in February) is financial until June 2012.

Parking permits

We have been given new parking permits for Sunday morning training. You can pick one up on a Sunday. Please make sure to place your permit (old one if you do not yet have a new one – it should still work) on your car dashboard. If anyone gets a parking fine, we will not be able to have it cancelled.

Volunteer roster

A new Sunday training volunteer roster is presently being compiled. If you have not been on the roster but wish to be, please let us know at info@achilles-sydney.org.au. You can view the roster on the Achilles website.

October 2010 Newsletter

The Achilles Heel

Newsletter of the Achilles Running Club - Sydney

PO Box 240, Randwick,2031:
info@achilles-sydney.org.au
www.achilles-sydney.org.au

September / October 2010 Edition

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In this Edition:

Annual General Meeting – Including the President’s Message
Helen Simon – A Portrait
Willy to Billy
Stairway to Heaven
City to Surf
Matt Finish? Not yet
Welcome Visitors
Sunday Volunteer Roster

Annual General Meeting

The 2010 AGM was held on Sunday morning outside the Achilles Clubhouse (Aka Art Gallery of New South Wales). Club President Ellis Janks opened the meeting by thanking the members that had attended in what as the highest turn-out for an AGM. He then gave the following address.

The past year has been most positive and productive for Achilles in a number of areas, thanks to the wonderful input by many individuals, groups and donors. There have been a number of highlights which I will mention briefly.

Membership

Record numbers of people have consistently attended Sunday training and participated in organised runs and walks and social get-togethers. A large number of new members (volunteer and disabled) have joined this year, which has been very pleasing. Also, there are a number of people who have been part of Achilles in the past, who no longer attend Sunday training as their circumstances have changed. However, they stay connected with Achilles and take interest in what is happening with the Club, mainly through emails and Club newsletters. I frequently get emails from them, so, even though they are not presently financial members, the true number of “interested members” is far greater than the number of paid up members. Although we do not insist that those involved in Achilles have to be paid up members, we do encourage it. We have kept the annual membership fee low ($20 for employed people and $10 for those without full-time employment) to encourage joining. The membership fee, although it certainly helps with boosting Club funding, it is very much a “commitment fee” to Achilles to get and stay involved.

2. Finances

The financial status of the Club continues to be extremely sound. Besides funds received via membership fees, bank interest and the sale of clothing, we have had a significant boost to our Club bank balance thanks to donations via the Everyday Hero scheme, and $1000 from the Ravine Foundation. Not included in the financial statement to 30 June 2010, but since received are a wonderful $5000 donation of their prize by a group of runners who won the team event in the Sydney Tower Run Up and a government grant of $3800 from the NSW Department Sport under its Grants for Disability Groups scheme.

Special mention is made of Brian O’Dea who spent an enormous amount of time and effort in compiling the grant application and led a grants sub-committee comprising of Martin, Ben and myself. Besides being successful in obtaining the grant, we learned valuable lessons and facts which will be used when applying for other grants in the future.

Thanks as well to Ian Cohen, our Treasurer, for his excellent work in keeping the books.

3. Events

The main events for Achilles are the Sunday morning training sessions which aim at getting our members fit and healthy in a social, friendly and encouraging atmosphere.

Members participated in various other events during the year, including the following: SMH & Blackmore’s Half Marathon, the Mothers Day Fun Run/Walk, Orange Running Festival, Six Foot Track Marathon, Walk for Shirley (the Foresight Foundation guys), City2Surf, the Sydney Tower Run Up, NYC (Nick) and Boston (Brian) Marathons, various ultra-marathons, 24 hour events (by Ultramarathon Man Mike Lovric), Canberra Fun Run and walk (Helen & John Simon), Willy2Billy Run, Oxfam Trailwalker (Nick), Comrades Marathon (Markus & Doug).

Social events included the end of year picnic and social breakfasts after Sunday training.

Special thanks go to Charlie who was the force behind organising the entries for City2Surf , the Orange weekend and various other events.

Special mention is made of John Simon who is still part of a select group “The Legends”, who have completed every single City 2 Surf event.

Our best wishes to our group of Himalayan adventurers, Brian O’Dea, Charlie McConnell, Rozanne Green and Nick Gleeson who soon leave for Nepal to trek to Everest Base Camp. Although this is a self funded event, they will be representing Achilles in spirit and deed.

4. Uniforms

Part of the reason for our success in getting record numbers of enquiries about Achilles must be attributed to the high visibility of the club singlets and t-shirts and now our caps. We are starting to research the possibility of getting high visibility t-shirts to match our singlets.

5. Training

As mentioned above, there have been record numbers of both disabled members and volunteers attending Sunday training. The majority of volunteers who turn up each Sunday are not on the roster and have been very much needed. Everyone is encouraged to come to training as often as possible. If there are more guides than disabled members, then they can operate in groups of guides with a disabled person, a great way to socialise and network. This is another aim of Achilles that is being achieved.

Thanks too to Rozanne Green for keeping the Sunday volunteer roster in order.

Special thanks go to Trevor Heaslip from the Botanic Gardens Trust for organising and supplying the parking permits which are working well.

I am very keen to get a formal training program up and running for guides. At present, new guides are giving introductory instructions and then they “learn on the job”. We have asked our disabled members not to be shy to request different guiding techniques. Each disabled person has their own preferences in being guided, so guides should expect to vary their guiding techniques accordingly. Overall, however, things are generally working very well.

6. Awards

The Andrew Bristow Memorial Awards were once again presented to a disabled member and a volunteer at the end of year picnic. The recipients were Michael Bassil and Rael Cohen. Criteria for the award include the member’s contribution to Achilles, participation in the Club in general and the achievement of personal goals. The next award will take place at this year end of year picnic in December.

7. Logo and Marketing

With our newly acquired Club funds, we have engaged the services of a graphic designer to design and unify the brand name and brand collateral of Achilles. This is something that has never been done as Achilles has been adding bits and pieces of branding in a non uniform manner.

Achilles is soon to have a new logo. The committee has decided that the Club will be better served with a logo which better reflects what Achilles does. We did not want to change the old logo much as our brand has strong recognition in the community. We have retained the wording of “Achilles Running Club” and the generic figure of an athlete but have changed the design of the Opera House and we have included the international disability sign of a person in a wheelchair. This will immediately suggest that Achilles includes those with physical disabilities.

We will be getting a free-standing Club banner in the near future.

8. Website

The Achilles website is fully functional. There has been a large increase in the enquiries being received through the contact email on the website and we can now monitor various aspects of our website usage, e.g. numbers of visits and average time spent viewing. There is no doubt that the website is one of the major factors for the large increase in numbers of people at Achilles.

Once again, special note is made of the massive and invaluable contribution that Martin Ruane has made in managing the website.

9. 15^th Year Anniversary

Next year will see 15 years since the Sydney chapter of Achilles started. We will be having a function during 2011 to celebrate this momentous occasion and to connect with those members who have been part of Achilles through the years.

9. Thanks

Thanks go to individuals and groups:

Karen Parker and Doug Ritchie who resigned earlier this year from the committee after serving for many years. Happily, they will still be around as active Achilles members.

New Horizons Learning Centre and in particular Carol Cooke and Mark Davis, who have most generously continued to provide the venue for our meetings.

Ravine Foundation for a very generous cash donation.

To the Committee for the excellent work they have put into the running of Achilles, and the time and effort they have generously given. As always it has been a pleasure working with you.

To my family for allowing me to devote the time and in supporting me in my involvement with Achilles.

And of course thanks to all Achilles members for their excellent contributions and their enthusiasm.

Achilles in the future

There are exciting times ahead for Achilles.

- With the new website up and running and soon to be added to, there is likely to be more information readily available to the public and members and hence increased enquiries about Achilles and increased participation in Club events by the members.

- More disabled members are needed. The marketing committee need to get some of their ideas actioned.

- The Orange Running Festival will again be earmarked as a Club weekend away event. With the availability of the funds obtained from the government grant, this Club event will be heavily subsidised.

- The bushwalking events, which have been so popular, need to be pursued. At present we are in contact with the Department of Parks and Wildlife regarding further bushwalks and new venues and getting them involved as well.

I wish Achilles every success, and positive growth in the future.

Ellis Janks - President

Committee

After all positions had been declared vacant, the Members elected the following Committee:

President – Ellis Janks

Vice-President – Martin Ruane

Treasurer – Ian Cohen

Secretary – Brian O’Dea

Member – Charlie O’Connell

Member – Nick Gleason

Member – Dan Barnett

Member – Markus Schar

Addressing the AGM, Ellis and Martin reduce the overheads by moving outdoors.

Helen Simon – A portrait (Written by husband John)

Helen Simon joined Achilles in October 1997, after her marriage to Achilles stalwart John Simon. Her first competitive walk was in the 1998 City to Surf. Helen obviously enjoyed the event, as she has walked in every City to Surf since.

But to begin at the beginning, Helen was born in Brisbane with severe, congenital vision impairment. Her father was one of the first QANTAS engineers and his name, along with photographs and other memorabilia, can be found in the QANTAS museum at Longreach. He and his brother-in-law, Alf Ashley (a QANTAS pilot), are also commemorated in aircraft museums at Alice Springs and Daly Waters.

It was at the Highway Inn at Daley Waters that John and Helen were “rehydrating”, when they started chatting with a local. During the conversation, it emerged that he was the grandson of Alf Ashley, making him and Helen distant cousins.

Helen remembers flying around the world with her parents in a Super-Constellation. She still enjoys flying, particularly in light aircraft, which provide the added sensation of moving around in the air.

Four years ago, Helen decided that mixing socially with the members of John’s running club (The Southside Masters) was not enough. She had started to feel like a “hanger on” and became a full member of the club. This led her to racing in the club walking events every fortnight, with the late Ron Whitham, a former NSW State Marathon Champion, as her guide. After retiring from serious running, Ron had taken up competitive walking and was well qualified to help Helen.

Each year, the Southside Masters conducted a 3k Handicap, the Bob Molloy Memorial. It involves runners and walkers, with each competitor given a performance-based handicap. Such is the popularity of the event, three qualifying heats are required to establish the finalists. In 2007, Helen finished second. In 2008, Helen won the event, finishing two metres ahead of a group of sprinting runners. In that group was Magda Karamali Poulos, who had represented Greece in the Marathon. Magda also won the half-marathon at the 2010 Orange Running Festival, in which a team from Achilles took part for the first time. At Orange, Helen walked the 10 km in 1hour 46 minutes.

Helen’s prefers to race on athletics tracks, were the smooth surface has helped her to faster times. Her 3k time when winning the Bob Molloy Memorial was 27 minutes 33 secs. She has lowered this time to 27:06. Helen has maintained this speed over 5k races, achieving a time of 45:43. When called upon, Helen can put in the long distance, and has walked 43k in the Sutherland Relay for Life. One of her favourite events is the Canberra Two Day Walk, where she chooses to walk 10k on each of two successive days.

To keep fit, 67-year-old Helen trains daily. When John is not available for outdoor walks, Helen will use a treadmill or stationary bike. These machines have controls marked in Braille, allowing Helen to choose and vary the training routines. To tone her muscles, Helen uses a Vibro Trainer.

Helen’s non-sporting interests include reading (using Braille and talking books) and music. She is able to play a number of musical instruments, including the organ, piano, glockenspiel, melodica and harmonica.

When not competing on the track, Helen competes with John to find the worst possible pun. John recently described a burnt offering at a barbecue as a mis-steak. Helen dismissed this effort as, “not much chop, you silly sausage.”

Helen and John show consideration on Sunday mornings by leaving the puns at home when meeting their Achilles colleagues. They thoroughly enjoy the “Achilles experience” because of the camaraderie and ambience. They hope to continue with Achilles for a long time to come.

Helen and the Bob Molloy Memorial Trophy

[Note: Achilles Heel intends to publish a series of profiles of Club members. We would like your assistance in writing about or identifying people whose achievements will inspire others.]

Willy to Billy

A non-running friend thought that “Willy to Billy” might be common parlance for an emergency “rest room” procedure on a camping trip.

It is, in fact, the popular name for the Mount Wilson to Bilpin Bushrun. This sounds benign enough until one realises that it is a 34.4 kilometre bush race over what the organisers call “undulating hills, a few of them a little steep.”

Others not inclined to such understatement posted comments on Cool Running such as,

“The race is a bit of a brute”,

“I managed to stay on my feet but my toe was throbbing.”

“I actually thought my shoe could have been full of blood but to my children’s disappointment it wasn't, but it is extremely tender.”

Of course, one needs an incentive to lure runners to this race and the organisers offered a seemingly irresistible prize for the race on August 21st:

“9. Free HOT SHOWERS at the end of the race.”

(Emphasis as per the Willy to Billy website)

The Willy to Billy is a popular, challenging race that also serves as a fundraiser for the NSW Rural Fire Service. It is not altogether surprising that Achilles President Ellis Janks would use it as a form of relaxation on one of those rare weekends that he is not looking after the Achilles members. Ellis ran the tough course in the impressive time of 3 hours 24 minutes.

True Colours 1. Ellis crosses the line.

For those wishing to emulate Ellis in one of the best organized and best loved trail runs in NSW, read all about the event on the website:http://www.bilpinbushrun.com.au/

Stairway to Heaven (well, to the top of Sydney Tower)

On Monday 28^th June, an email popped up in the Achilles Inbox. It read:

“Hi guys,

A group of friends and I have entered a team for thisyear's Sydney tower run competition. http://www.sydneytowerrunup.com.au/

We are not Achilles club members but admire the work you guys dowhen we see youout and about and often at the same races we take part in ourselves.

We have entered in the Community & Services category, with prize moneygoing to the team with the fastest combined time on the day (prize is donated to the charity of their choice)

Hopefully we & Achilles running clubwill do well onthe day.

No doubt see a few of you there too!

Cheers

Eamonn”

Martin Ruane (Achilles Club Vice President) thanked the sender, Eammon Kenihan, for this generous gesture and mentally filed it with the undrawn lottery and raffle tickets – not exactly out-of-mind but definitely not mentally banked.

Four weeks later, a delighted Martin sent this message to the Achilles members:

“Hi All,

Unbelievable news! I got a call from Eamonn today and they won the Sydney to Tower run for their category. The club is now $5000 better off as a result…

Martin”

The team of Eammon (8 minutes 59 seconds), Terence Bell (09:35), Tim Lindop (10:08) and Luca Turrini (10:25) powered up the 1504 steps to beat 23 other teams. This gut-busting effort is a tough way of earning $5,000 and we at Achilles are grateful that the team chose Achilles as the charity to receive the prize money.

We intend catching up with the team (though not while running up stairs) in the near future and will keep you posted.

Eamonn

Terence

Tim

Luca

In the same race, Achilles members Ben Phillips and Rael Cohen (Ben’s guide) completed the climb in 18 minutes and 30 seconds.

Ben crosses the line ahead of Rael

City to Surf

This iconic event is also a big day for Achilles. Runners and walkers from the club assembled at Hyde Park on a traditionally sunny Sunday morning. The 40^th running of the City to Surf paid homage to the 40 “Legends” that had completed every race since its inception in 1971.

One of those Legends is Achilles member John Simon. Congratulations, John!

Achilles has another team of Legends: the disabled athletes that ran, jogged or walked the hilly 14 kilometres to Bondi. They are listed below, with their guides shown in brackets.

John Domandl (Ellis Janks)

Lindy Hou* (Michael Lovric and Dan Barnett)

Charlie McConnell (Doug Ritchie)

Ben Phillips (Rael Cohen and Oscar Frangiocomo)

Michael Bassil (Kath Newby and Sheila Barry)

Helen Simon (John Simon)

Joe Habib (Martin Ruane and Brian O’Dea)

Andrew Moller (James Howard and Thi Whiteoak)

Jibraan El-Ahmad (Ted Magen)

*Lindy’s guide dog, Harper, has his own website. It contains Lindy’s account of the 2010 City to Surf and it captures the atmosphere of the run. It is worth reading. Here is a brief extract:

Once they started the race, Michael led the trio through the thousands of runners and walkers. Michael yelled from start to finish “Blind Runners coming through”. Most of the runners and walkers were very accommodating and opened up gaps so the trio could get through. On some occasions, the message was drowned out by I-Pods, bands playing music or plastic cups being stepped on around drink stations. Michael, (nicknamed “the bulldozer”) was somehow able to carve a way through anyway.

Read the full account on:

News from Harper the Guide Dog - August 2010

Matt Finish? Not yet.

In the past year, we have published two accounts of the swimming accomplishments of Achilles member, Matt Levy. We are delighted to be repetitive, as Matt has again represented Australia with success. He was part of the team that brought home a record haul of 13 gold medals from the IPC Swimming World Championships held in August in The Netherlands. Matt’s exploits were covered widely in the Sydney Morning Herald and The ABC. This extract is taken from a press release issued by the Australian Paralympic Committee:

“On the last night of pool competition, Australia’s men’s 4x100 medley relay team won gold in 4:13.33, two seconds outside their world record time set at the Beijing Paralympic Games two years ago.

Looking to take an early lead, the Australians used the opposite tactic to their 4x100m freestyle relay win and led with the strongest swimmer in the relay’s opening leg.

Western Sydney’s Andrew Pasterfield (S10) opened a two second lead in the butterfly leg, before swimming powerhouses Ukraine and Russia closed the gap on AIS-swimmer Matthew Cowdrey (S9) in the backstroke.

Determined to add to his World Championships gold medal haul, fellow AIS-swimmer Peter Leek (S8) regained the lead in the breaststroke before Matt Levy (S7) continued his success at the meet and brought home the gold for the Australians in the freestyle……

…….Continuing his outstanding form at this meet, Sydney’s Matt Levy added to his medal collection, winning bronze in the men’s 50m butterfly (S7). Levy’s medal came down to a fingernail touch at the end, taking third in 32.36. He finishes the World Championships with two gold, two silver and two bronze medals.”

True Colours 2. Matt representing Australia

(Note: While Matt is making a splash overseas, his dad, Michael, is a consistent attendee at the Achilles Sunday training sessions and is busy as an Achilles guide at various Sydney races.)

Welcome Visitors 1.

On two occasions in recent weeks, our Sunday training session has been joined by a posse of runners from the Pacesetters Running Group, based in and around Wahroonga. Achilles members Viv Karsounis and Nick Drayton and a group of Pacesetters ran the 27-or-so kilometres to meet us then spent the next hour walking and running with members of Achilles. This did not only boost our numbers; it lifted the spirits of the club on what started as chilly mornings.

(Viv and Nick have also started a charity that sends recycled running shoes to needy soles in Australia and overseas. Read how you can help by visiting the Shoes For Planet Earth website: http://www.shoesforplanetearth.com/)

Welcome Visitors 2.

Amir Latif was introduced to Achilles by member Sheila Barry. Glaswegian Amir, now 36, has been blind since he was 20 but this has not interfered with his desire to travel. Indeed, he has established a travel company that caters specifically for sight-impaired people. Sighted travellers also benefit by receiving generous discounts to act as guides. Potential business opportunities brought Amir to Australia and he took the opportunity to run with Achilles and to spend some time with Achilles members whilst touring Sydney. His sense of fun was infectious and Check out the opportunities provided by Traveleyes on http://www.traveleyes-international.com/.

Achilles Sunday Training Volunteer Roster

If you are not, but wish to be on the roster, please email rozanne@bigpond.net.au

Sept 26– Colin Bradford, Peter Dabble, Diane Mcewin, Tori Ames Volunteer Required

Oct 2 - SYDNEY STRIDERS 10K - – Sydney Olympic Park

Oct 3 – Brian O’Dea, Ted Magen, Markus Schar, Ellis Janks Volunteer Required

Oct 10 – Marilyn Gould, Ian Cohen, Doug Ritchie, Karen Parker Volunteer Required

Oct 17 - Mark Houlihan, Stephen Lenn, Martin Ruane, Nikki Caminer Volunteer Required

Oct 24 - Colin Bradford, Peter Dabble, Diane Mcewin, Tori Ames Volunteer

2006 Photos

Tower Run 2006 - Charlie, Neil and Ellis celebrate.

Marilyn and Heather enjoying a stroll.

Hastie Group Presentation 2008

Group Photo - Hastie Presentation 2008

Dave accepts his plaque from Woody while Joe muscles his way on the photo!!

Dave and Nick at the presentation morning.

Bushwalk May 2009

Group Photo Bushwalk 2009

It's storytime in the bush.

Lunch - a well earned rest and a bite to eat.

Peter and Chris.

Rael and Andy

July 2008 Newsletter

July 2008

The Achilles Heel

- Newsletter of the Achilles Running Club -Sydney

PO Box 240, Randwick,2031:

Achilles_syd@hotmail.com

www.achilles-sydney.org.au

July 2008 Edition

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The shortest day of the year has passed and still the weather on Sunday mornings has been really good for Achilles training. We have had good turnouts of both disabled members and guides. Thankfully we have more guides turning up than just those who have been on the roster. Please check on your roster day so that we can be assured of a nucleus of guides. As you should well know, Sunday mornings with Achilles has been a great place to be!

In this Edition:

*Breakfast to celebrate Marge Collier's 90th birthday

*City to Surf

*Bushwalk/Hiking day

*Welcome to New Members

*AGM

*Membership renewal

*News from Ali from the USA

*Michael Lovric - Ultra-marathon Man

*Matt Levy - Good Luck for Beijing

*Website

*Sunday Roster

CELEBRATORY BREAKFAST FOR 90 Y.O. MARGE COLLIER

Not many athletic clubs can boast having a 90 year old member. Heartiest congratulations to Marge, definitely our oldest, and one of our longest serving members. Everyone is amazed at Marge's true age given her youthful look and manner.

To celebrate Marge's 90th, we are having a breakfast. Achilles will foot the bill for the continental breakfast for all attending members.

(after Sunday training)janks@comcen.com.au).

Date: Sunday 3 August

Venue: NSW Rugby League Club, 165 Phillip Street, Sydney

Time: about 9-45am

Come and enjoy a great buffet continental breakfast, catch up with other club members and DRINK A TOAST (coffee, tea or juice) TO MARGE!

Please will you let it be known if you are coming to the breakfast so that we can ensure that the Rugby League Club are ready to accommodate us. email (

CITY 2 SURF

City 2 Surf is upon us once again. Following an earlier request, many of our members have signed up for this year's race. Once again, we are joining Guide Dogs in having our entries sponsored by Kimberley Clarke, the Kleenex tissue people (amongst their many products). Many thanks to them for their support of our great club.

Sunday 20 July 2008.

BUSHWALK/HIKING DAY

Together with Vision Australia, Achilles is holding a bushwalk in the Royal National Park. There will be a group of visual impaired people from Sydney and Wollongong coming along. This is open to any Achilles members who are keen to have a walk/hike over rough terrain. A 5 km track has been chosen that is reasonably easy, but we can incorporate more adventurous side tracks, to add excitement! The idea of having this day is to broaden the scope of what is offered to Achilles members and to attract new younger disabled people to Achilles.

Date:

Helensburgh (Royal National Park). Meeting at Helensburgh Station.10-00am till 3-30pm

Venue:

Time :

Train from Central Station or private car

Transport:

Anyone, disabled or guide, who is keen to be part of the hike, please contact Nick (

nicholas.gleeson@visionaustralia.org )

NEW MEMBERS

A very warm Achilles welcome to our newest members.

(lives in Newcastle)

Donella (Dee) Corbett

Angie Macken

John Domandl

Those who have been at Sunday training in the last month will have met Dee and Angie while those going in City to Surf will catch up with John.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Annual General Meeting will be taking place soon. We are very keen, as always, to have new people join the committee and add new ideas and help Achilles to move forward. As with each year, all committee positions will be vacated and up for nominations. If you would like to contribute to Achilles as a committee member and have the time, we'd love to have you nominate for the committee. Committee meetings take place on a Thursday evening roughly once every 6 weeks (venue the same as that of the AGM). Meetings start at 6-30 and are usually finished by 8 pm.

If you want to know more, please phone either Nick 9773 5631-(a/h) or Ellis 9664-4824-(a/h).

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Membership renewal is due once again ( July each year). Annual fees are $20. It is vital for our club that you all renew your membership. Besides your fees being used for general running costs, we are trying to secure corporate sponsorship and the bigger our paid up membership, the better. Please forward your membership fees to PO Box 240, Randwick 2031 or give them to any committee member at training. Ted will forward a receipt to you. If your contact details have changed in the last year, please make sure that we have your updated information.

Please note: anyone who joined the club in or after March this year is financial through till June next year.

NEWS FROM ALI FROM N.Y.C.

This is an email received recently:-

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to say "hello" and see how everything is with you. I'm doing well back here although I think that, if I move there, I will be giving my cats away rather than going through the process of bringing them over. That said, nothing has opened up for me in Australia, so I just took a new job in my company that will have me here for another year. I'm a little disappointed, but hopefully when the economy gets better, something will open up in Sydney.

I tried running with Achilles about a month ago - I saw Artie. It wasn't quite the same as Sydney:( I miss you guys....send everyone my regards.

Cheers!

Ali

Michael Lovric - Ultra-marathon Man

Those who regularly come to Sunday training will have gotten used to the sight of a super-fit Michael Lovric arriving at training having just run from his home in Clovelly. After training, he then runs home. After reading what he REALLY does, you will appreciate that Sunday morning is a mere 'warm-up' session for this crazy ultra-marathon man.

I asked Michael to jot down a list of the events that he has participated in this year (so far!). No one will blame you for even feeling tired while reading Michael's amazing list of events.

--------

2008 has been a big year so far. However, it started on an ominous note with my first ever non-completion at the 'Beyond the Black Stump' (a 35 km road and trail race at Berowra) on New Year's Day. I managed to sprain both ankles before deciding that enough was enough and dropping out at the 21km mark.

With a week left to recover, I travelled down to the Victorian Alps to run the gruelling Bogong to Hotham 64km trail race. With both ankles less than perfect I gingerly completed the mountainous run in 11:20.

By February I was feeling recovered and headed up to SE Queensland to make my track debut at the Caboolture Dusk to Dawn running 108km in the 12 hour division.

In March I ran the 45km Six Foot Track in 4:53 (shaving 8 minutes off my previous year's time).

Later that month I headed down to Tasmania to run the 3 Peaks Race which consists of an 80km, 40km, and 30km run up serious mountains with about 600 miles of sailing in between.

[http://www.coolrunning.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=17107]

In April I joined three others to run the 100km Melbourne Oxfam Trailwalker. Finishing in 12:31, our team came third.

The following week I decided to try to tackle the 12Gate Loop. This 110km run consists of a 6 foot track out and back with the Hellgate Loop thrown in to boot. It took me 18:44, but I produced the first ever successful completion of the course. [http://www.coolrunning.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=17777&st=100]

With just a week to recover I was back in Victoria running the Wilson's Promontory 100km trail race in 14:35.

In May I was back in Queensland to run the Glasshouse Mountains 50 mile trail race (8:27), then running the Manly to Palm Beach out and back (60km road) in 5:27.

Since then I have been content running shorter races: The Nosh Run 15km trail (Lindfield) 71:55s and the Sydney Striders 10km road (North Head NSW) 38:46s

With a bit of rest under my belt I hope to do well in the next couple of races. June 14 is the date of the Poor Man's Comrades (for those who can't afford to go to South Africa) run between Sydney and Gosford. Then the following week I will be running from Katoomba to Mittagong.

--------------------------

Michael did in fact complete the last mentioned events. Congratulations to him on a quite extraordinary running and racing program.

Matthew Levy - Paralympics

has been hard at swimming training in preparation for the Paralympics. It is not long until he goes into pre-event team camp. We all wish him the best of luck and are looking forward to getting word of his success in the pool.

Matt Levy

Achilles Website

Please be aware of the Achilles website

www.achilles-sydney.org.au . On it is news updates, the Sunday volunteer roster, The Achilles Heel etc. We are still battling to get a photo gallery working (it is a long story). If anyone in the club is a "wizard" at websites and may be able to sort a few things out with our website, please contact Ellis (janks@comcen.com.au)

Sunday Volunteer Roster:

If anyone is not on the roster and wishes to be on it, please contact

janks@comcen.com.au. -

July 13

Karen Parker, Ellis Janks, Rebecca Sexton, Colin Bradford. Volunteer Required

- No training (WYD): Hiking Day (Royal National Park)

July 20

Neil McCarthy, Marilyn Gould, Nikki Caminer, Rebecca Sexton, Volunteer Required- SYDNEY STRIDERS 10K (Lane Cove)

July 27 -

August 2

- Mariana von Lucken, Diane McEwin, Chris Laing, Martin Ruane. Volunteer Required

August 3

- NO TRAINING - (City to Surf) Neil McCarthy, Colin Bradford, Nikki Caminer, Volunteer Required

August 10

- Doug Ritchie,

August 17

- Karen Parker, Ellis Janks, Rebecca Sexton, Mark Houlihan, Volunteer Required

August 24

Stephen Lenn, Mariana von Lucken, Marilyn Gould, Diane McEwin. Volunteer Required Neil McCarthy, Ted Magen. Volunteer Required - Nikki Caminer,

August 31 -

- SYDNEY STRIDERS 10K (North Head)

September 6

- Chris Laing, Doug Ritchie,

September 7

September 14

NO TRAINING - (Sydney Marathon and Running Festival) Karen Parker, Ellis Janks, Colin Bradford. Volunteer Required Stephen Lenn, Mark Houlihan, Rebecca Sexton. Volunteer Required

September 21 -

- Mariana von Lucken,

September 28

- SYDNEY STRIDERS 10K - (Sydney Olympic Park) Neil McCarthy. Volunteer Required

October 4

, Diane McEwin, Marilyn Gould, Doug Ritchie,

October 5 -

- Nikki Caminer,

October 12

Karen Parker, Chris Laing, Ellis Janks. Volunteer Required- Rebecca Sexton,

October 19

Mariana von Lucken, Colin Bradford, Stephen Lenn. Volunteer Required

April 2008 Newsletter

Achilles Heel April 2008

The Achilles Heel - Newsletter of the Achilles Running Club -Sydney

PO Box 240, Randwick,2031:

Achilles_syd@hotmail.com

www.achilles-sydney.org.au

April 2008 Edition

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In this Edition:

*Andrew Bristow Memorial Awards

*Welcome to New Members

*Walk for Shirley - 6 April

*7 Magnificent Marathons

*Ali heads back to the USA

*Achilles has new singlets

*Matt Levy is off to Beijing

*Nick's next challenge - the Grand Union Canal Race

*Six Foot Track Race

*Sunday Roster

Achilles has been in full swing in 2008. There have regularly been 20 plus members at Sunday training, which has been really good to see. With new people (disabled and volunteers), new bright yellow club singlets, good weather and lots of enthusiasm, Sunday mornings with Achilles has been a great place to be!

Andrew Bristow Memorial Awards

These awards were presented, for the first time, at the end of year picnic in December. As previously mentioned, these awards, one for a disabled and one for a volunteer member, are given in recognition for both personal commitment and developement as well as contribution to Achilles. The 2 very worthy recipients were:

Stephen Lenn (volunteer) and Peter Beileiter (disabled)

Heartiest congratulations to both of them. The committee had a very difficult task in deciding who would receive these awards, given the large number of very worthy candidates.

Welcome to New Members

A very warm welcome to the newest members of Achilles:

Viv Kartsounis

Nick Drayton

Pam McMillan

Craig Twentymen

Kate Campbell

Martin Ruane

We look forward to having them join in with training, events and social activities.

Also, congratulations to Craig and Kate on their engagement - they still turned out for Sunday training the next morning(that is commitment for you!).

Walk for Shirley - 6 April

This is a fund-raiser for the Association of Blind Citizens of NSW and our Centre for blind people in Burwood

Anyone who is interested in participating in this event, please contact Nick (nicholas.gleeson@visionaustralia.org) asap.

Entry into the event will be paid for by Achilles (we have a group entry organised).

WHEN: Sunday, 6 April 2008

WHERE: Mason Park, Home Bush (off Underwood Road)

TIME: 9.30AM for a 10.00AM start

TRANSPORT: a bus will leave regularly from the Everton Road side of Strathfield Railway Station between 8.30AM and 9.30AM and return at the end of the day’s proceedings

PARKING: available at Mason Park

This is a non-competitive community event – No running or racing!

There are two overlapping courses 1.5 km or 2.5 km. Anyone wishing to walk further may repeat either course.

There will be a BBQ after the walk.

7 Magnificent Marathons - 10 April 2008

Blind athlete Dave Heeley from the UK is about to commence what can only be described as a very unusual and challenging task - 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days.

WHAT :- 7 MAGNIFICENT MARATHONS - Australasian leg - 42.2 km

WHEN :- THURSDAY 10 APRIL 2008, 8.30AM TO 2.30PM

WHERE :- McKAY SPORTS GROUNDS, CNR GRAND DRIVE and FEDERATION WAY, CENTENNIAL PARK,

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT are organising the Australasian marathon component and are looking for as many Achilles Club members as possible to take part and help support David in his challenge. Dave's aim in attempting this challenge is to raise awareness of vision impairment around the globe and to raise funds for Guide Dogs.

If you are interested being part of this great event by running part or all of the Marathon or walking part of this scenic and safe course, please see registration details below. If required sighted guides will be provided.

This is a great opportunity to showcase Achilles as the great club we know it is and your support will be greatly appreciated. Dave will have his own support team and media group who are making a documentary about his 7 marathons. Local media groups will be present, so this is a great opportunity to get media exposure.

To register as a participant or as a spectator for the Marathon, email: marathon@guidedogs.com.au or call (02) 9412 9300 and ask for the Marathon Team. Guide dog users participating are encouraged to leave their dogs with trained staff (Guide Dog Instructors) for the duration of your participation. Care will be taken to ensure shade and water etc are provided.

For more information on Dave's challenge, please go to www.guidedogs.com.au and follow the links to the 7 Magnificent Marathons website.

For any more information, please contact Doug (dritchie@guidedogs.com.au) or Ellis (janks@comcen.com.au) or 9664 4824 (a/h)

Ali heads back to the USA

For the last 6 months or so, Ali Amdur has been a regular volunteer at Sunday training and most of us have got to know her well. She was on a temporary work project in Sydney which has unfortunately come to an end. So, we had to bid Ali farewell last Sunday as she was due to return to New York. We all wish her well and hope that 'Seductive Sydney' and Achilles will lure her back here in the not too distant future.

Six Foot Track Race

Achilles had a record number of members in this gruelling 45 km mountain race. Under cloudy skies and with mild temperatures, the runners set off from the Explorers' Tree at Katoomba and headed down the very steep Nellie's Glen to the Megalong Valley. After wading through the waist deep Cox River, they then negotiated the extremely steep fire trail first over Mini Mini Saddle and then over Pluviometer Hill. Then they ran an undulating track until they finally descended down the suicidally steep path to the finish at Jenolan Caves.

We had a100% finishing record! Well done to all the following Achilles runners who took part.

- Viv Kartsounis (4 hours 49 minutes)

- Michael Lovric (4-53)

- John Davis (5-01)

- Ellis Janks (5-37)

- Michael Levy (5-53)

- Doug Ritchie (6-24)

- Nick Drayton (6-25)

Achilles has new singlets

Those who have been at Sunday training will have seen the new bright yellow club singlets. The manufacturer's blurb about the material used is: "Microtex 100% Polyester Microfibre - breathable mesh construction; sanitized and antimicrobial; moisture management treated; easy care; keeps wearer dry, cool and comfortable; excellent drying properties, UV protection 50+" - how fancy is that!

Those who have worn the singlets have given them the thumbs up for style, cut and comfort. They are bright yellow for visibility both for safety and recognition in a crowd, and Achilles website details are prominently displayed front and back.

A very big thank you goes to the Hastie Group and the Australian Fashion Group (AFG) who sponsored and manufactured the singlets.

They are available for sale at the below-cost price of $20 each - proceeds from these being used as club fund raising.

Matthew Levy makes the Australian Paralympic Team

Congratulations to Matt on once again being selected for the Australian Paralympic swimming team. He will compete in several events. Wishing him a very good build-up to the Games and fantastic experience at them. We will be eagerly waiting watching for his name in the results list.

Nick's next challenge - the Grand Union Canal Race

Nick Gleeson is presently training for one of his biggest challenges yet (and there have been very big ones in the past). This is the Grand Union Canal Race, a 232 km route from Birmingham to London, alongside canals (that is 16.5 City to Surfs back to back!). He will have 45 hours in which to complete this mammoth task. Best of luck to Nick. We are looking forward to getting his stories about this amazing challenge.

Achilles Website

If you have been checking up the Achilles website www.achilles-sydney.org.au , you will notice that it is getting more and more information. Please do check it to get latest news updates, the Sunday roster etc. We will soon have the photo gallery with an ongoing photo record of the club and its members.

Achilles is going bush

Plans are presently underway with Achilles and Vision Australia to put together a group of vision impaired people who want to go bushwalking. This experience will be open to anyone from Achilles who wants to participate, be you vision impaired or a volunteer. At Achilles, we are always trying to find ways for our members (and others) to have new and varied experiences involving exercise and social networking. More news about this when available.

Sunday social breakfast

A date for the first social breakfast after Sunday training has not yet been finalised. You will receive date details very soon. This message is to whet your appetite!

Sunday Roster:

March 30 - Mark Houlihan, Diane Mcewin, Chris Laing, Doug Ritchie. Volunteer Required

April 5 - SYDNEY STRIDERS 10K

April 6 - Neil McCarthy, Marilyn Gould, Nikki Caminer, Rebecca Sexton, Volunteer Required

April 12/13 - ASICS CANBERRA MARATHON AND ULTRA(ACT) and 5/10K

April 13 - NO TRAINING - (BRW Triathlon taking place)

April 20 - Mariana von Lucken, Mark Houlihan, Diane Mcewin, Chris Laing, Volunteer Required

April 27 - Doug Ritchie,Neil McCarthy, Marilyn Gould, Nikki Caminer, Volunteer Required

May 3 - SYDNEY STRIDERS 10K

May 4 - Karen Parker, Ellis Janks, Rebecca Sexton,Colin Bradford, Volunteer Required

May 11 - Stephen Lenn, Mariana von Lucken, Mark Houlihan, Diane Mcewin Volunteer Required

May 18 - NO TRAINING - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD HALF MARATHON

May 25 - Chris Laing, Doug Ritchie,Neil McCarthy, Marilyn Gould. Volunteer Required

June 1 - Nikki Caminer,Karen Parker, Ellis Janks, Rebecca Sexton. Volunteer Required

Jun 7 - SYDNEY STRIDERS 10K

June 8 - Mariana von Lucken,Colin Bradford, Stephen Lenn, Mark Houlihan. Volunteer Required

Jun 15 - Chris Laing, Diane Mcewin, Doug Ritchie,Neil McCarthy. Volunteer Required

June 22 - Marilyn Gould, Nikki Caminer,Karen Parker, Ellis Janks. Volunteer Required

June 29 - Rebecca Sexton,Mariana von Lucken,Colin Bradford, Stephen Lenn. Volunteer Required

Photo Gallery

Ron McCallum speaking

Martin presents the lifetime membership award to Ellis

Bronwyn and Lola

Ellis on the Mike

Joe and Woody

Marjorie

Group Shot at the 15th Anniversary

The Janks Family and Relatives

Marjorie, Annette and Lola

news

Dec 2010 Newsletter

The Achilles Heel

Newsletter of the Achilles Running Club - Sydney

PO Box 240, Randwick, 2031:
info@achilles-sydney.org.au
www.achilles-sydney.org.au

December 2010 Edition

In this Edition:

Presidents End of Year Message

· Picnic in the Park and the Andrew Bristow Memorial 2010 Awards

· Trek or Treat?

· Charlie Comes Down to Earth With a Splash.

· Prize Fighters

· Orange is no Lemon

· Volunteer Roster

________________________________________________________________

PRESIDENT’S END OF YEAR MESSAGE

How the time flies when you are either busy or having fun (or both)! This is certainly true of 2010 - a wonderful year for our great Club. During the year there have been a number of new and innovative happenings in at Achilles, largely thanks to the excellent input of our super committee. The numbers of members attending Club events (in particular Sunday training) have grown and the general happy and relaxed atmosphere at Achilles is very evident.

There are certainly exciting plans for 2011, our 15th year of existence. So, watch this space!

I wish all of our members and friends and all of their families a wonderful Festive Season and a fun and well deserved holiday from Achilles. Here's to a wonderful happy and healthy exercise filled 2011. I have no doubt we will all be "raring to go" come our first training session on 30 January.

Ellis

PICNIC IN THE PARK and THE 2010 ANDREW BRISTOW MEMORIAL AWARDS

The End of Year picnic was held on 5 December after the penultimate Sunday training session for 2010. Showers were predicted, but thanks to great organising and a little good luck, we had great weather. About 40 members and friends were there to catch up socially and enjoy food and drinks. As happens at this time of the year, many members could not make it to the picnic given other social and work commitments, but sent their regrets.

During the picnic, everyone was welcomed by Ellis, the Club President. Unfortunately Mrs Brenda Bristow was not present to award the Andrew Bristow Memorial Awards for this year.

The Disabled Athlete of the Year Award was given to Bronwyn Fitzpatrick, one of members who has been coming to Achilles training and events for many years, and is very unassuming but very dependable. Despite being busy with work and other sport (blind golf), she is highly committed to Achilles.

The Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Michael Levy, another long term member who very regularly attends Achilles training and events, is always quietly helping with all sorts of things behind the scenes and has been very committed to the Club. Congratulations to Bronwyn and Michael, our worthy award winners.

Others who are regular attendees at training and contribute to Achilles were commended and thanked by Ellis.

Our former Treasurer and long-time member, Ted Magen, was given a special mention. We attempted to make the same award a year ago, but Ted was not present, so we were finally able to congratulate him in person.

Trek or Treat?

In September, Achilles members Charlie McConnell, Nick Gleason, Rozanne Green and Brian O’Dea headed to Nepal for a trek to Everest Base Camp. They were joined on the journey by Nick’s long-time friend, Vina Accomazzo, who lives in North Carolina. [Vina had guided Nick in the 2009 New York Marathon, as featured in the January Achilles Heel newsletter].

Charlie, Nick and Rozanne had, along with Achilles President Ellis Janks and guide Lucas Trihey, been part of the Blind Ambition team that had climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2001.

Rozanne did a superb job of selecting routes, dates, the tour company and making the bookings. Charlie was trainer-in-chief and organised hikes in the Blue Mountains and in Ku-Ring-Gai. (Nick actually organised the first session. He reasoned that, as the real trek would take the team from tea-house to tea-house at high altitude, the team should practice going from coffee-shop to coffee-shop at the high end of town. After arranging a pleasant stroll around the Eastern Suburbs, Nick was fired.)

Nick training with Rozanne and the incomparable Cheryl Bart (Climber of Mt Everest)

The team spent weeks reading about and preparing for altitude sickness, food poisoning, hepatitis and frostbite. Inoculations were received stoically and pills ingested with a grimace. Bags were packed with all sorts of medications and enough antibacterial hand-wash to float a battleship.

Travel writer and ecologist Charlie Pye-Smith, in his 1988 classic, Travels in Nepal, wrote somewhat disdainfully about tourists that were “here long enough to give their Pentaxes a bit of action and their bowels an unpleasant surprise.”

There was no hiding the fact that Brian had a Pentax, but the team felt that everything else was under control.

After a few fun-filled days in Kathmandu, including an extra day because bad weather had grounded all planes, the team flew to Lukla and started the 12-day trek to Everest base Camp and back. This involved hiking from the warm, lush fir-filled valleys to the grand, glacial peaks of the Everest region.

Brian, Vina, Nick, Rozanne, Charlie and friends at Kathmandu

Although the temperature dropped markedly, the warmth of the people stayed constant. This could be said about the locals and trekkers.

In the next couple of weeks, Brian will be putting a more detailed account on the Achilles website. It will include the following:

The greatest challenge of the journey was that faced by blind trekkers, Charlie and Nick. Their constantly cheerful determination in difficult terrain and in sometimes tough conditions seemed to inspire everybody that we met. I will never forget the spontaneous burst of applause from the Australian trekking group, The Friday Warriors, as they lined a stone bridge to let us through.

More poignantly, a young German trekker saw Nick and Charlie being guided down a steep, rocky path. She watched for a moment then said with a sigh, “This is so beautiful that I want to cry.” Then she sat down on a rock and did exactly that.

The account will also explain why Rozanne became known admiringly as “Boss Lady”, how Vina kept everything on an even keel, why Charlie was fined for blaspheming during a private audience with a Lama, and why Nick is suing Brian over an incident with a new but sub-standard trekking pole.

Travel writer and climber, Jamie McGuinness is more sympathetic to tourists than Charlie Pye-Smith. In his “must read” book, Trekking in The Everest Region, he wrote:

Trekking is physically demanding but certainly not beyond the majority of moderately fit people. The most important thing is knowing that you enjoy the concept. Bring along a traveller’s curiosity and a sense of humour and, before you know it, you will relish the thought of another trek.

For Blind Ambition II, that described the trek in a nutshell.

Charlie Comes Down To Earth With A Splash.

During the trek to Everest Base camp, Charlie McConnell was always aware of the group’s height above sea-level. Each evening, Charlie would know the elevation of the lodge at which the team was staying.

Since his return, Charlie has been keen to stay at sea level – literally. With the help of fellow-trekker and Achilles member, Rozanne Green, Charlie competed in a one-kilometre swim at Coogee.

In an interview with the on-line community newsletter, J-Wire, Rozanne said, “Charlie and I trained at Bondi Beach and once in the pool……Charlie did not want to be touched. He wanted to swim completely on his own without tethering. We developed a technique by which I simply shouted instructions at him.” [Editor: This system was bound to work. There were good reasons why, on the Everest trek, Rozanne had earned the nickname: Boss Lady.]

[Read the full J-Wire article here.]

On the day of the race, the sea temperature was recorded as an unseasonably low 16 degrees. Over 1,000 swimmers had entered either the 1K or 2K race. 90 (including Rozanne) had chosen to swim both. The tough conditions caused a number of entrants to withdraw from the racing. Over 100 were pulled from the water during the racing, with many suffering from hypothermia.

This makes Charlie’s effort even more remarkable. He completed the swim in 41 minutes. His own thoughts on the race:

“I did not want to let on but I was very nervous and a little uncertain and
half way through I said to myself I would never take this on again.
Once I calmed down9 helped by the encouragement of Rozanne and the Water Safety team, I felt a little more comfortable and got some energy back. It was a challenge for me but once I
completed I now know I have a time to beat. I was pleased they did not try to pull me out as I was too slow. So enjoyed it and the space blanket was a little over the top but better safe than
sorry…... They told me that a lot of people were pulled out as they were to cold so that is a bit of a victory for me.
I love the time; something to beat next year. 0:41:42 only 3 minutes behind the field. Will catch them next year.”

Well done, Charlie and Rozanne!

Prize-Fighters

This edition carries news of the Annual Andrew Bristow Awards. It is also worth noting that members of Achilles have been attracting accolades in other circles.

In November, Matt Levy was nominated as a finalist in the NSW Institute of Sport Awards. Although Matt did not win the award, he can be proud of being in such exalted company as Matthew Mitcham (the eventual winner) Jeff Huegill and Kurt Fearnley. (Matt, a world-class swimmer, has competed at the 2004 and 2008 Paralympics. In Beijing, he won Gold as part of the 4 x 100m relay team.)

Club President, Ellis Janks, was nominated for the 2010 Jewish News Community Hero Award. Ellis would never campaign on his own behalf. Despite this, he polled an impressive number of votes. To read more, connect via this link.

Earlier in the year, The Australian Fitness Network named sight-impaired John Domandl as the inaugural winner of the 2010 Inspiration of the Year Award. John (usually known as Johnny Dangerous) spent 2010 running the Six-Foot Track Marathon, The Gold Coast Marathon and the City to Surf (guided by Ellis). He also rode from Sydney to Brisbane on the back of his tandem bike. Rising to greater heights, Johnny skydived from 14,000 feet.

At the time of writing, Eamonn Kenihan is under consideration for a Macquarie Staff Community Award. Eamonn was the leader of the team that won the Sydney Tower Run. In doing so, the team won $5,000, which they promptly donated to Achilles. Since then, Eamonn and his team-mates have become Achilles volunteers. The Tower Run was featured in our October Achilles Heel newsletter.

Orange Is No Lemon

In March, the Achilles Club sent a team to the Orange Running Festival. (The trip was covered in the April newsletter.)

We had such a great time that it was agreed that we should make it an annual event for the club. In 2011 the Festival will be on Sunday 6^th March.

The featured events will be a half-marathon, 10K and a 5K family run/walk. This family-friendly Festival is organised by the Orange Runners. Their official website is here. However, at the time of writing, the Festival details have yet to be posted. During the coming weeks, event details will be added to the site. In addition, Achilles will keep members fully informed.

We plan to arrive in Orange on Saturday 5^th. In order that we can arrange the bus hire and the Orange accommodation, we will need to have a list of entrants by the end of January. We will contact you early in January to advise how to confirm your interest.

So, if you have not already booked yourself into the Women’s Day Concert at Hollywood Bowl or the Showtime Heavyweight Wrestling Championship in Amsterdam, write “Orange Running Festival” in your diary for March 5^th/6^th 2011.

VOLUNTEER ROSTER

Below is a provisional volunteer roster. If there are any members who are not on the roster can but wish to be, please let know by email - info@achilles-sydney.org.au .

Jan 30 - Marilyn Gould, Ian Cohen, Dan Barnett, Karen Parker. Volunteers Required

Feb 6 - Mark Houlihan, Stephen Lenn, Martin Ruane, Nikki Caminer.Volunteers Required

Feb 13 – Brian O’Dea, Peter Dabble, Diane Mcewin, Tori Ames. Extra Volunteers Required

Feb 20 –Colin Bradford, Ted Magen,Ian Cohen, Dan Barnett. Extra Volunteers Required

Membership

Members with a Disability

Achilles welcomes anyone with a disability who wants to run or walk. Membership in the Achilles Running Club includes races, workouts, team T-shirts and our newsletter, The Achilles Heel.

Achilles members run and walk with such disabilities as stroke, cerebral palsy, paraplegia, arthritis, amputation, visual impairment, MS, cystic fibrosis, cancer, traumatic head injuries, transplants, and other conditions often thought to be reasons to stay "out of the running."

Some Achilles members are experienced athletes and others are exercising for the first time. The only prerequisite is an interest in exercise and a willingness to try.

Achilles members enjoy the companionship of other members and volunteers and the lift one gets to both body and mind from regular exercise.

You needn't worry about what to wear for your first workout. We are not trend setters. This means wearing something loose and comfortable, suitable to the weather. Make sure you can move comfortably and be ready to exercise.

Don't be concerned about being out of shape. People who have never exercised before tend to improve faster than those in better shape! Besides, the point is to have fun exercising. Whether you run a 4-minute km or walk at 30-minute pace, we welcome all speeds and all abilities.

Volunteers

Our volunteers are people who enjoy to walk and run; they are friendly, considerate men and women who think everyone should be able to experience the joy of exercise. Volunteering to run with Achilles members in regularly scheduled workouts is a way to get out and exercise in a low-stress, friendly environment.

As a volunteer you are not expected to be a professional, or an expert on health or fitness or physical disabilities. You simply need the desire to help those who are physically less fortunate than yourself. Your role is that of a companion. You are there for safety, morale, conversation, fun and exercise.

You will find us every Sunday morning, rain, hail, or shine, on the steps of the Art Gallery of NSW opposite the Domain at 8.10am.

We train (walk or run) for an hour, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of some of Sydney’s most spectacular parts – the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Opera House and Mrs Macquarie’s chair.

Come along and introduce yourself, new members and volunteers are always welcome.

Membership costs only $20 which goes to the running costs of the club.

All volunteers should familarise themselves with our tips for guiding - click here. All new volunteers are advised to read this before their first session.

Newsletters

Achilles Heel

For all the news and gossip, upcoming events and results, you simply can't go past the Achilles Heel Newsletter

October 2009

Please fill in your details below and submit, we will then add your email onto our newsletter database

Thank you for joining , we will email you soon.

October 2008 Newsletter

The Achilles Heel - Newsletter of the Achilles Running Club -Sydney
PO Box 240, Randwick,2031:
Achilles_syd@hotmail.com
www.achilles-sydney.org.au

October 2008 Edition

In this Edition:

*Hastie Group presentation & Breakfast

*Bushwalk/Hiking day

*AGM

*Membership renewal

*Paralympic results

*Andrew Bristow Memorial Award

*Vaka Moana - Voyages of the Ancestors

*Coburg 24 Hour Relay

*Six Foot Track Race

*Lions Christmas Cakes

*Achilles Website

*Sunday Roster

The end of spring has brought fine weather for Sunday morning Achilles trainings, and high numbers of both disabled members and guides. Thankfully, we have had more guides attending than only those rostered on. As we have had between 5 and 12 disabled people at training each week, your attendance has been very welcome. Please check the roster so that we can be assured of a nucleus of guides, and if you can continue to come on other days, please do. As always, Sunday mornings with Achilles is a great place to be!

Hastie Group Presentation & Breakfast

Date: Sunday 2 November

Venues: - Presentation to the Hastie Group - steps of the Art Gallery

- Breakfast - NSW Rugby League Club, 165 Phillip Street, Sydney

As you know, our popular new club singlets have been sponsored by the Hastie Group, providers commercial air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. We will be holding a formal "thank you" presentation on 2 November. Hastie Group CEO David Harris will be presented with a memento of our appreciation, an inscribed plaque on a wooden shield.

Following Sunday training and the Hastie Group presentation, Achilles will be contributing to the bill for the social breakfast. A bottomless cup of coffee/tea and toast costs $6-50, which is what Achilles will pay for all financial members - if you want the continental buffet or full cooked breakfast ($12-50 or $14-50), you will just need to pay in the difference. Yet another reason why it pays to be an Achilles member!

As you have read in an earlier email, we are hoping to have a massive turnout for this special day. In addition to the benefits this will offer of training in a big goprup and catching up with other members, it will also enable us to show our sponsors that we have a strong club. Photographs will be taken for the Achilles and the Hastie Group websites.

Bushwalk / Hiking Day

Date: Sunday 16 November 2008.

Venue: Starting from Hornsby Station. More details below

You'll be happy to hear iI's on again - the bushwalk we had to postpone owing to World Youth Day disruption to transport.

If the event is successful, it will be the first of many Achilles bushwalks. Everyone is welcome. Please let us know if you can be part of this exciting event.

There has been interest from others outside of Achilles, including visually impaired people and guides who have not yet been connected with Achilles. There has been quite some interest from Vision Australia clients, and we hope to encourage them and others of all ages to become involved with Achilles.

Route: - About 1 km by road to the Great North Walk, and then an out and back route on fire trail/bush track. The distance will be variable dependiing on how our participants are going.

Time : 10-00am to 3-30pm

Transport to the venue: Train or private car

Anyone, disabled or guide, who is keen to be part of the hike, please contact:

Nick (nicholas.gleeson@visionaustralia.org ) 9334 3209 (w) or

Ellis (janks@comcen.com.au) 9664 4824 (h)

You will receive full details of what to bring, time, place and transport.

Annual General Meeting

The Achilles RC AGM was held on 25 September. We are thrilled to have "new blood" on the newly elected committee. Its members:

Ellis Janks - President

Charlie McConnell -Vice President

Ted Magen - Treasurer

James Howard - Secretary

Angie Maken - Events Co-ordinator

Martin Ruane - Webmaster

Doug Ritchie - Training

Karen Parker

Neill McCarthy

Marianna von Lucken

Nick Gleeson

Membership Renewals
There are a few of you who have not renewed your membership for this year ('08/'09). Membership renewal was due in July. Annual fees are $20. It is vital for our club that you all renew your membership. Besides your fees being used for general running costs, we are trying to secure corporate sponsorship, and for this purpose, the bigger our paid up membership the better. Please forward your membership fees to PO Box 240, Randwick 2031, or give them to any committee member at training. Ted will forward a receipt to you. If your contact details have changed in the last year, please make sure that we have your updated information.

Please note: anyone who joined the club in or after March this year is financial through till June next year

Achilles at the Paralympics in Beijing

Achilles member Matt Levy had a very successful Paralympics. He won a gold medal in the 4 X 100m Medley and made it to the finals in his other 3 events - 200m Individual Medley (7th); 400m Freestyle (7th); 50m Freestyle (8th). Congratulations to Matt on these excellent results. He brought the gold medal to training last week so that us mere mortals could experience the feel of a genuine Paralympic gold medal.

Lindy Hou, who is visually impaired, has recently been coming to Sunday training. She was part of the Australian cycling team and also had a fantastic Games. She participated in 4 events and came home with silver and bronze medals. We look forward to Lindy being an active member of Achilles who, like Matt, will motivate the rest of us.

Andrew Bristow Memorial Award

Once again, the annual Andrew Bristow Memorial Awards will be presented at the end of the year picnic, one each for a disabled and volunteer member. If any of you wish to nominate someone for these awards, please contact Ellis (janks@comcen.com.au) or 9664 4824 (h).

VAKA MOANA - Voyages of the Ancestors - Touch Tour at Maritime Museum

A free curator-led touch tour will be held at the Australian Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour on Sunday 7 December, 11 am. "Voyages of the Ancestors - VAKA MOANA" is about the discovery and settlement of the islands of the Pacific. It features 200 artefacts, including rare carvings and canoes. The tour lasts approximately 1.5 hours and morning tea is provided. Bookings are essential. Please contact Nick if you wish to go

(nicholas.gleeson@visionaustralia.org ) or 9334 3209 (w) . A pdf brochure of the exhibition has been attached to this email newsletter.

Coburg 24 Hour Relay - Nick makes it into Runners' World magazine

This month's Runner's World magazine contains an article about Nick Gleeson and his participation in last year's Coburg 24 hour relay in Melbourne. Nick is keen to enter again - the next Coburg event is on 18 April 2009. Is there anyone else keen to take on this challenge? If you are interested in participating yourself or in being a guide for Nick, please contact him on nicholas.gleeson@visionaustralia.org or 9334 3209 (w). The field is limited and the event fills up very early - you will need to decide soon.

Six Foot Track Race

It is time to start training for next years Six Foot Tack race on 14 March 2009 ((or at least thinking about). Anyone who is keen to join the 2 Michaels (Levy and Ultramarathonman), Doug, Ellis & John in the race, please let us know. We hope to put together some good "team" training runs in preparation

Lions Christmas Cakes

It is fast approaching that time of the year - "the silly season"! This means that once again we will be helping the Lions Club of Bondi with selling the famous and delicious 1.5 kg Lions Christmas cakes. These will be available at $12 each at Sunday training, or you can contact Ellis (janks@comcen.com.au)

Achilles Website

Please be aware of the Achilles website, www.achilles-sydney.org.au . It offers news updates, the Sunday volunteer roster, The Achilles Heel etc. Martin has been able to get to grips with the website and we soon will have it fully updated, including having the photo gallery full of great Achilles photos. Please note that the home page includes a section titled "Latest News". Here you will find announcements about anything out of the ordinary, such as training changes due to road closures. There is also a new email contact address for Achilles - info@achilles-sydney.org.au. This replaces the old hotmail address.

Sunday Volunteer Roster:

Nov 1 - SYDNEY STRIDERS 10K - Lane Cove National Park

Nov 2 - HASTIE GROUP PRESENTATION AND BREAKFAST -

Chris Laing , Nikki Caminer, Karen Parker, Ellis Janks, Angie Macken & everyone!

Nov 9 - Marilyn Gould, Stephen Lenn, Ted Magen, Rebecca Sexton Volunteer Required

Nov 16 - BUSHWALK- leaving from Hornsby Station - 10 am

(NORMAL TRAINING) - Colin Bradford, Diane Mcewin, Doug Ritchie, Neil McCarthy, Angie Macken Volunteer Required

Nov 23 - Mark Houlihan, Nikki Caminer, Karen Parker, Ellis Janks. Volunteer Required

Nov 30 - Chris Laing , Stephen Lenn, Ted Magen, Rebecca Sexton Volunteer Required

Dec 7 - Marilyn Gould, Diane Mcewin, Doug Ritchie, Neil McCarthy, Volunteer Required

Dec 14 - END OF YEAR PICNIC - All members and their families

Merry XMAS & Happy CHANUKAH

Feb 1– Colin Bradford , Nikki Caminer, Karen Parker, Ellis Janks. Angie Macken Volunteer Required

Feb 8 -Mark Houlihan, Stephen Lenn, Ted Magen,Rebecca Sexton Volunteer Required

Feb 15 - Chris Laing , Diane Mcewin, Doug Ritchie, Neil McCarthy, Volunteer Required

Feb 22 - Marilyn Myers , Nikki Caminer,Karen Parker, Ellis Janks. Volunteer Required

March 1 - Colin Bradford, Stephen Lenn, Ted Magen,Rebecca Sexton Volunteer Required

March 8 - Mark Houlihan, Diane Mcewin, Doug Ritchie, Neil McCarthy, Volunteer Required

If you are not, but wish to be on the roster, please email rozanne@bigpond.net.au

Newsletters 08 & 09

SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTERS

Past newsletters:

OCTOBER 2008

JULY 2008

APRIL 2008

DECEMBER 2007

December 2007 Newsletter

Achilles Heel Newsletter - December 2007

The Achilles Heel - Newsletter of the Achilles Running Club -Sydney
PO Box 240, Randwick,2031:
Achilles_syd@hotmail.com
www.achilles-sydney.org.au

December 2007 Edition
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In this Edition:

*End of year Celebration

*Ted Magen - our long serving Treasurer

*International visitors

*AGM

*Michael Levy finishes the NYC Marathon

*Membership renewal

*Personality Profile of one of our members

*Six Foot Track Race

*A New beginning For 2008

*Sunday Roster

End Of Year Picnic:

On Sunday 16 December Achilles will gather after our running/walking exercise for our wonderful End of Year Picnic.

Who: you and your family and friends - everyone is welcome!

Where: The Domain - over the road from the Art Gallery of NSW steps

When: 9-30 am - after training (after you are well exercised and are hungry!)

What to bring: A plate and/or something to drink - we'll put it all together for a big Achilles feast

What to do: Relax, socialise and eat! (and for anyone with influence - make sure that the weather is good)

The annual Andrew Bristow Memorial Awards will be presented for the first time - one for a disabled member and one for a guide. As you probably know, each recipient of this award will have their name engraved on a floating trophy as well as receiving their own trophy to keep.

It will be great to have as many people there as possible - a super way to end the Achilles year.

Ted Magen

One of the most active and longest serving members of Achilles, our Treasurer Ted Magen was recently taken ill. He will out of action at Achilles for the next while. We all wish him a speedy recovery from surgery and look forward to his active return to Achilles.

Visitors from New York

On Sunday 4 November Artie Elefant (visually impaired) and his wife Susan came to Achilles and joined us on our regular run around the beautiful Botanical Gardens and Harbour. It was special as Artie and Susan are very active members of the Achilles New York Chapter and had many stories and information about Achilles in the USA and the rest of the world. Many of us were able to share a very pleasant breakfast together and enjoy the tremendous positive attitude of both Artie and Susan. T-shirts were exchanged, although no one wanted to swap their running singlet for Charlie McConnell’s sweaty one. Its wonderful to share the Achilles International spirit.

Annual General Meeting

The Club AGM was held on 11 October 2007. The committee elected are:

President - Ellis Janks

Vice President & Events coordinator - Charlie McConnell

Treasurer- Ted Magen

Minutes Secretaries - Karen Parker & Mariana von Lucken

Website coordinator - Sarah Vickers

Committee members - Marjorie Roberts, Doug Ritchie & Nick Gleeson

President’s Report – 2006/2007

This last year has been a very positive one, thanks to the excellent input of many people. There have also been a number of significant events and activities, so that this has been a very memorable year. I will briefly mention the highlights.

1. 10th Anniversary The Club’s 10th anniversary celebration took place on 29 October at the Coogee RSL, and was a great success. About 80 members, supporters and ex-members attended the event, which included a brunch, a slide show of images of 10 years of Achilles, and speeches from a wide range of Achilles members and supporters. I am mentioning this event first in this Report because it ably illustrated the achievements, spirit and continuing growth of our club.

2. Membership During the past year, consistent numbers of people have attended each Sunday training, and participated in organised runs and walks and social get-togethers. A number of new members have joined this year, which has been very pleasing.

3. Finances The financial status of the club is very sound. Funds have been received via membership fees, bank interest, the sale of clothing, and donations. Of note is a very generous $10 000-00 bequest to the club by the estate of the late Andrew Bristow.

4. Events Members participated in various events during the year, including the following: the Mothers Day Fun Run/Walk, NYC Marathon, Kokoda Trail, Sutherland to Surf, City to Surf, Sydney Running Festival (Bridge and Fun Runs), Trailwalker, and the Sydney Tower Run Up. Social events included the end of year picnic and social breakfasts after Sunday training. A number of members got together to train during the week and outside of club training times. Some of our members participated in events (swimming, golf, dragon boat racing, cycling) outside of Achilles, both in Australia and overseas, and have performed extremely well.

5. Sailing event A sailing day with “Sailors with disAbilities”, which had previously been cancelled due to adverse weather finally took place in February and was very much enjoyed by 8 disabled and 2 volunteer members.

6. Training This year, we have been running a training program for volunteers. Doug Ritchie, the presenter, is to be thanked for his expert contribution. Volunteers have made use of the program and have responded very enthusiastically.

7. Uniforms New club t-shirts were ready for distribution at the 10th anniversary celebration. Once again, thanks go to Guide Dogs, which sponsored the costs and have their logo displayed on the t-shirts. At present, a sponsor for the production of singlets is being sought.

8. Awards Two new annual club awards are to be made. These are the Andrew Bristow Memorial Awards, to be presented to a disabled member and a volunteer. Criteria for the award include the member’s contribution to Achilles, participation in the club in general, and the achievement of personal goals.

9. Website The Club website is being revamped by Greg and Sarah.

10. Thanks The website was previously kindly hosted by Richard Wassell. Thanks to Richard for his great support, and for Greg and Sarah for their continuing help. Thanks also to Mark Davis, who has most generously continued to provide the venue for meetings at New Horizons Learning Centre. And of course thanks to all Achilles members for their excellent contributions and their enthusiasm. A special note of thanks to the committee for the excellent work they have put into the running of Achilles, and the time and effort they have generously given. It has been a pleasure working with you.

Achilles in the future I hope that the website will play a bigger part in promoting the club and disseminating information to the members. On this note, I am hoping that in the coming year we can market ourselves more effectively to the wider community, thereby attracting new members and seeing an increase in participation in club events and affairs by current members.

I wish Achilles every success, and positive growth in the next 12 months.

Ellis Janks - President

Michael Levy

Congratulations to Michael Levy on not only finishing the New York City Marathon, but also for his very successful fundraising effort for the Heart Foundation. He well exceeded the amount pledged. Michael had a very pleasant run, taking in the sights and atmosphere of this, one of the world's great marathons.

Membership Renewal:

A gentle reminder for those who need to pay their membership as it is due. The good news is that the Achilles membership remains at $20 and $10 if not working. Please see either Ellis, Charlie or Nick to pay this fee.

Achilles Member Personality Profile: Marjorie Roberts

Marjorie Roberts has been a member of Achilles since the club began. Although, Marjorie has always taken on life at 100kms per hour. A successful business woman who knew exactly what she wanted in life and despite various barriers has achieved so many goals. Marjorie was faced with the enormous challenge of blindness at an age where most people would be preparing for a relaxing retirement. Initially it came as a shock but with the encouragement of a mobility instructor from the Guide Dog Association she started to believe in herself and stayed on her large block of land at Warriewood. Her closest neighbour is a 5 minute walk from her home, although, Marjorie says that “her closest friends are the wildlife that lives on her bush land.”

Marjorie has tandem cycled in many countries including England, France and Russia. She has played golf at an elite level in Japan, Scotland, Canada, Ireland, America and has loved the various cultures of each society. Marjorie has represented Achilles in many events over the years and is a regular participant in the Mothers Day Classic in May. Volunteer Sarah Vickers has partnered Marjorie for the past four years in this event and is quite a sight chasing Marjorie and her guide dog Moira through the crowd. Marjorie’s greatest two friends are Moria and her retired guide Dog Ishbel a 17 year old Labrador. Marjorie Roberts is a woman of enormous determination and makes sure that every step in her life is forward.

Six Foot Track Race

This is a call for you long distance off-road runners - come and join the growing group (3 so far) of Achilles members who are keen to run the 45 km from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves. The race is in March so, time to make the commitment and to get training.

A New Beginning for 2008

Achilles will be in recess until Sunday 3 February. We very much look forward to seeing you all in the new year and wish you a safe happy break from Achilles.

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and have a great holiday.

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Sunday Roster:

Dec 9 - Karen Parker, Ellis Janks, Colin Bradford, Stephen Lenn, Volunteer Required

Dec 16 – END OF YEAR PICNIC

Mark Houlihan, Meg Buchanan, Sarah Vickers , Volunteer Required

Merry XMAS & Happy CHANUKAH

Feb 3 - Marilyn Myers, Nikki Caminer, Karen Parker, Ellis Janks Volunteer Required

Feb 10 - Karen Parker, Ellis Janks, Colin Bradford, Stephen Lenn, Volunteer Required

April 2011 Newsletter

Newsletter First Quarter 2011

In this edition:

President’s Message

“Here Be Dragons”

Madame Ambassador

Orange Running Festival

Six-Foot Track – Michael buckles

“Talk to me not of time and place; I owe I’m happy in the chase.”

Portrait of a Volunteer – Karen Parker

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”

President’s Message

Come fine weather or foul, enthusiasm for Achilles continues undiminished.

Weather conditions at Sunday training have been a mixed bag - something for everything. Notwithstanding heavy rain and a slight drop in air temperature, enthusiasm and attendance at Sunday training continue unabated. The only thing which has prevented training is the chaos arising from the triathlons held at our training venue, and the accompanying road closures. Thanks for your cheerful attendance despite all of this.

The Orange weekend was a wonderful experience once again. These weekends away attending events are a lot of fun and a fantastic opportunity for our members to get to know each other so much better. This is one of the social aims of Achilles. Come along to our third year of participation in the Orange Colour Running Festival in 2012!

Once again, one of our Achilles members has notched up a significant achievement. Congratulations to Ben Phillips on successfully completing the 100 km Oxfam Trailwalker in Melbourne in 37:02 hours; a very fine effort indeed. (We hope to have Ben’s Account in the next Achilles Heel.)

Good luck to a team of Achilles members who are competing in the Dextro Energy Sydney Triathlon this weekend. Lindy Hou, Charlie McConnell, Kamilla Ryding, Brian O'Dea, Eamonn Kenihan, Michael Levy, Kath Newby and I will be swimming, cycling and running around on Sunday morning. It is terrific to see that our members are participating in so many varied events.

I look forward to seeing you soon at Achilles training and events.

Ellis Janks

“Here Be Dragons”

On the weekend of 12^th-13^th February, thousands of people watched or took part in the annual Chinese Dragon Boat Racing Festival on Darling Harbour. The event is part of Sydney’s vibrant Chinese New Year celebrations.

Charlie McConnell was part of the Guide Dogs New South Wales crew. He described his involvement:

“I strongly believe in giving anything a go at least once. When Guide Dogs NSW made an appeal for clients to give dragon-boat racing a go, I took up the challenge.

“That was 5 years ago. Even though we only train twice a week in the 2 months leading up to the race, I always find the going tough. The training gives us a lot of laughs and it is amazing how, even with new crew members, we manage to work well as a team. I am already looking forward to next year and making even more friends.”

Charlie’s team performed very well in the 2011 series of races. The crew finished 2^nd in the first heat, 3^rd in the second heat, 2^nd in the not-for-profit challenge and 4^th in the Community Final.

Photo 1

Dragons at Full Steam.

Dragons out of Puff. (Charlie is second from the left).

Since this event, Charlie has continued his dragon-boat racing with Vision Australia. When not in a boat, he is likely to be found swimming alongside.

Madame Ambassador

Also present at the Dragon Boat racing was Lindy Hou. Paralympic Gold Medallist and Achilles member, Lindy now lives in Canberra. Lindy was invited by the City of Sydney to be one of the Ambassadors for the City of Sydney Chinese New Year Festival. One of her main duties was to perform the “Eye Dotting” ceremony and the blessing of the waters before the start of the Dragon Boat Races.

Lindy “awoke” the dragon by dabbing red paint on the eyes of each of the dragon boats.

The New Year Festival began with an exciting launch at Belmore Park on Friday the 28^th January, when Lion and Dragon dances, along with firecrackers, farewelled the Year of the Tiger.

On Sunday 6^th February, the Chinese New Year Twilight Parade was a dazzling spectacle as it made its way from Sydney Town Hall to Chinatown. The evening ended with a special Chinese New Year fireworks display at Darling Harbour. This year’s parade welcomed in the Year of the Rabbit with a message of “peace, beauty, endurance and hope.”

The SBS coverage of Lindy’s awakening of the dragon can be viewed here. The film clip also gives a short summary of Lindy’s athletic achievements.

The Orange Running Festival

Following the success of the club’s visit to the Orange Running Festival in 2010, the Committee decided that this wonderful event should be a regular item on the Achilles calendar.

So, early in March a team of 14 members boarded the Vision Australia bus and headed over the Blue Mountains to Orange. Once again, the aging but reliable vehicle was nursed up the hills by Kerry. The 5-hour journey to Orange gave the Achilles members the chance to natter or nap.

Charlie’s accommodation arrangements were superb, and there was no repeat of the hotelier’s mistake of 2010. On that occasion, scrambled and congested sleeping arrangements became the stuff of Club folk-lore, to be exaggerated with each retelling.

In the evening, the team members pent a relaxing evening at the Orange RSL, where the group was split between those who thought that the necessary carbohydrates were best obtained from healthy food choices, and those who though they were best ingested from beer.

Taking orange at Orange.

The morning of the Festival dawned bright, clear and chilly. The conditions were perfect and our welcome was warm. The Club had 5 athletes with disabilities in the 5K Walk. Shayne and Sue were superb, showing great determination in covering a few kilometres. Sandy and Brian T motivated them and guided them safely. Jenny, Nastasia and Joe covered the course in style, aided by Kerry and Colin.

The 10K race had added spice, with Ben (guided by Ellis) and Charlie (guided by Marcelo) battled each other throughout the race. On this occasion, Ben crossed the finish line a few seconds ahead of Charlie. The stage has been set for some neck-and-neck finishes in the coming months.

“Congratulations” to Marcelo. This was his first experience as a guide in a race, and he performed magnificently.

Another “first” was achieved by Majella. It was her first 10K and we know she will be keen for more. Her only mishap occurred when her guide Brian led her over the only rock on the whole course. Despite having a swelling ankle, Majella finished strongly.

Charlie and Marcelo finish in style. [Courtesy of Wayne Stewart and The Orange Runners Club]

Ellis, Sue, Sandy, Shayne and Brian T are pipped at the post. [Courtesy of Wayne Stewart and the Orange Runners Club]

Orange must be one of the most generous communities in New South Wales. Once again, there seemed to be enough draw prizes to send every runner and walker home with a gift. The organisers, The Orange Runners Club, were particularly generous to Achilles.

The Achilles Team at the end of a great event.

[After the event one of the competitors posted this observation on the Orange Runners Club website:

The Achilles running club of visually impaired runners visited Orange again to take place in the event. After running with one of these competitors it has given me a greater respect as to just how difficult it is for these people. Just behind one of these runners coming into a corner, the carer for the runner was giving him directions to turn right. The runner turned right but not quite hard enough almost putting his carer into the fence. The carer almost needs to be like a navigator in a rally car.]

After the awards ceremony, we headed back to Sydney. While Kerry steered the bus safely home, the team relaxed and dozed. Once again, the trip to Orange had been an early highlight of the Achilles season.

Footnote:

The Orange Prize for Fiction is one of the United Kingdom's most prestigious literary prizes

In light of some of the outrageous claims made during the trip, we have decided to implement our own “Orange Prize”. For copyright reasons, we have had to change the name and have decided to name the prize in honour of the inaugural winner.

Ben and Charlie put in a spirited effort in describing their own athletic successes and the failures of the other. Ben probably edged Charlie with his persuasive arguments on the benefits of a Big Mac Meal (Large) just before a race.

However, as mentioned, the new prize has been named after its first winner. Hence, we now have a Knobel Prize for Creativity.

It was awarded soon after a gut-busting charge to the finish line. The sprint home was accompanied by what sounded like a loud and unexpected expletive from one of our athletes. On being asked about the utterance, our sight-impaired winner provided a detailed explanation of how she felt the need to warn her guide of a fast-approaching, low-flying duck.

Six-Foot Track – Michael buckles

No, the heading does not indicate that Achilles member, Michael Levy (2010 Volunteer of the Year in 2010), has somehow failed to finish. Instead, it says that Michael has completed the arduous 45-kilometre race for the sixth time. This year, Michael completed the hilly Blue Mountains course in 6hours and 18 minutes. This was somewhat slower than his fastest time but was one of the most satisfying.

Michael, who completed is first 6-Foot in 2004, described this year’s race: “6-Foot is always a challenge, as you never know what it is going to throw at you. This year had all the seasons: sun, cloud and rain. The rain made the course very slippery, especially on the downhill sections.

“I was looking for a finishing time of about 5 hour and 40 minutes. Then, I was hit by the onset of leg cramps. This made it difficult for the last 10k. I knew that I had plenty of time up my sleeve to avoid being caught by the 7-hour Sweeps, who have the job of pulling unfortunate stragglers out of the race. It was just a question of hanging on as best as I could. I was very happy to finish and might just go and buy a belt for the buckle.”

Of course, if he runs another 6, the organisers of the iconic Six-Foot Track Marathon will present him with a belt. (We are not too sure of the number required to get a pair of trousers.)

Michael crosses the line. [Courtesy of Supersport Images]

“Talk to me not of time and place; I owe I’m happy in the chase.”

This year, Achilles would like to help more disabled runners and walkers to take part in the many community running events that are held each year.

Achilles members are consistent entrants in the City to Surf (August) and The Sydney Running Festival (September). In 2010, we added the Orange Runners Festival (March) to our list of regular events. These three events give opportunities over a range of distances to athletes of all abilities and are deservedly well-known for their “have a go and have fun” approach. Achilles members regularly enter other events such as the Rebel Run4Fun (February) and the Sydney Half Marathon (May).

We would like to encourage our club members to get involved in these and other events just to experience the challenge of joining thousands of other Sydneysiders in setting and achieving new goals in a carnival atmosphere.

During the coming weeks, we will be sounding out individual members and offering the services of our guides to those who would like to take that extra step….or two…..or three….or…..

Portrait of a Volunteer – Karen Parker

In recent newsletters, we have provided pen-portraits of some of our members. In this edition we feature a long-standing Volunteer and Committee stalwart, Karen Parker. The original exchange with Karen was in a Q&A format and we have chosen to keep it that way.

When did you join Achilles?

July 2003.

How did you come to join Achilles?

In 2003 I was running in the Corporate Games relay event in the Sydney domain and saw a blind runner (Charlie) being guided by a pilot. I enquired through the event organiser who the blind runner was and what organisation he belonged to. The organiser put me in touch with Nick and the rest is history. I’ve now been a member for eight years. During that time I was on Committee as Minute Secretary and General Committee for six years. I resigned from Committee last year but still actively participate in Sunday training and Club events.

What do you think of Achilles ?

Achilles is a wonderful volunteer organisation which has a wide and diversified group of volunteers and disabled members. We all come together with the same aim: to help people with a physical disability enjoy the benefits of exercise. It also has great social benefits as well.

What do you get out of Achilles?

Inspiration ; I look at what some of our disabled members achieve and the disabilities they overcome to achieve those things. It gives me a better appreciation of things that I would normally take for granted.

Other sporting interests?

I’m a keen golfer and enjoy the challenge of trying to get that little white ball in an even smaller hole! I recently introduced a golfing friend of mine to Bronwyn, one of our blind golfers. She was amazed when Bronwyn explained how she plays the game.

Memorable moments with Achilles?

Crossing the finish line of my first half marathon. I was ‘talked into’ it by the guys (think it was mostly Charlie and Nick) at Achilles that running a half marathon was no big deal. At first I thought they were crazy to think I could run for almost 2 hours. At that stage the longest run I did was 40 minutes. However, with training and lots of encouragement, I entered and finished. I remember thinking half way, “I will never ever, do this again. Why did I listen to those crazy people?” Well, I’ve now run five half-marathons and am hoping to be at the start line again this year.

Favourite Pastimes?

Lying on the lounge room floor, giving my golden retriever Molly a big tickle, whilst owning the remote – she lets me pick the programs!

Something nobody knows about you?

I can write Pitmans shorthand. This came in handy when Brian forgot his cheat sheet with the questions for this interview! He gave me the questions from memory and, amazingly, I was able to read it back.

Karen and Charlie with Molly.

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”

Recently, Ellis sent out an appeal for Volunteers to join the Sunday Training Roster. That message is repeated here:

Hi All

We consistently have large numbers of our members with disabilities turning up for Sunday training. We are putting together a new volunteer roster for training. More volunteers are needed to be on the roster. This means that you commit to being at training at least once every 4 weeks.

So:

1. we need more volunteer guides to be placed onto the roster

2. we need volunteer guides not on the roster to turn up to training as often as possible. Of course, as I have made it known before, we rely very heavily on those people.

If you are will to be included on the 1:4 roster, please let us know ( info@achilles-sydney.org.au ) and we will slot you in.

I'm looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible one or more of these fine Sunday mornings - of course, there is no better place to be than at Achilles training!

Cheers

Ellis

Gathering outside the clubhouse for the start of the 2011 season

June 2009 Newsletter

The Achilles Heel - Newsletter of the Achilles Running Club - Sydney

PO Box 240, Randwick,2031:
info@achilles-sydney.org.au
www.achilles-sydney.org.au

June 2009 Edition

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In this Edition:

· New Horizons presentation

· Membership fees

· Parking permits

· City 2 Surf

· Sydney Tower Stair Climbing Race

· T-shirts, singlets and sloppy-joes

· Achilles website

· Michael Lovric competes in the 24 hour World Champs

· Website upgrade

· Lynne & Greg’s new baby

· Injury corner

· Walk for Shirley

· Bush walk

· Volunteer Guide Training

· Volunteer Roster

By now we all have our winter woollies out of the cupboard and are feeling the effects of a chilly winter. This, however, has not stopped our members from turning out in good numbers for Sunday training - great to see! More often than not, there are 10 or more disabled members there and with only 3 or 4 members rostered on each Sunday, we really do rely on “casuals” coming to training. On quite a few occasions, those with disabilities have outnumbered the guides and we have had to double up for guiding.

New Horizons plaque presentation

On 31 May after training, Carol Cook from New Horizons Computer School was presented with a plaque of appreciation from Achilles. Shane “Woody” Woodbridge and Charlie McConnell made the presentation and thanked Carol for the support that New Horizons have given Achilles for the last 10 years. They have not only made their premises available to us for all of our committee meetings and AGMs, but also provide tea and coffee and an array of delicious biscuits. Carol thanked Achilles and said that the plaque would be proudly displayed at New Horizons.

Membership Fees Now Due

It is that time of the year again. The renewal date for annual membership is 1 July each year. Annual fees are $20. It is really important that you all renew your membership. Apart from the fact that Achilles uses membership fees for its running costs, we are also trying to secure corporate sponsorship. This is far easier to achieve with a larger membership base. Please forward your membership fees to our PO Box (240, Randwick 2031), or give them to any committee member at training and Ted will forward a receipt to you. If your contact details have changed in the last year, please make sure that we have your current details.

Parking Permits

We have been issued with a new batch of parking permits for use at the Art Gallery parking area on Sunday mornings. These are yellow and have been laminated. We have a supply of the permits so that all guides who drive in can keep one in their car – probably need to be kept in the boot as they are A4 sized. Please don’t lose your permit – there are a limited number. These permits MUST BE DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD otherwise we could be issued with a parking violation ticket (as has been the case in the past) that will NOT be cancelled. If by any chance you do not have a permit, at the least put a club brochure on the dashboard. This will suffice if the usual rangers are on duty, but sometimes there are new rangers who are not familiar with Achilles. You can get a permit from Ellis at Sunday training.

City 2 Surf – 9 August

It is about 2 months until City 2 Surf. Unfortunately we will not have our entry fees sponsored this year, as was the case for the last few years. Anyone who is keen to run or walk in this fantastic community fun event, please let us know. (Charlie 9636 3727 or janks2@optusnet.com.au).

Sydney Tower Stair Climbing Race

The 2009 Triple M Sydney Tower Run-Up will be held on Friday 21 August 2009.

This is a strenuous event needing specific stair training but is a fabulous event which will leave you feeling tired but elevated (sorry - couldn't resist it!)! Anyone interested in participating should contact Nick nicholas.gleeson@visionaustralia.org or 9773 5631 (h).

T-shirts, singlets and sloppy-joes

T-shirts with the yellow sleeves ($10) and club singlets ($20) are available for sale. There are still some old club t-shirts (all white) available ($5) for those who are keen on having a collectors’ item. There are also some sloppy-joes available ($30). Unfortunately there are limited numbers of small sizes in all the shirt ranges. Please let me know (janks2@optusnet.com.au) if you want any of these items. There will be some shirts available for sale at Sunday training.

Achilles Website - www.achilles-sydney.org.au

It won’t be long before the updated Achilles website is up and running. Martin Ruane has been hard at work putting it together. The new site will have vastly more capacity than the present one, so that we can post more information regarding events, display photos and have offer access to updates and newsflashes.

Michael Lovric at the 24 hours World Champs

Congratulations to Michael Lovric, our own Achilles ultramarathon champion! This is a brief account written by Michael.

Recently it was my great honor to have been selected for the 'Emus' - the Australian Representative Ultra-marathon team. My first event as an Emu was the World 24 Hour Championships which were held in Bergamo Italy May 2-3.

Over 200 runners from more than 30 countries were in attendance and the depth of talent was truly impressive. In stifling hot conditions I chose to run a clever race rather than a fast one averaging 8.6km/h. My final outcome was 206.464 km and I ranked 48th.

When attending races I often think of my running colleagues from the Achilles Club. You are a great inspiration to me during these events. I hope you all continue to enjoy your love of running and I look forward to catching up on another Sunday session.

Michael Lovric

Since the World Championships, Michael has been far from resting. Three weeks ago he ran in the Gold Coast 100 km race, which doubled as the National 100 km Champs, and came a very creditable 6^th. When everyone would expect Michael to be putting his feet up, he decided to run the 96 km Poor Man’s Comrades last week from Gosford to Sydney, coming in 3^rd out of 17, even through he was running for fun rather than racing. Soon Michael will be running in the national 24 hour championships in Brisbane. Best of luck to him for this race.

Lynne & Greg have a new Charlie

Congratulations to Lynne Barry and Greg on the birth of their beautiful son, Charlie Noah . Lynne is a very long time member and ex secretary of Achilles who recently returned from a stint of living in Singapore so some of the newer members will not have met her. But not for long! Rumour has it that Charlie wants to start training on Sundays very soon…

Cathy and Mario have a new baby boy, their 7^th

Congratulations to Cathy (nee Katen) and Mario Romeo on the birth of their baby boy, Marcello Xantino in March. This is child number 7 (Cathy’s 4^th) in the household! If you know Cathy, you’ll know how she achieves the impossible with incredible ease. We look forward to seeing her and her big family at Achilles one of these fine days.

Injury corner:

-Charlie is back to near normal (this may be a contradiction in terms!)

Great to have Charlie McConnell back to his near normal self after getting his new hip a few months ago. He may not be jogging, but striding out for 8 km, swimming laps, working out at the gym and going on the bush walk have been no problem. Well recovered Charlie – you continue to be an inspiration to everyone!

-Michael to get his knee fixed

After many thousands of kms of running and walking and hours of standing, Michael Bassil’s knee has finally protested! He will soon be having minor surgery to repair a torn cartilage. Michael, wishing you a speedy recovery and we look forward to having you back at Sunday training and knowing that you are once again doing your early morning runs around your “custom built” track in Vaucluse.

-Nick’s broken arm

Not wanting to be left out of the action, Nick Gleeson broke his arm after falling down stairs. Luckily his head broke the fall and the broken bone in his arm was undisplaced. No surgery was needed but he had to wear a plaster cast for six weeks. He is now cast free and back to his fighting fit self!

Walk 4 Shirley House

Earlier in the year, a large contingent from Achilles participated in the “Walk 4 Shirley House”, a fund raising walking event held by the Association of Blind Citizens of NSW. Unlike last year, when the heavens opened up during the walk, this year’s event was held in splendid weather and everyone enjoyed not only the walk, but the sausage sizzle afterwards. We look forward to next year’s event.

Achilles Bush Walk

In April, 22 keen bush walkers met at Thornleigh station on a partly cloudy Sunday morning. The group were made up of mainly Achilles members with others who had heard about the bushwalk through newsletters from Vision Australia and on the Cool Running website. After a brief road walk from the station, 10 visually impaired and 12 guides took to the bush track with “gusto”! The weather was very kind (it had rained heavily the day and night before) and the track was excellent – well defined, lots of ferns, trees and plants and a running stream next to which we had lunch. Everyone enjoyed a lunchtime story expertly read by Avril. 6 kms and 4 hours later, 22 happy bush walkers headed home – tired, but smiling and satisfied.

This was the second bush walk to be held, and judging by the response from those who participated, it certainly won’t be the last.

Sessions will take about 20 minutes and will be done before or after Sunday training. Participation is completely voluntary and don't worry, there are no tests or evaluations after the session.

We really do recommend that every guide makes use of this training.

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ACHILLES CLUB ROSTER

June 21 - Mark Houlihan, Diane Mcewin, Doug Ritchie, Martin Ruane, Volunteer Required

June 28 - Chris Laing, Nikki Caminer , Karen Parker, Ellis Janks. Angie Macken, Volunteer Required

July 5 - Marilyn Gould, Stephen Lenn, Ted Magen, Rebecca Sexton Volunteer Required

July 12 - Colin Bradford, Diane Mcewin, Doug Ritchie, Martin Ruane, Volunteer Required

July 19 – Mark Houlihan , Nikki Caminer , Karen Parker, Ellis Janks. Angie Macken Volunteer Required

July 26 -Chris Laing, Stephen Lenn, Ted Magen, Rebecca Sexton Volunteer Required

August 2 - Marilyn Gould , Diane Mcewin, Doug Ritchie, Martin Ruane, Volunteer Required

August 9 - Colin Bradford, Nikki Caminer , Karen Parker, Ellis Janks. Angie Macken Volunteer Required

August 16 – Mark Houlihan , Stephen Lenn, Ted Magen, Rebecca Sexton Volunteer Required

August 23 - Chris Laing, Diane Mcewin, Doug Ritchie, Martin Ruane, Volunteer Required

August 30 - Marilyn Gould, Nikki Caminer , Karen Parker, Ellis Janks. Angie Macken Volunteer Required

If you are not on the roster, but wish to be included, please email rozanne@bigpond.net.au

Newsletters

Achilles Newsletter – 4^th Quarter 2011

In this Edition:

President’s Address

Achilles Running Club’s 15^th Anniversary

Portrait of an Achilles Member – Ben Phillips

The 2011 Annual General Meeting

Disabled Athlete of the Year

Volunteer of the Year

Special Awards

“Thank you, Mr Ambassador”

Out and About

2012 Season

Volunteers

President’s Address

Club President Ellis Janks gave the following address at the Achilles AGM, held on December 11^th 2011

“The past year has been most positive and productive for Achilles in a number of areas, thanks to the wonderful input by many individuals, groups and donors. There have been a number of highlights which I will mention briefly.

1. Membership

As was the case last year, record numbers of people have consistently attended Sunday training and participated in organised runs and walks and social get-togethers. A large number of new members (volunteer and disabled) have joined this year, which has been very pleasing.

Also, there are a number of people who have been part of Achilles in the past, who no longer attend Sunday training as their circumstances have changed. However, they stay connected with Achilles and take interest in what is happening with the Club, mainly through emails and Club newsletters. I frequently get emails from them, so, even though they may not presently be financial members, the true number of “interested members” is far greater than the number of paid up members. Although we do not insist that those involved in Achilles have to be paid up members, we do encourage it. We continue to keep the annual membership fee low ($20 for employed people and $10 for those without full-time employment) to encourage joining. The membership fee, although certainly helping with Club funding, is very much a “commitment fee” for members to get and stay involved with Achilles.

I want to mention two members in particular.

Firstly, Marg Collier, our oldest member at 93 who hasn’t been able to attend training for health reasons, but nonetheless stays interested in Achilles.

Secondly, Michael Bassil, who passed away earlier this year. He was one of the first and most frequent attendees at training over the last 15 years.

2. Finances

The financial status of the Club continues to be extremely sound. Besides funds received via membership fees, bank interest and the sale of clothing, we have had a significant boost to our Club bank balance thanks to donations via the Everyday Hero scheme, a wonderful $5000 donation of their prize by a group of runners who won the team event in the Sydney Tower Run Up, $1000 from the Ravine Foundation. A government grant of $3800 from the NSW Department Sport under its Grants for Disability Groups scheme was received. Not included in the financial statement to 30 June 2010, but since received are very generous donations of $1000 and $350 from Andrew Fox and Shirley Bassil.

As mentioned in my report last year, special mention is made of Brian O’Dea who spent an enormous amount of time and effort in compiling the grant application and led a grants sub-committee comprising of Martin, Ben and myself. Besides being successful in obtaining the grant, we learned valuable lessons and facts which will be used when applying for other grants in the future should they be offered. Brian is keeping a keen eye on this.

Thanks as well to Ian Cohen, our Treasurer, for his excellent work in keeping the books.

3. Events

“The main events for Achilles are the Sunday morning training sessions which aim at getting our members fit and healthy in a social, friendly and encouraging atmosphere.

“Members participated in various other events during the year, including the following: SMH & Blackmores Half and full Marathons (Ben), the Mothers’ Day Fun Run/Walk, Orange Running Festival, Six Foot Track Marathon, Walk for Shirley (the Foresight Foundation guys), City2Surf, Canberra Fun Run and walk (Helen & John Simon), Oxfam Trailwalker (Ben) and Sutherland to Surf. Social events included the end of year picnic and social breakfasts after Sunday training as well as the 15^th anniversary celebration to be mentioned later.

“Special thanks go to Charlie who was the force behind organising the entries for City2Surf , the Orange weekend and various other events.

Special mention is made of John Simon who is still part of a select group “The Legends”, those select few who have completed every single City 2 Surf event.

A number of members got together to train during the week and outside of Club training times. Some of our members also participated in events (swimming, golf, dragon boat racing, cycling, and hiking) outside of Achilles. Of particular note is the trek to Everest Base Camp by Brian O’Dea, Charlie McConnell, Rozanne Green and Nick Gleeson. Although this was a self-funded event, they represented Achilles in spirit and deed.

4. Uniforms

Part of the reason for our success in getting record numbers of enquiries about Achilles must be the high visibility of the club singlets at training and during formal events. We have finally managed to get similarly high visibility T-shirts to match our singlets in colour, design and special Microtech material, thanks largely to the special efforts of the Australian Fashion Group.

5. Training

As mentioned above, there have been record numbers of both members with disabilities and volunteers attending Sunday training. The majority of volunteers who turn up each Sunday are not on the roster but have been very much needed. Everyone is encouraged to come to training as often as possible. If there are more guides than disabled members, then they can operate in groups of guides with a disabled person, a great way to socialise and network, which is a definite aim of Achilles that is being achieved.

Special thanks go to Trevor Heaslip from the Botanic Gardens Trust for organising and supplying the parking permits which are working well.

I am very keen to get a formal training program up and running for guides. At present, new guides are giving introductory instructions and then they “learn on the job”. We have asked our members with disabilities not to be shy to request different guiding techniques. Each disabled person has their own preferences in being guided, so guides should expect to vary their guiding techniques accordingly. Overall, however, things are generally working very well.

6. Awards

The Andrew Bristow Memorial Awards were once again presented to a member with a disability and a volunteer at the end of year picnic last year. The recipients were Bronwyn Fitzpatrick and Michael Levy. Criteria for the award include the member’s contribution to Achilles, participation in the Club in general and the achievement of personal goals. The next award will take place today.

7. Logo and Marketing

The design of the new Club logo and unification the brand name and brand collateral of Achilles is complete.

The new logo retains the generic figure of an athlete but we have changed the design of the Opera House and have included the international disability sign of a person in a wheelchair. This will immediately suggest that Achilles includes those with physical disabilities. We will be getting a free-standing Club banner in the near future.

8. Website

The Achilles website is fully functional and in constantly being updated and upgraded. There has been a large increase in the enquiries being received through the contact email on the website and we can now monitor various aspects of our website usage, e.g. numbers of visits and average time spent viewing. There is no doubt that the website is one of the major factors for the large increase in numbers of people at Achilles.

Once again, special note is made of the massive and invaluable contribution that Martin Ruane has made in managing the website.

9. 15^th Year Anniversary

To commemorate 15 years since the Sydney chapter of Achilles started a very successful and momentous function was held last month. Besides having lots to eat and drink, those present had the privilege of hearing an address by our guest of Honour, Emeritus Professor Ron McCallum. Special thanks to Majella, who missed the function due to work commitments, organised all of the catering.

10.Thanks

Thanks go to individuals and groups:

To the Committee for the excellent work they have put into the running of Achilles, and the time and effort they have generously given. Brian, Martin, Charlie and Ian have been mentioned already. I also thank Nick for his tremendous input with all things, but in particular, strategic planning. As always it has been an absolute pleasure working with you.
New Horizons Learning Centre and, in particular, Carol Cooke and Mark Davis, who have most generously continued to provide the venue for our meetings.
Ravine Foundation, Andrew Fox and Shirley Bassil for their very generous cash donations.
To my family for allowing me to devote the time and supporting me in my involvement with Achilles.
And, of course, thanks to all Achilles members for their excellent contributions and their enthusiasm.

11.Achilles in the future

There are exciting times ahead for Achilles.

The website is such an integral part of Achilles and will constantly be updated and added to.

More disabled members are needed. The marketing committee are addressing this.

The Orange Running Festival will again be earmarked as a Club weekend away event. This will once again be heavily subsidised by the Club

The Auckland Running Festival in New Zealand is being targeted as a possible special Achilles event which we can attend as a Club. Contact has been made with Achilles New Zealand with the likelihood of collaboration between the two Clubs for this event.

The bushwalking events will be considered for the coming year

I wish Achilles every success, and positive growth in the future.

Ellis Janks - President

Achilles Running Club’s 15^th Anniversary

On November 6^th, about 60 people gathered at the Eastern Suburbs Legion Club to celebrate the 15^th Anniversary of the founding of the Achilles Running Club. As about half of those present had attended the usual Sunday training session, it was not a morning for a “dress code”. The smartly dressed mingled happily with the less elegant.

In welcoming past and present members and their guests, Club President Ellis Janks pointed out that Achilles was not alone in celebrating its 15^th Birthday. The nearby Sculpture by the Sea was also in its 15^th year. But, Ellis pointed out, the Achilles athletes were better sculpted.

In the 15 years that Achilles had existed, many people had been involved with the club. The uncontrollable changes in life had seen people come and go, and sometimes, return.

The common thread was the commitment of these people. Ellis told of the comments of a new member who had been involved in a number of community organisations. This person had seen Achilles as being unique in the way that it was inclusive of people of all levels of ability.

Ellis had seen people grow and to achieve things of which they had never dreamed. The driving force of the club and its members was the simple commitment to “Give it a go”. This was the greatest motivator in the club.

Ellis welcomed past and present members, paying tribute to those founding members, some of whom were present, including the first Club President, Leonard Greis and the first Club Secretary Rodney Muller. Leonard’s company, the Australian Fashion Group had been a supporter from the outset, producing the distinctive yellow singlets and T-shirts that were such an important part of Achilles’ success. Other stalwarts from the early days included Ray Chaitow, Marjory Roberts and Rozanne Green.

The man who had thought of establishing Achilles in Sydney, Richard Shakenovsky, was in Melbourne for his daughter’s wedding and had sent his best wishes. Greetings had also been received from overseas and other parts of Australia.

Ellis also thanked his family: Avril, Sally Ann and Donny. They had made his long involvement with Achilles possible. When younger, Sally Ann and Donny had earned the dubious distinction of each falling into the Botanical Gardens duck-pond on separate occasions.

Ellis thanked the Committee, with a special mention of Majella Knobel, who had arranged the catering for the celebrations before work commitments had taken her to Cairns. Charlie McConnell was also not able to attend but had left a typically cheerful greeting that was screened at the celebration.

Detailed records of attendance at the Sunday training sessions had started in 2007 and it had been decided to introduce certificates to honour those members who had attended 50 or more training sessions since the beginning of 2007. Certificates were awarded to:

Members with Disabilities: Peter Beileiter, Charlie McConnell, Michael Bassil*, Shane Woodbridge, Nick Gleeson, Joe Habib, Shayne McDonagh, Helen Simon, Sue McLeod, Bronwyn Fitzpatrick, Mathew Levy, Annette Collier.

*The late Michael Basil had been a long-standing and popular Member of the Cub, his certificate wa presented to Michael’s widow Shirley, who used to accompany Michael to each of the training sessions and who is a great friend of the Club.

Volunteers: Ellis Janks, Michael Levy, Stephen Lenn, John Simon, Martin Ruane, Brain O’Dea, Shirley Bassil, Oscar Fragiacomo, John McIntyre.

At the completion of the presentation, Ellis was “ambushed” by Club Vice-President, Martin Ruane. Ellis was awarded an Honorary Life Membership of the Achilles Running Club. This is the first such award and it surprised Ellis but delighted everybody else.

Martin presents Ellis his lifetime membership award.

The Guest of Honour was Emeritus Professor Ron McCallum, the 2011 Senior Australian of the Year. Ron’s talk gave an amusing and at times poignant account of his life’s journey to date. He described how his birth had been part of a global epidemic of children born prematurely and suffering from retrorental fibroplasia (RLF) in places such as USA, Canada, U.K., Europe and Australasia in the 1940s and early 1950s. Over 10,000 premature babies were born without sight before the cause was identified: too much oxygen in the incubators. Among the more than 10,000 of Ron’s contempories born with RLF was Stevie Wonder.

In describing his childhood in straitened circumstances and his determination to succeed, Ron said that he had decided at the age of 13 to “lock his blindness in a cupboard”. A string of amusing anecdotes illustrated his passage to university (intending to become a history teacher), his switch to law, specialising in industrial relations and becoming the first totally blind person to be appointed to a full professorship in any discipline in any Australian or NZ university. He achieved a similar “first” when made a Dean of Law. While carving his exceptional career, Ron married Mary, the daughter of Australia’s first Professor of Opthalmology, Gerard Crock. Ron told the story of arriving at the professor’s home to meet Mary. A party was in progress and Ron answered a curious guest’s question with the statement, “I am here as one of the doctor’s failures.”

Whether he was discussing his 39 years as a leading labour-law specialist, or as a member (and now Chair) of the first United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it was clear that Ron is a passionate advocate for the rights and advancements of people with disabilities. In his championing of “inclusiveness”, Ron has sought to change people’s perceptions of disabilities, and counted his teaching of past and current cabinet ministers as being particularly useful in this regard.

He is actively involved in a number of organisations that promotes a better life for people with disabilities, whether through the expansion of technology or of minds. He congratulated the Achilles members for their own efforts in bridging two communities that should never be apart.

Ron finished his talk with the assessment that he “had been in the right place at the right time”. None of us believed this last bit. Indeed, it was clear from their reaction that it was the Achilles audience that felt it was in the right place at the right time.

Professor Ron McCallum

Portrait of an Achilles Member – Ben There; Done That.

Ben Phillips features frequently in Achilles Heel. In the last edition, we told the story of Ben’s first marathon. Earlier stories featured Ben as an actor in a Beyond Vision production, a competitor in the Oxfam Trailwalker, and as a cricketer representing Australia. Further afield, Ben has recently been the subject of a story in Men’s Fitness magazine.

Before Ben disappears into the world of Reality TV, we decided find out more about him.

Born in Penrith in 1980, Ben has had to cope with failing eyesight from his first years. He was born with a condition called aniridia; that is, without irises. Though legally blind in his childhood years, Ben was encouraged by his parents to get involved in life to the full. With a builder for a father, Ben was taken to projects and was often scrambling on roofs or running round the nearby bush looking for lizards and collecting cicada shells.

He spent his school years in Kiama, where he developed a love for beach sports, competing in surf-boat races and developing his swimming and body-board skills.

At school, his slowly deteriorating eyesight made his attempts to compete in athletics increasingly difficult. Ben found it necessary to switch to competitions designed for blind school-aged children. This resulted in him representing NSW Country at the Pan Pacific Games (now known as the Southern Cross Games). He won a number of silver and bronze medals in swimming, running and tug-o-war.

Ben was introduced to Blind Cricket at the age of 10. He was soon traveling to Sydney every second weekend to compete against adults in what he describes as “the ferocious” Sydney Blind Cricket competition. [Editor: Club members Charlie McConnell and Nick Gleeson were veterans of this competition and we can understand how the ferocity developed.]

In winter, Ben would ski at Thredbo, occasionally using trees and fences as course correctors more often than he would have liked.

Defying his declining vision, Ben maintained a vigorous outdoor life of hill-climbing, kayaking fishing and water-skiing. He also joined the SES for what proved to be “demanding physical work, cutting up cars and jumping off cliffs.” [We think Ben might have confused his volunteer stint with random acts of hooliganism but he assures us that it was all in a good cause.]

On the sports field, Ben attempted a whole range of team and individual activities. He was finding this increasingly difficult and had to abandon most of these pursuits. One notable exception was his involvement in a successful rugby union team that finished in the Top 8 in New South Wales. This successful schoolboy side also played Rugby League for the Kiama Red Devils (now the Kiama Knights). They appeared in four consecutive Grand Finals, losing the first but winning the other three. Ben describes himself as being “the biggest kid in the year”. They put me in the front row, would hand me the ball, and I would charge into the defence as a battering ram.” He scored a number of tries and kicked a few goals. Things became a little tougher when opponents would notice that Ben and impaired vision and he became a target for high kicks and planned running moves.

In his last season, Ben was made captain of the team and he still fondly remembers the guard-of-honour that applauded him from the field at the end of his last game.

In 2000, Ben moved to Sydney and started playing Blind Cricket seriously. His efforts were rewarded in 2005 when he was selected to play for New South Wales. Ben has now played several times for Australia, including on a tour to the West Indies. He also resumed volunteer work with the NSW Police (2003) and the Children’s Hospital (2007).

Ben’s eyesight continued to deteriorate and in 2009, Nick Gleeson persuaded Ben to join Achilles. That year Ben ran his first City to Surf and signed himself out of the Sydney Eye Hospital to do so.

After running 10K races at Homebush and Orange, Ben, under the guidance of Club member and ultra-runner Markus Schar, tackled the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon, completed the 100K Trailwalker and, again with the help of Markus and Ellis, completed the Blackmores Marathon. And that, as they say, is where we came in.

But while most of us were winding down at the end of the year, Ben was heading to Brisbane on December 27^th to take part in an interstate cricket tournament. This will be followed in January by a training camp and, shortly afterwards, the announcement of the team that will contest The Ashes in England in June.

If he makes the team, he has promised to wear his Achilles shirt at some of England’s historic landmarks. [Just don’t wear it in the nightclubs, Ben.]

Ben finishes his first marathon

The 2011 Annual General Meeting

On December 11^th, the petulant Sydney weather was on its best behaviour and allowed 40 members of the Achilles Club to enjoy the last training session of the year and then to move to the Domain to hold the Annual General Meeting.

Initial attention was on the wide selection of food and drink brought by the members. Club President Ellis Janks recounted the activities of the year. The main points are covered in the President’s Address at the beginning of this Newsletter.

The Financial Report was read by Treasurer Ian Cohen and his report will be posted on the Achilles website.

As is the custom, all official positions were declared open and a new committee was elected. The 2012 Committee will consist of:

President: Ellis Janks

Vice President: Martin Ruane

Treasurer: Ian Cohen

Secretary: Brian O’Dea

Charlie McConnell

Diane McEwin

Majella Knobel

Nicole Tillotson

Nicholas Gleeson

The AGM is also the time and the place to present the Andrew Bristow Awards to honour an Athlete with a Disability and a Volunteer who had epitomised the values of the Club throughout the year. As is always the case, many people merited the awards. After considerable discussion the Committee selected:

Disabled Athlete of the Year – Majella Knobel.

During her two years or so with the Cub, Majella used her considerable talents to help the club in many ways. At the same time, she has set herself a number of personal challenges. From her first competitive event at the Orange Running Festival, Majella has striven to improve, tackling the City to Surf and the Bridge Run. She has also joined the cycling ranks, joining other Achilles members in community cycling events. Whatever her role with the club, Majella brings enthusiasm and an infectious good humour.

Volunteer of the Year – Renata Steele

Like Majella, Renata has been a mainstay of Achilles in 2011. She has been happy to splash about the Botanical Gardens as a guide in the pouring rain, and has also been available for mid-week training sessions, notably with Majella. Renata has been quick to volunteer her services in a number of events and was one of the behind-the-scenes organisers of the 15^th Anniversary Celebration.[ Lastly, she has shown remarkable patience when the Club Secretary has found several new ways to spell Renata’s name.]

Congratulations to Majella and Renata!

Majella and Renata

Our 4 legged friends enjoy the AGM!

Special Awards

At the AGM, Ellis presented Recognition Awards to two of the clubs stalwarts of many years: Doug Ritchie, Ted Magen and Karen Parker. Ellis spoke of their “above and beyond” contribution on the Committee from the early days of the Club.

Thank you, Mr Ambassador.

From the NSW Government Department of Family and Community Services Home Page:

“International Day of People with a Disability (IDPWD) is celebrated annually in NSW with the Don’t DIS my ABILITY campaign. The campaign celebrates the diversity and ability of people with a disability. It is about promoting positive perceptions and building an environment that encourages active participation in careers, leisure pursuits as well as social activities.

International Day of People with a Disability (IDPWD) is designated by the United Nations as a time to celebrate and recognise the achievements, contributions and abilities of people with a disability and is celebrated on December 3 each year.

Don’t DIS my ABILITY continues to support the aims of Stronger Together funding by raising community awareness of the needs of people with a disability and their ability to make life choices relating not only to their care, but their career aspirations, relationships and social activities.

The 2011 UN theme is Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development.

Each year ambassadors are selected to support and strengthen the Don’t DIS my ABILITY campaign.

Chosen from the arts, sports and business fields, these individuals all have a story to tell. They attend various events throughout the campaign to spread the word that people with a disability can do anything.”

In 2010 and again 2011, Achilles member Nick Gleeson has been an Ambassador for the “Don’t Dis My Ability” campaign. On November 23^rd, The Bankstown Torch ran this story about Nick.

Nick and the other Ambassadors were present at the launch of the campaign on December 3^rd. Also in attendance from Achilles were Ben Phillips, Martin Ruane and Brian O’Dea.

Out and About

· Charlie McConnell and Ellis Janks have climbed Kilimanjaro together, hiked the Kokoda Track together and run marathons together. So, it’s hardly surprising that they would swim in an ocean together. They teamed up aquatically for the first time when they swam the 2.4K race from Coogee to Wedding Cake Island and back. Charlie also swam the race last year and was pleased that this year he finished four places ahead of last year’s placing.

· Charlie also featured in the Sydney Spring Cycle event from North Sydney to Homebush. He and other Achilles members Majella Knobel and Nicole Tillotson completed the 55K on tandems guided by volunteers. We know that they had a lot of fun training and riding, and we urge other Achilles members to consider doing this event.

· When vision-impaired Nastasia Campanella joined Achilles, she was a trainee journalist with the ABC. These days she can be heard regularly on the ABC News on such flagship programmes as The World Today.

· It was great to have Fay Pisier back with us after her recent foot operation. She is keen to join us again in 2012.

· We also received other good news from one of our long-time members who had been out of action for a couple of seasons because of an injury. Phillip Cook has been in and out of hospital in the last year or so. We were delighted to hear that he thinks he is ready to resume his training with Achilles.

2012 Season

We will be off and running (and walking) on Sunday 29^th January. Please mark it in your calendar. [The only other events of interest on that day are the Ayrshire Wedding Show, A Pig and Poultry Course (including PowerPoint) in Llanyndd - Wales, and the Chernobyl 10K.]

Volunteers

As usual, we will be looking for Volunteers to act as guides at our Sunday training sessions. If you are available, even if only infrequently, please send us an email.

Newsletter RHS

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Past newsletters:

JAN 2012

OCT 2011

JULY 2011

APRIL 2011

FEBRUARY 2011

DECEMBER 2010

OCTOBER 2010

SEPTEMBER 2010

DOUG'S COMRADES REPORT 2010

OCTOBER 2009

OCTOBER 2008

JULY 2008

APRIL 2008

DECEMBER 2007

City to Surf Tower Run

City to Surf team 2009

City to Surf Team Photo 2

Rael, Phil and Doug after the Tower Run.

Orange Photos

Group shot of the team at Orange.

The beautiful grounds at the Orange Running Festival

Ben and Brian cross the finish line

Ben and Brian with their medals.

Shayne and Sue crossing the line

John and Helen cross the finish line of the 10km walk - great effort!

The nervous wait before the start!

Race Pictures 2009

Race Pictures from 2009

Ben Phillips and Martin Ruane - Sri Chinmoy Centennial Park 22 Nov 2009

The Run for Fun Team - 8th Nov 2009

Nick and Ellis finsh the Blackmores Half Marathon

City to Surf Group Photos 2009.

Feb 2011 Newsletter

Newsletter of the Achilles Running Club - Sydney

PO Box 240, Randwick, 2031:
info@achilles-sydney.org.au
www.achilles-sydney.org.au

February 2011 Edition

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday training is back in full swing

The end of year break has come and gone. Training this year has resumed with great enthusiasm and excellent attendance. Since the email requesting more volunteers join the roster, the roster list has grown. Still, more volunteers are needed to sign up. So, please either respond by email (hit reply) or speak to Ellis to have your name added to the roster.

Orange Colour Running Festival

A large contingent of 16 from Achilles will be heading out west to Orange NSW this weekend for the running and walking festival. There is a 4 km walk/run, a 10 km run and a half marathon. Stand by for reports and pictures of the weekend in the upcoming full newsy Achilles Heel (as opposed to this mini newsletter).

Injury corner:

Michael is on the recovery road - once again

Michael Bassil, one of the longest standing members of Achilles and the most frequent attendee of Sunday training for the last 2 years, is recovering from surgery to his parotid (cheek) gland. Despite being in obvious discomfort, he has been coming to Sunday training and showing his wonderful spirit and committment that we have become used to.

Ted is hobbling

Ted Magen managed to break a bone in his foot which has meant that he is immobilized in a boot and out of action for while.

John is back

John McIntyre is back at training following his shoulder surgery. He is yet to show us if he can do a hand stand, but certainlyhas recovered enough to guide.

No cartwheels (yet) from Ellis

Not wanting to miss out, yours truly is also making a splendid recovery from shoulder and bilateral hernia surgery in December. Jogging and swimming - yes. Cartwheels and tennis - not yet!

We wish all of our injured and recovering from injury members a very speedy return to full health!

Future events

If there is an event which you think is suitable for yourself and/or our members, please do let us know (as usual, contact us through the Club email address - info@achilles-sydney.org.au or speak with a committee member at Sunday training).

Parking Permits

A reminder to everyone who brings a car to Sunday training - please make sure that you display a parking permit. Get one from Ellis at Sunday training.

Caps, T-shirts, singlets and sloppy-joes

These are (usually) available at Sunday training. Caps ($10), T-shirts with the yellow sleeves ($10), club singlets ($20), sloppy-joes ($30), old club t-shirts (all white) ($5) for those who are keen on having a collector's item.

Achilles website

If you want up to date information about Achilles, you’ll find it on the website, www.achilles-sydney.org.au . To make email contact with Achilles, please use info@achilles-sydney.org.au .

Achilles Sunday Training Volunteer Roster

(updated 23/02/11)

Below is a provisional volunteer roster. If you are not on the roster but want to be, please let us know by email - info@achilles-sydney.org.au .

Mar 5 -Orange Running Festival week-end

Mar 6 - Mark Houlihan, Ian Cohen, Stephen Lenn, Nikki Simler.Extra Volunteers Required

Mar 13 - Brian O'Dea, Ian Cohen, Diane Mcewin, Julie Martin Extra Volunteers Required

Mar 20 - Colin Bradford, Martin Ruane, Tori Ames, Andrew Fox,Extra Volunteers Required

Mar 27 - Marilyn Gould, Dan Barnett, Karen Parker, Extra Volunteers Required

Apr 3 - Mark Houlihan, Ian Cohen, Stephen Lenn, Nikki Simler. Extra Volunteers Required

Apr 10 - Brian O'Dea, Ian Cohen, Diane Mcewin, Julie Martin, Extra Volunteers Required

Apr 17 - Colin Bradford, Martin Ruane,Tori Ames, Andrew Fox.Extra Volunteers Required

Training Guide

ACHILLES RUNNING CLUB — Guiding Tips

Introduce yourself

Make sure you know what the person's disability is - if they are vision impaired, ask what they can and can't see.

Ask which side is best to guide on.

Do not rush - you must feel that you are in control. You must relax, enjoy the experience and have fun.

Start slowly.

Give clear, loud commands.

Commands include these: "ramp up, ramp down, come left, come right, uneven/rough ground, tuck in close, step up, step down, stop".

If the unexpected happens and you are losing control of the situation, say "STOP" and stop immediately

Do not give unnecessary commands and information about obstacles- it makes concentrating harder

However, do tell about things of interest - scenery, flowers etc.

Try to allow more room between you and obstacles/cars than is necessary in case of the unpredictable

Approach steps at 90 degrees. Pause (not stop) before negotiating stairs. Walk up/down stairs - don't run. Offer a hand rail if available

When you are in a normal environment, make sure you are must be next to the person, not in front or behind

Relax your arm and hand holding the guiding strap - the strap must not be taut. If it is tight, movement is being impeded

If you are going through a narrow area, always lead; the blind person will follow you (guide from the front, not the back) .

When going past low obstructions eg bollards, line the blind person up to keep going straight and you move to avoid the obstacle

if people ahead are blocking your path, warn pedestrians ahead by calling/shouting "blind runner coming through"

Ask questions during the walking/running session: e.g. how can I best guide you? Ask for feedback during the exercise session as to how you are guiding

Give relevant commands at ANY time you need to - never hold back relevant information because you are interrupting conversation

It is your responsibility to keep the athlete with a disability safe. If you are having trouble guiding, please ask for help.

AGM 2011

The ever increasing number of Guide Dogs at training.

Majella and her Andrew Bristow Award

The setting for the outdoor AGM

Majella and Renata with their respective Andrew Bristow Awards for 2011

Helen, Aviva and Bart and friends

Socialising at the AGM

Triathlon 2011

Charlie prepares for the swim

Michael and Charlie head for the water

Michael and Charlie

The transition

Paul and Lindy head out

Kamilla, Eamo, Ellis and Brian

Kamilla and Eamo

Kamilla flanked by her guides

The run for home

The group at the end.

Awards and Everest

Bronwyn with her trophy

Michael shows off his Trophies.

L-R: Da Wong Chu (Our lead guide. Has climbed Everest 3 times), Brian, Charlie, Rozanne, Nick, Vina (“Honorary” Achilles member, now of North Carolina and long-time friend of Nick’s).

Comrades Photos 2010

Home

More than just exercise. Helping people who would like to walk and run, able-bodied and disabled, to do it together.

The Achilles Resolution Run Team 2012.

Club activities include:

    * Weekly training
    * Taking part in walking and running events
    * Learning how to guide
    * Enjoying social events

Latest News:

Training is on this Sunday 5th February 2012, meet at the Art Gallery steps at 8.10am.

Congratulations on everyone who competed in the Blackmores Running Festival. More information will follow in the next newsletter. A particular mention and congratulations to Ben Phillips on completeing his first marathon. To hear his interview with Adam Spencer on ABC radio - click here

A training guide for all volunteers has been added to our site - click here to view. We advise all volunteers to read and refresh themselves.

A new volunteer roster is now complete - click here.

Congratulations to all members who completed the 2011 City to Surf. A full report will appear in the next newsletter.

Congratulations to Charlie and Karen who ran the 11km Sutherland to Surf in 63.21 mins. This is not an easy course and Karen Charlie’s average pace of 5 minutes and 45 seconds per kilometre is a great effort.

The July 2011 newsletter is now out - click here

The new volunteer roster is now complete - click here.

Photos of the triathlon have been posted to the site - click here (posted 28/04/11)

ACHILLES GOES TO ORANGE

Once again an extremely enthusiastic group of 16 Achilles members travelled by bus to participate in the Orange Colour Running Festival on Sunday 5 March. This wonderful event in the rural setting of Orange NSW included a 5km, 10km and half marathon. Six members ran the 10kms and the rest walked in the 5 km event. Of particular note, Majella, guided by Brian finished her first ever 10km event while Ben and Charlie, guided by Marcelo and Ellis finished the 10 kms in under an hour. Sue, Shayne, Nastasia, Joe, Jenny, Kerry, Sandy, Colin, Brian all enjoyed the 5 km walk. This very social and fun weekend away should definitely be repeated next year with even more Achilles members!

The new roster is now available - Click here

EVEREST CONQUERED - Posted 16/10/10

The Achilles "Blind Ambition II" team has just returned from Nepal and a trek to Everest Base Camp. Achilles members Charlie McConnell, Nick Gleeson, Rozanne Green and Brian O'Dea were joined by Vina Accomazzo for the trek. Blessed with glorious weather and a superb team of Sherpa guides the team achieved its objective without mishap and had lots of fun along the way. A full report is expected soon (though Charlie us insisting "What happens on tour stays on tour"

CONGRATULATIONS TO LINDY HOU FOR COMPLETING HER FIRST MARATHON IN MELBOURNE LAST WEEK IN 4 HOURS 12 MINS. (Posted 16/10/10)

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR MEMBERS WHO RAN IN THE SYDNEY RUNNING FESTIVAL.

The latest addition of the Achilles Heel Newsletter is now out - to read - Click here

SYDNEY BLACKMORES RUNNING FESTIVAL - Posted 22/9/10

Well done to Ben Phillips, Markus Schar and Ellis Janks on finishing the Half Marathon in 2:08 and to Kathy Fela and Dianne Whalstromfor completing the Bridge Fun Run.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR MEMBERS WHO TOOK PART IN THE CITY TO SURF.

The latest addition of the Achilles Heel Newsletter is now out - to read - Click here

To read Doug's Comrades report - Click Here

The new roster is now available - Click here

Photos of the Orange Running Festival are now posted - Click Here

Magnificent Doug and Markus are Successful

Doug Ritchie and Markus Schar (guiding François, a blind Achilles South Africa member) tamed the hills and flats of the Comrades Marathon to finish in 11 hours 35:58 mins and 11:46:32 respectively – a great effort. Congratulations to them both!

They ran most of the race very close together (although they wouldn’t have known it until afterwards). We look forward to hearing all about the race from both of them.

(posted on - 3rd June 2010)

BEN PHILLIPS LEAVES FOR WEST INDIES

Ben Phillips departed these shores with baggy green in hand (or on head) to tour the West Indies with the Australian blind cricket team. We wish Ben all the best of luck. We will keep you updated with the news from the Caribbean.

(posted on - 3rd June 2010)

BEN PHILLPS COMPLETES HIS FIRST HALF MARATHON

Congratulations to Ben Phillips who completed his first half marathon on the 16^th May. Guided by Markus with the help of Ellis and Doug, Ben finished in 2 hours 16 minutes. Well done Ben, I am sure this will be the first of many.

DOUG AND MARKUS HEAD TO SOUTH AFRICA

Two Achilles members Doug Ritchie and Markus Schar have left for South Africa to compete in the 2010 Comrades Marathon on the 30^th May. The Comrades Marathon is the World’s oldest and largest Ultra marathon, run over a distance of 89km (56 miles) between Pietermaritzburg (capital of Kwazulu – Natal Provence) and the coastal city of Durban, South Africa www.comrades.com or www.alsoranrunners.info/ . The direction of the race alternates each year between the “up run” starting from Durban and the “down run” starting from Pietermaritzburg. This year 2010 is a “down run”. The race is run over a strenuous course which encapsulates the “Big Five”, the five hills to be traversed on the run. There is a 12 hour time limit to cover the 89km’s. The “down run” is (sadly) known to be the tougher of the two direction due to the damage done to toes, feet, quads and knees as a result of the unavoidable action of having to running down hill for extended periods of time www.comrades.com/images/routeprofilemap.jpg

NICK AND BRIAN FLY THE ACHILLES FLAG

Congratulations to Nick Gleeson and Brian O’Dea who are both celebrating the completion of the Oxfam Trial walk and the Boston Marathon respectively.

Nick and his team ‘The Tigers’ finished the walk in 34 hours and 42 minutes. Despite a lost toe nail and sore feet Nick is recovering well. A great effort Nick.

Brian travelled to Boston for the marathon. He finished the race in an excellent time of 3 hours and 56 minutes with some energy spare to enjoy the post race celebrations with other members from Achilles International. Well done Brian.

BRIAN O’DEA – BOSTON HERE HE COMES

Best of luck to Brian O’Dea, committee member and guide extraordinaire, who heads off to the USA to run the Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest and one of the most prestigious major annual marathons in the world. It was first run in 1897. Brian was extremely lucky to gain entry into this race that has well over 100 000 applicants for the 25 000 places. To be eligible to enter, you also need a qualifying marathon within a certain time.

The 2010 QUALIFYING STANDARDS for men in the different age groups are:

18-34 3hrs 10min

35-39 3hrs 15min

40-44 3hrs 20min

45-49 3hrs 30min

50-54 3hrs 35min

55-59 3hrs 45min

60-64 4hrs 00min

Have a GREAT RUN, Brian and bring back some interesting stories!

6 FOOT TRACK MARATHON

Congratulations to all our members who produced fantastic results in the 6 Foot Track Marathon last weekend. A number of these supreme athletes ran their personal best times and all produced excellent results.

Of particular note is John Domandl,a visually impaired member from Newcastle who, together with 2 of his best mates as sighted guides finished the grueling 45 km mountain run 2 mins and 46 secs ahead of the cut-off time of 7 hours. What a fantastic effort! John continuously traded positions at the back of the field with the sweep team and at one stage (Cox River) was 10 minutes behind them. It took an extreme effort to make up time over the inhospitable terrain along fire trails and bush tracks to the finish line at Jenolan Caves.

The finish times of the Achilles “team” were:

Michael Lovric 4 hours 30 mins 21 secs

Markus Schar 5:34:51

Michael Levy 5:50:11

Doug Ritchie 6:13:54

Nick Dreyton 6:48:04

Viv Kartsounis 6:48:04

John Domandl 6:57:14

About Us

The Sydney chapter of the Achilles Running Club was started in 1996. It is part of a worldwide organisation represented within about 60 countries.

Achilles aims to enable people from all walks of life, including those with physical impairments, to enjoy the health giving benefits of walking and running in a supportive, social and encouraging environment. In so doing it hopes to promote personal achievement, to enhance self-esteem and to lower barriers between people.

Where To Find Us

You will find us every Sunday morning, rain, hail or shine, on the steps of the Art Gallery of NSW opposite the Domain at 8:10am.

We train (walk or run) for an hour, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of some of Sydney's most spectacular parts - the Royal Botanic Gradens, the Opera House, Mrs. Macqauarie's Point.

For those of you who have some form of physical disability and want to enjoy the benefits of walking and running, Achilles is for you! Those of you who are not physically challenged and want to help others enjoy exercise can act as a "guide" for the disabled members in training and in races. You are NOT expected to be an expert in health or fitness or physical disabilities - training is provided. You simply need the desire to help those who are physically less fortunate than yourself.

The Achilles Running Club is an incorporated body and is registered as a charity organisation.

Committee

Ellis Janks - President

Martin Ruane - Vice President, webmaster & membership database co-ordinator

Ian Cohen - Treasurer

Charlie McConnell – Events co-ordinator

Nick Gleeson – Membership recruitment

Brian O’Dea – Newsletter & events co-ordinator

Dan Barnett – Membership recruitment

Roster

Achilles Sunday Training Volunteer Roster

Below is a provisional volunteer roster. As you can see, a number of names have been removed due to these members not being able to consistently commit to certain days. We are in need of more volunteers for the roster. If you are not on the roster but want to be, please let us know by email - info@achilles-sydney.org.au

(updated 27/7/2011)

31 July - Mark Houlihan, Ian Cohen, Stephen Lenn .Extra Volunteers Required

7 Aug - Colin Bradford, Martin Ruane, Andrew Fox. Extra Volunteers Required

14 Aug – NO TRAINING – City 2 Surf

21 Aug - Marilyn Gould, Karen Parker, Extra Volunteers Required

28 Aug - Mark Houlihan, Ian Cohen, Stephen Lenn, Extra Volunteers Required

4 Sept - Brian O'Dea, Diane Mcewin, Julie Martin, Extra Volunteers Required

11 Sept - Colin Bradford, Martin Ruane, Andrew Fox.Extra Volunteers Required

18 Sept – NO TRAINING – Blackmores Running Festival

25 Sept - Marilyn Gould, Ian Cohen, Stephen Lenn, Extra Volunteers Required

2 Oct - Brian O'Dea, Diane Mcewin, Julie Martin, Extra Volunteers Required

9 Oct - Colin Bradford, Martin Ruane, Andrew Fox, Extra Volunteers Required

16 Oct - Marilyn Gould, Karen Parker, Extra Volunteers Required

23 Oct - Mark Houlihan, Ian Cohen, Stephen Lenn, Extra Volunteers Required

30 Oct - Brian O'Dea, Diane Mcewin, Julie Martin, Extra Volunteers Required

5 Nov - Colin Bradford, Martin Ruane, Andrew Fox, Extra Volunteers Required

13 Nov - Marilyn Gould, Karen Parker, Extra Volunteers Required

20 Nov - Mark Houlihan, Ian Cohen, Stephen Lenn, Extra Volunteers Required

27 Nov - Brian O'Dea, Diane Mcewin, Julie Martin, Extra Volunteers Required

4 Dec - Colin Bradford, Martin Ruane, Andrew Fox, Extra Volunteers Required

11 Dec - Marilyn Gould, Karen Parker, Extra Volunteers Required

Image Gallery

15th Anniversary

Agm2011

Triathlon 2011

Awards and Everest 2010

Orange Running Festival 2010

Race Pictures 2009

City to Surf and Tower Run 2009

Bushwalk May 2009

Hastie Group Presentation 2008

2006-Photos

Contact Us

If you would like to find out more about becoming an Achilles Member or Volunteer, contact info@achilles-sydney.org.au

You can also contact the Achilles Running Club Sydney via the post.

Postal Address:
Achilles Running Club Sydney Inc.,
PO Box 240,
Randwick 2031

Volunteer Roster
If your name is not on the roster and you would like to be on roster please email: info@achilles-sydney.org.au or phone 93653329

April 2010 Newsletter

Contents:

President’s Message

Orange – Running like clockwork

Ben’s Baggy Green

Not-so-Blue Mountains Race

Peter’s Red-Letter Day

Update – Matt makes another splash.

Update – Lindy in Canberra.

2010 Volunteer Roster

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE.

I believe that since the last edition of The Achilles Heel, walking and running conditions have been perfect. Some believe it has become cooler. None-the-less large numbers of enthusiastic members turn out every Sunday, come rain (14 members came), Easter long weekends (15) or good weather (30+). As I have mentioned before, we need the volunteer guides, so please keep coming. There have some Sunday training days when the disabled members have outnumbered the guides.

The committee are still working on getting Achilles caps. We are trying to source yellow (our singlet colour) micromesh material caps at a reasonable price for the quantity we need which is proving very difficult. If we wanted white or some other common colour, we would already have had caps. Watch this space!

Dick Traum, the founder of the Achilles, named his newly formed running and walking group “The Achilles Track Club”. When we started the Sydney chapter of Achilles, we decided to adopt the name “Achilles Running Club”, as “track” had different connotations in Australia to the USA and we wanted the name of the club to describe what we did. The Achilles Track Club has recently had a name change. It is now Achilles International (www.achillesinternational.org). Chapters around the world have been asked to officially register with Achilles International. Our committee has decided that it is preferable to keep our name as the Achilles Running Club, as this still identifies who we are, what we do and our name and logo has become a well recognised. I will keep you updated with news on our communications with our Achilles parent organization.

Happy walking and running and looking forward to seeing you on the road!

Ellis Janks

ORANGE – RUNNING LIKE CLOCKWORK

It is believed that Sir Thomas Mitchell named Orange after the Prince William of Orange, whom Mitchell had known when they were both aide-de-camps to the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsular War.

On Saturday 6^th March, 14 members of the Achilles Running Club set out for Orange in what was the club’s first involvement in the Orange Running Festival. Martin and a few family members travelled ahead as an advance party.

The idea had grown from a suggestion that Achilles should be taken farther afield. As well as giving other centres the opportunity of learning about Achilles, this would add extra social and event opportunities for members.

From the time that Ellis contacted the organisers of the Running Festival, the Achilles Club was made to feel very welcome. Our impending arrival was featured in the Central Western Daily. Charlie McConnell was the subject of a well-worded interview, which can be read here.

Charlie was also the main organiser of the trip, including the accommodation. This was no simple task and Charlie’s efforts were greatly appreciated. Owing to a misunderstanding at the hotel, we arrived to find that insufficient rooms had been reserved. Ellis, Charlie and the hotel manager devised a plan that saw everybody housed. It did mean that some people did get to know each other a little better than had been anticipated. This all added to camaraderie of the trip.

Another stalwart of the venture was Kerry, who nursed the bus to and from Orange with skill and good humour. She also patiently ignored the shouted advice from the “committee” that was driving Charlie’s GPS device.

The meal on the eve of the Festival was a convivial affair, with one or two people taking a creative approach to the “carbo-loading” aspects of racing.

The Festival was a great success, and Achilles had participants in the 4.5K and 10K events. The organisation was impeccable and the organisers, volunteers and participants were cheerful and efficient. This attitude was maintained even when a deluge hit the post-race activities. The downpour could not douse the prevailing mood and did not interrupt the drawing of gifts from a seemingly bottomless barrel. This was particularly remarkable because a burglar had stolen the intended prizes just a few days before the Festival.

Helen and Ben each won a prize in the draw, and the Festival organizers added to our haul with a generous gift of caps and drink-bottles.

It is certain that the Orange Running Festival will become a regular feature of our calendar.

The Achilles Team after the events. [More pictures from Orange can be viewed here]

SOCIAL BREAKFAST AFTER TRAINING

For all those who feel peckish after training and who want to catch up with other Achilles members, we are having another very popular club breakfast. You can get a continental or full breakfast or just a cuppa and muffin or toast - whatever takes your fancy. So do come and eat, relax and socialise.

Date : Sunday 11 April 2010

Venue : NSW League Headquarters, 165 Phillip Street. (between King St & Martin Place)

Time : about 9-45 am

Dress: Training / walking and running gear is fine but bring a change of clothes if you are really dripping sweat after a vigorous training session.

Hope to see you there.

BEN’S BAGGY GREEN

Among the team that travelled to Orange was Ben Phillips. In recent months, Ben’s running has played a vital part in meeting another sporting goal: selection for the Australian Blind Cricket Team.

Ben has been on a determined path to make the team since falling short in 2008, when Australia played England for the Ashes. “I think it was due to my lack of fitness,” Ben told Achilles Heel. In April 2009, Ben was given another chance and attended a training cam in Adelaide. “Yet again, my fitness let me down,” Ben recalls.

Shortly afterwards, Ben underwent surgery in an effort to save what was left of his failing sight. It did not work. At this point, Ben was at a low ebb. However, he was boosted by, “great mates around me; most notably, long time friend and former fellow cricketer, Nick Gleeson, who showed great understanding of my new situation. Nick signed me up with Achilles and entered me in the 2009 City to Surf.”

Ben “power walked” the whole way. Having just been released from, he was under medical orders not to try to run.

He then started running and walking with Achilles regularly. As his fitness improved, so did his cricket. Late in 2009, he was selected by New South Wales to be part of the squad preparing for the National Blind Cricket Championships, to be held in January 2010. In this build-up, Ben would “attend Achilles training on a Sunday morning and spend the rest of the day training with the NSW cricket squad. The effort I was putting in was noticed and there was an obvious improvement in my fitness.”

A chance withdrawal of another player from the NSW and Australia teams, resulted in Ben getting an unexpected call-up to the national team. After the National Championship, Ben found himself part of the team contesting 5 one-day internationals with NZ. He was 12^th man for the first two games but got his chance in the 3^rd game. His 32 runs from 15 deliveries were followed by 32 runs from 16 deliveries in the 4^th game. A successful opening partnership in the 5^th game meant that Ben did not have to bat. [Ben credits his batting approach to the example set by Achilles member Charlie McConnell, “regarded in his day as the toughest attacking batsman in the world.”]

These two knocks have led to Ben being selected for Australia for the 3-week tour to the West Indies in June.

Congratulations, Ben!

NOT-SO-BLUE MOUNTAINS RACE

The “Visit New South Wales” website describes The Six Foot Track thus:

“One of Australia’s classic walks, the Six Foot Track follows the route of the original 1884 horse track that was carved through rock and bush to take tourists from Katoomba to the Jenolan Caves.

Rising high to cross mountain ranges and falling into deep troughs on the other side, the track takes walkers through a range of habitats - rainforest, eucalypt forests, open grazing country. There are spectacular natural features, including caves, sheer sandstone cliffs, waterfalls and incredible panoramas of richly-forested valleys.

The walk, which usually takes three days to complete, can be done as a do-it-yourself adventure or as a guided trip with one of several tour operators.”

Once a year, the Six Foot Track becomes the venue for one of Australia’s toughest long-distance races. [An interesting short history of the race can be found here.]

The challenging course has made the race increasingly popular. When online registration opened for the 2010 race, all places were taken within a few hours. Several Achilles Running Club members were lucky enough to grab spots (having also met the gruelling qualification standards). They all performed well:

Michael Lovric 4 (hours): 30 (mins): 21 (secs)
Markus Schar 5:34:51
Michael Levy 5:50:11
Doug Ritchie 6:13:54
Nick Dreyton 6:48:04
Viv Kartsounis 6:48:04
John Domandl 6:57:14

Of particular note is John’s run. There is a 7-hour cut-off for the race. This is policed by a team of “Sweeps”, who follow the racers and monitor their well-being. They also have to disqualify runners who are behind schedule at certain points on the course. Here is what Stephen Jackson* (the Head Sweep in this year’s race) wrote in a Cool Running web forum dedicated to the Six Foot Track race:

“However, from our perspective, the race of the day was that by John Domandl. He is blind. We caught him and his 2 guides in Nellies and thought, "No chance." John was guided through the technical sections quite slowly, but motored on the fire trails. By Cox's he was well behind the 7hr pacers, but, conveniently, the Sweeps were held up with another broken runner. So, he got through Coxs over cu-toff, but betwixt Pacer and Sweep. Lo and behold! He caught the pacers just before Pluv, and played leap frog with the pacers until a few km to go. He then took off and got a few minutes in the bank. A superb effort on a rough track by a blind runner - and his amazing guides. It was a privilege to play a small part in the run of the day.”

John told Achilles:

“The guides were Thomas Phillips (Tom) and Jeffery Fisher (Fish), old mates from Triathlon and Fun Run/Marathon days.

“Our plan was to all finish and work as a team, just like we have done in training over the last 3 months, Tom and Fish took it in turns working to get me through the tough bits. They were fantastic. My achievement was also their achievement and glory. I had no chance whatsoever without them. You don't see many people doing things like they did for me on Saturday.”

John and his guides cross the finish line.

*[Stephen “Action” Jackson is a “well-known racing identity” of the best kind. He has competed in many of the world’s great endurance races, including the 250-Km, six-day Marathon des Sables, across the deserts of Morocco. Stephen is also active in club volunteering/management and is a sought-after international course-measurer.]

PETER’S RED-LETTER DAY.

Although the Achilles year started officially on 31^st January, the first “event” of 2010 was the celebration on January 16^th of Peter Bielieter’s 40^th birthday.

Achilles volunteer, Mark Houlihan and his wife Cass organized a picnic brunch for Peter at Clarke’s Point Reserve, Woolwich.

About 30 family members and friends gathered at this delightful spot at the confluence of the Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers. The weather was ideal, with scattered clouds shielding guests from the sun.

The guests included about half-a-dozen members of the Achilles Running Club.

Peter tackles the under-represented candles

UPDATE - BRIAN HEADS TO BOSTON

Brian O’Dea, newsletter co-editor, committee member and guide extraordinaire is on his way to the Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest and one of the most prestigious major annual marathons in the world ( www.bostonmarathon.org ). It was first run in 1897 and due to its popularity, Boston is one of the most difficult races for which to gain entry.

Brian, enjoy the atmosphere and experience, have a great run and bring back some interesting stories for the next Achilles Heel.

UPDATE – MATT MAKES ANOTHER SPLASH

In the January Achilles Heel, we reported that Achilles member and Paralympian, Matt Levy, had returned from the Short Course World Championships with six gold medals. We also mentioned that Matt would be taking a short break before taking part in the National Trials in March in an attempt to make the Australian team for the IPC World Championships in August.

On March 21^st, the Swimmers’ Association announced that Matt would be part of a 26-member team that would represent Australia at the 2010 Australian IPC World Championships. The IPC World Championships will be contested across 16 different distances and events, swum in 14 classes. The event will be held in the Pieter van den Hoogenband Swimming Stadium, Eindhoven, Netherlands from August 15-21, 2010.

We wish Matt every success and look forward to reporting on his exploits in The Netherlands.

UPDATE – LINDY IN CANBERRA.

In the January newsletter, we also reported that Paralympian Lindy Hou had moved to Canberra. Lindy’s guide-dog, Harper, has his own newsletter and reports that Lindy is training for the Canberra Half-Marathon in May and is considering a return to triathlons. If all goes according to plan, the Hawaiian Ironman of 2011 will be her major target.

UPDATE - NICK TO TACKLE MELBOURNE TRAILWALKER

Nick Gleeson is off again. Another day – another adventure! He was approached by none other than the Minister of Defence, John Faulkner too join John’s team of 4 in this years Trailwalker in Melbourne. Obviously forgetting that the required 100km was a very long way to walk, Nick accepted. Under the tutorage of Trailwalker veterans Charlie McConnell and Ellis Janks, Nick got training. He is hoping that the adage that the event is 70% mental and 30% physical is true.

Best of luck, Nick. We wish you strong legs and no blisters!

2010 VOLUNTEER ROSTER

We are delighted to welcome a new wave of volunteers to Achilles. There is always room for more. We encourage all those interested to add their names to the roster. You can do so by contacting Rozanne at Rozanne@bigpond.net,au

April 11 - CANBERRA MARATHON AND ULTRA (ACT)

- Mark Houlihan, Ian Cohen, Martin Ruane,Diane Mcewin, Nikki Caminer Volunteers Required

April 18 - Colin Bradford, Peter Dable, Ellis Janks, Ted Magen Volunteers Required

April 25 – Marilyn Gould, Stephen Lenn, Markus Schar, Doug Ritchie Volunteers Required

May 1 - SYDNEY STRIDERS - Sydney Olympic Park

May 2 - Mark Houlihan, Ian Cohen, Diane Mcewin, Martin Ruane Volunteers Required

May 9 – Mother’s Day Classic - Domain

May 9 - Colin Bradford, Ian Cohen, Nikki Caminer, Brian O’Dea, Volunteers Required

May 16 -Chris Laing, Ellis Janks, Peter Dable, Markus ScharVolunteers Required

May 23 - Marilyn Gould, Stephen Lenn, Ted Magen, Doug Ritchie Volunteers Required

May 30 - Mark Houlihan, Diane Mcewin, Brian O’Dea, Martin Ruane Volunteers Required

Please feel free to write to us – we are always looking for interesting stories and members’ views for inclusion in The Achilles Heel info@achilles-sydney.org.au

If you require information on Achilles, be sure to look on the website www.achilles-sydney.com.au

Oct 11 Newsletter

Third Quarter Edition

In this Edition:

Message from the President

Achilles to Celebrate its 15^th Birthday

Pen-Portrait – Majella Knobel

A Walk on the Wild Side

City to Surf

Sutherland to Surf

Blackmore’s Sydney Running Festival

Ben’s Big Blackmore’s Feat.

A Shorts Story

Message from the President

The last few months have been very eventful with City2Surf, Sutherland to Surf and the Blackmore’s Running Festivals now behind us. Congratulations to all of those wonderful Achilles members who participated so successfully, met personal goals and made Achilles very visible in all of these events.

Get your diaries ready for our next big event, the 15^th anniversary of Achilles in Sydney. This will be an opportunity for everyone who has been associated with Achilles to get together and celebrate 15 years of exercising, socializing and meeting challenges together. To acknowledge the significance of this event, 2011 Senior Australian of the Year Professor Ron McCallum will give an address as our guest of honour.

More details to come soon. Please note that there will be no charge to attend, and family members are most welcome as well. Please RSVP by 28 October for catering purposes.

What will make our celebration special is for all our members to join in. I look forward to seeing you all there.

Ellis

Achilles to Celebrate its 15^th Birthday!

Pen-Portrait – Majella Knobel

Regular attendees of the Sunday training will know Majella. She has a ready and infectious laugh, and she laughs a lot.

Overcoming a disability requires courage and determination. This universal truth is made up of many unique and individual stories. Majella’s story started when she was a 7 year old, when she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. By the time she was in Year 9, she was diagnosed with Lupus and the disease took hold, depriving Majella of half of her High School years. When she was 22, Majella required a kidney transplant. Her father, John, was the donor.

At this time, Majella’s eyesight started to fail, and, despite five operations, Majella lost her vision in the following eighteen months. She was determined not to be trapped and set off alone to visit her brother who was working in the USA. This journey was not without incident. She was left on the plane in New Zealand, sat alone for several hours in Los Angeles, and travelled home from Thailand with the flight crew. It was only when the flight was two hours from Sydney that the crew realised that Majella could not see.

Then, Majella was off to the University of Melbourne, where she took a bridging course, before gaining a place as an undergraduate in criminology and socio-legal studies. Offered a place in an Honours course in criminology, Majella decided to concentrate on the effect of illicit drugs on young people suffering from Diabetes 1. This had been a neglected area, and Majella was keen to develop harm-minimisation strategies. The Honours programme included a three-month criminology internship at the Victorian State Parliament. It is not clear why Victorian politicians needed to be studied in this way.

[Editor’s note: Majella’s involvement in Criminology is not widely known in Achilles. Neither is the fact that one of her regular training buddies works in the Police Intelligence unit. With the right publicity, these two facts should produce a marked improvement in behaviour at our Sunday training sessions].

While at the University of Melbourne, Majella worked part time at both RMIT and the University of Melbourne. She was part of team developing learning management systems that could be recorded on DVDs. These were to be used to help students and staff overcoming problems posed by disabilities. Part of this work involved workshop presentations both locally and interstate.

In February 2009, Majella was offered a graduate position with Westpac in Sydney. Working in IT, her skills are used to ensure the timely completion of projects, by overcoming hurdles and resolving issues. Majella is on Westpac’s Accessibility Working Group Committee and has been involved in the Westpac Accessibility Action Plan. A summary of the 2011 plan activities included these words from Majella:

“Diversity to me means each of us has our own unique characteristics, abilities, beliefs, opinions, traditions, and appearances. Most people understand that although I may not have vision I still have the intelligence, skill or knowledge to get the end result.

I live a very normal life with a great sense of fun. Whatever normal means!”

Outside of her work, Majella is a Red Cross Telecross convenor. The Telecross service provides the elderly and housebound with a reassuring daily phone call to ensure that they are safe and well. If this call goes unanswered, an agreed emergency procedure will be activated and help arranged if necessary. In this volunteer role, Majella manages 14 volunteers. Together, they are managing 11 housebound clients.

To understand why Majella joined Achilles, we need to retrace our steps to Melbourne, where, in 2006, Majella was told that many years of health problems had resulted in blocked arteries. Her specialists issued dire warnings that, without a proper exercise programme, she was in danger of a premature death. This led to a regime of 3 days’ weight training and cardio-vascular work on 5 days a week. When she moved to Sydney, Majella lost her “network of walking buddies, a good gym and great personal trainers.”

“I heard about Achilles from my Vision Australia Orientation and Mobility Instructor. I thought about joining Achilles for a while then contacted Achilles by email. The rest is history.”

Well, not quite “history”, Majella.

Her enthusiasm was such that she was invited to join the Achilles Committee. In 2011, Majella has competed at the Orange Running Festival 10K, the City to Surf (where she raised $3,250 for the treatment of juvenile diabetes) and the Sydney Running Festival Bridge Run. She is now training for the Sydney 55-kilometre Spring Cycle and is keen to compete in the 2012 Oxfam Trailwalker. Pardon the pun when we say that she will take it in her stride.

A walk on the Wild Side

The Oxfam Trailwalker is a gruelling event that takes competitors through 100 kilometres of rugged bushland at various locations throughout the world.. Achilles members have featured in many Trailwalker events. At this year’s Sydney Trailwalker (held in August), Achilles volunteer Lucy O’Neill and three teammates entered as the “Babes in the Wood” team. They were one of 550 teams that raised more than $3 Million for the Oxfam charity. This is Lucy’s own story of a momentous achievement…….

“32 hours and 49 minutes, what does that timeframe mean to you? It’s a little over 4 standard working days, for some it’s almost 5 night’s worth of sleep and for ‘Babes in the Wood’ it was the length of time spent walking from Brooklyn in the Hawkesbury Region through to Mosman on Friday/Saturday 26/27 August.

After 4 long months of training with many an entertaining story coming out of that, last Friday was our ultimate test. Our adventure kicked off on Thursday night, as we had our feet strapped before heading down to stay in Brooklyn. After porridge, coffee and a few entertaining ‘team moments’ we headed to the start-line, where the atmosphere was already buzzing, despite it only being 7am.

The first two sections, taking us to the 28.5km mark, were the toughest on the trail but also the most fun. Almost 600 people set off in our group, so lots of fun was had chatting to other teams and hearing about what had brought others to this equally crazy idea. The most notable observation from these sections was that, by 9am, it was already extremely hot. By the time we reached Berowra at about 4:30 in the afternoon, two of the team were suffering the effects of heat stroke. Here we met some of our support crew for the first time. Robyn, Michelle and Frank helped us get organised with some yummy sushi, night walking gear, restocking of snacks etc. A quick stop at first aid for some anti-nausea tablets and we were on the road again.

Alas, on the next section, a tough decision was made by the team, with Deanne retiring. Having had the flu earlier in the week, and suffering the effects of the heat, and the anti-nausea tablets not taking effect, she made the tough but right decision to retire. Of course, in true Deanne style, she found one of the cutest volunteers of the weekend to escort her back to the previous checkpoint, as we headed on to dinner at the 44km mark. About an hour after leaving Deanne, we came across a walker who had broken his leg and was being assisted by SES. A harsh reminder of the challenge we had gotten ourselves into. By dinner, delirium was starting to set in, so we were suitably entertaining for the support crew that met us there, with Dione joining our crew. The first of many trips to first aid for Kath’s toes, a quick dance around the podiatrist tent by me to rave about the fact that I had no blisters, a ‘bare-faced moment’ for me as I ignored the rules of polite society and did a full gear change just away from the flood lights and we were on the road again, this time fuelled with Red Bull – it was going to be interesting.

We ventured through from 44km – 71.5km without the help of our support crew (from about 10:30pm on Friday until 10am on Saturday morning). This worked well for the team, as we were in no fit state to talk to anyone! The No-Doz came out at about 2am, and several more times after that. Sarah C.V. was supporting her cousin’s team, so kept an eye on us at each of the night checkpoints which was fantastic. Our attempted singing kept us awake (to some extent) and Kath’s never ending hiccups were suitably entertaining to both ourselves and the other teams. A couple of trips to first-aid throughout the night for minor ailments and we were good to keep going. On a couple of rare occasions, where the path was sufficiently safe under foot, I reminded those around us to stop and look at the stars. Despite there being no moonlight, it was a beautiful clear night. Most of the night, though, you’re focused on the feet of the person in front of you, to ensure that you don’t fall over. Although the track seemed to be never-ending, we finally made it to Davidson Reserve and our Breakfast stop.

Some of you may not know this, but porridge is the best food in the entire world, and even more so when you’ve just walked 71.5km to get to it! Porridge, coffee, another stop at first aid, some TLC from Kath’s family and friends (our Saturday support crew) , some down-time to realise just how far we’ve come, and then the realisation that we were so close we could definitely finish this.

With a fresh skip in our step, we powered through the next two sections. The weather was cooler on the Saturday and much better for walking in. Teams were in a bit of a daze until you reached Balmoral. Just to ensure you don’t slack off at the end there’s a massive stair- climb to get you back up to Mosman. And it was there, at 4:49pm on Saturday 27^th August, 2011 that ‘Babes in the Wood’ crossed the finish line to the fantastic cheers of family friends (particular shout out to Matt & Paula who came down to cheer us on). The girls took a moment to hug and celebrate but I don’t think any of us fully realised just what we had done. Over a week later, I’m still not sure we do or if we ever will. There are sore backs, knees, ankles, and toes but all of them pale into insignificance when we stop to think of what we achieved, both in finishing the event and in raising over $9,250 in the process.

Oxfam Trailwalker is an amazing event. The supporters, volunteers and participants bring something special to it. If ever you have the opportunity to get involved I would definitely recommend it.”

City to Surf

The City to Surf is one of the highlights of the Achilles year. In 2011, we had the usual high level of enthusiasm. This year, however, we encountered an even greater level of interest from the community at large. As a result, we had to do a lot of juggling to get our disabled athletes and guides paired in the same starting groups. The City To Surf organisers were wonderfully helpful, as were our Achilles volunteers. Particular thanks go to Michael Lovric. Unable to run this year, he recruited two legends of the world of Ultra-running, Paul Every and Keith Hong, to assist Kath Newby in guiding Lindy Hou on her usual speedy run to Bondi. Lindy later talked in awe about their ability to weave among slower runners and, where necessary, gently but purposefully lift them out of the way.

Charlie McConnell (guided by Michael Levy and Jeremy Conradie) described how sympathetic race-marshals and some tactical manoeuvring saw some of the Achilles team get off to a flying start. “We wandered down, trying to push our way to the front of the Green start. What luck! We accidentally arrived at the back of the Red group. When that group ran off, we were out in front of our Green group. The marshals seemed to understand our needs and took us 100 metres down the road, right to the official start line. This gave us a clear start and allowed us and our guides to settle into a steady pace before thousands of runners were milling around us.” Charlie and Michael went on to run an impressive time.

Heavy pre-race rain did cause many to wonder whether all that enthusiasm would be dissolved en route to Bondi. Fortunately the rain cleared and the cool conditions were ideal for running.

John Simon maintained his special status as a “City to Surf Legend” by completing his 41^st City to Surf; in other words, he has finished every City to Surf that has ever been staged. His wife Helen has accompanied him for a number of years and she crossed the line with him again this year.

Training for the Sydney Marathon in September, Ben Phillips, guided by Markus Schar and Rael Cohen, managed to take 14 minutes off his 2010 time.

In her first City to Surf, Majella Knobel was accompanied by Renatta Steele and Lucy O’Neill. It was Majella’s longest run and the recently stepped-up training programme paid dividends.

Also competing for the first time were Nicole Tillotson and Nastasia Campanella, who were guided by Andrew Fox and Martin Ruane respectively. One observer noted that, they coped with the hills and crowds “like champions.”

The regular pairing of Club President Ellis Janks and John Domandl again achieved a very fast time.

Other members wearing the Achilles colours but running solo or with other groups were: Colin Bradford (who has competed in all but two City to Surf races), Stephen Nell (in bare feet!) and Brian O’Dea.

The Achilles competitors were warmly welcomed into the Guide Dogs NSW hospitality area. The food, drink and, most of all, the good company were appreciated by the Achilles team.

Sutherland to Surf

The Sutherland-to-Surf race from Sutherland to Wanda Surf Club is increasingly one of Sydney’s iconic Fun Runs and has drawn good support for almost 40 years. As it takes place in July, it is often used as a “warm up” for the City to Surf. On 25^th July, we were delighted to send the following email about the efforts of Charlie McConnell and Karen Parker in the previous day’s race.

“Fantastic news from the Sutherland to Surf!
Charlie (guided by Karen) completed the 11K race in 63 minutes and 21 seconds.
This is not an easy course and Charlie’s average pace of 5 minutes and 45 seconds per kilometre is a great effort.
On top of that, Charlie and Karen left over 3,500 (56%) other competitors in their wake. “

Blackmore’s Sydney Running Festival

The Sydney Running Festival takes place a month after the City to Surf. The Running Festival is also becoming one of the landmarks in the Achilles Calendar. There are four events, including the Family Fun Run.

This year we had runners and walkers in the Marathon, Half Marathon and the 9.3K ridge Run.

The pre-race weather forecast indicated that temperatures would rise to 26 degrees. By mid-morning, the mercury had climbed to 30.

This was particularly cruel for the Marathon runners. For days after the event, on-line running blogs carried tales of attrition, with runners pulling out or finishing considerably later than anticipated.

But Ben Phillips was destined to set a “P.B.’ (Personal Best) in the Marathon, as it was his first attempt. The story of Ben’s race is printed below. Please read how he trained and raced for a time of 4hours 56 minutes. Ben was guided by Markus Schar, with support from Ellis Janks and Martin Ruane.

Majella Knobel was guided by Oscar Fragiacomo to a brisk time in the Bridge Run. Also performing well the Bridge Run were Nicole Tillotson (guided by Peter Hannigan) and Nastasia Campanella, accompanied by her Dad.

There were no disabled Achilles members in the Half Marathon. The Club was represented by Penny and Michael Levy, Renatta, and Brian. It was reported that Penny’s entry was given by Michael as a Birthday present. She showed her appreciation by finishing some minutes ahead of Michael. It was Penny’s first Half-Marathon. A great effort!

Ben’s Big Blackmore Feat; or: Big Ben’s Blackmore Feat;or: Ben’s Big Feet

Whatever title we settle on, there is no doubt that Ben Phillips passed a number of milestones in running his first Marathon. [26 milestones, actually, when converting the 42.2 kilometres back to imperial measures.]

The catalyst for Ben’s quest for the Marathon was, undoubtedly, Markus Schar’s return from Queensland. There was some surprise when, in July, Ben told some of his Achilles teammates that he was going to run the Sydney Marathon in September. In truth, it was Markus who said that Ben was going to run the Marathon, and Ben nodded with only a trace of enthusiasm. While some of us might have questioned it if Ben had made the announcement, when Markus said it, we knew that it was “on”. Markus is, well, just Markus. His running credentials are impeccable, as is his ability to get disabled athletes to reach their (usually distant) goals.

What we did not know was that Ben would start a diary of his training. After he had run his amazing Marathon, Ben sent us the diary. It is sub-titled, “How NOT to train for a Marathon in 10 weeks!”

The full Diary can be found on Markus’s blog. It contains many funny, insightful comments on his journey to the starting line. It even contains some homicidal thoughts involving Markus when things got really tough. In the meantime, we have selected the following, more sedate samples track Ben’s sometimes unsteady progress to a truly magnificent achievement.

Sunday 10th July:

My guide Markus turned up at Achilles a little bit under the weather from a big night out on the town. We ran slowly and quietly, until Charlie and Martin came flying past and I had to give chase, much to Markus’s dismay. A great start to our Marathon preparation.

Saturday 23rd July (after two weeks of incessant rain)

Had a beautiful nice sunny day at last, but decided it was more comfortable to sleep in. Our Marathon training is off to a great start, it’s been easy so far.

Saturday 30^th July

Ran from Paddington, down ANZAC Parade, through Randwick, up towards Bondi Junction, then finished with 2 laps of Centennial Park. Now convinced the Marathon will be bloody hard. Might settle for the Family Fun Run instead.

Thursday 4^th August

Still praying for rain, still not happening. Ran 2 laps of Centennial Park. Keep telling myself things will get easier. I don’t know what’s worse, the laps of the park, or the ice bath afterwards?

Sunday 28^th August

Ran 26kms today, this is by far the longest distance I have ever run! Up until now the 21kms in the 2 Half Marathons I ran last year were the furthest distances I had survived. I feel totally exhausted, but I now know that my body can go much further than I think it can.

Wednesday 14^th September

Went with Markus to visit the Fred Hollows Foundation Head Quarters. We had the opportunity to meet a lot of the staff and find out about all the fantastic work they are doing. I was really impressed. They told me a few stories about people who have benefited from the Foundation’s work. I was moved very deeply by these experiences, and will use them as motivation to finish the Marathon when it gets tough and painful. Being a former patient of Fred Hollows when I was very young, and never having the opportunity to thank him in person for all the help he has given me, I feel very passionate about this cause, and will push my body to the absolute limits to finish this race for Fred.

Then, the big day itself – The Marathon. Markus’s blog has Ben’s full account. The following extract describes some of Ben’s thoughts when the sapping 30 degrees heat starts to get to him in the middle stages, and, much later, when he nears the finish line.

Sunday 18^th September

At 21K:

How could I possibly keep going for another 21kms if I was feeling this bad already? Somehow, we managed to fight on. We passed the half-way point, and to be honest, I would have been happy to take my bat and ball and go home right there and then. I reasoned with myself that there’s no shame in quitting. It just means that the race was much bigger and better than I am. I could live with that! But I couldn’t live with letting others down. Markus had invested a lot of time and energy into training me for this event, and Ellis and Martin had given up their time to help me finish the race, even though their injuries probably should have prevented them running as far as they did with me. Of course, there is also the donors who have contributed their hard earned money towards our cause, and the thousands of blind people around the world who are counting on us to finish the race so we can raise the funds to help the Fred Hollows Foundation help them. I also had to do it for all my fellow disabled athletes at Achilles, I had a point to prove to them that they can do anything they set their heart and mind to, and I had to lead by example by completing this Marathon.

At 41K:

I recall hearing someone saying there is only 1km to go. The funny thing is over that last 1km I heard several different people saying exactly the same thing at different points. How much further could it really be? Which of these people were telling the truth? Perhaps it was just a really, really long last 1km to run. It sure felt like it to me. All of a sudden I was surrounded by cheering. I knew we must be close, but how close? It really seemed to go on forever. “I’m doing this for Fred!” I told myself. I felt my hands being held by Markus and Ellis, and my arms being raised up. This must be it! With a burst of overwhelming emotion I roared out aloud with sheer delight and triumph as I felt my feet dragging across the finish line! What a moment! We had done it! We had completed a Marathon. We had achieved the impossible. We had conquered the 42.2km race. It was all over now.

Ben’s time was 4 hours 56 minutes 25 seconds. This was a magnificent time in such unfavourable conditions. Ben would be the first to admit that his preparation was less than ideal and that he owes a huge “Thank you” to Markus (and also to Ellis and Martin). This dynamic duo can achieve a lot, though I think Ben wants to delay thinking about that.

On Monday 19^th, Ben and Markus were interviewed by Adam Spencer of ABC Radio. You can find the audio link here.

A Shorts Story

The club has introduced new caps, singlets and T-shirts. At a recent post-training meeting at the Club House, Ellis unveiled an artist’s impression of the new Achilles Shorts.

Jan 2012 Newsletter

Achilles Newsletter – 4^th Quarter 2011

In this Edition:

President’s Address

Achilles Running Club’s 15^th Anniversary

Portrait of an Achilles Member – Ben Phillips

The 2011 Annual General Meeting

Disabled Athlete of the Year

Volunteer of the Year

Special Awards

“Thank you, Mr Ambassador”

Out and About

2012 Season

Volunteers

President’s Address

Club President Ellis Janks gave the following address at the Achilles AGM, held on December 11^th 2011

1. Membership

I want to mention two members in particular.

Firstly, Marg Collier, our oldest member at 93 who hasn’t been able to attend training for health reasons, but nonetheless stays interested in Achilles.

Secondly, Michael Bassil, who passed away earlier this year. He was one of the first and most frequent attendees at training over the last 15 years.

2. Finances

The financial status of the Club continues to be extremely sound. Besides funds received via membership fees, bank interest and the sale of clothing, we have had a significant boost to our Club bank balance thanks to donations via the Everyday Hero scheme, a wonderful $5000 donation of their prize by a group of runners who won the team event in the Sydney Tower Run Up, $1000 from the Ravine Foundation. A government grant of $3800 from the NSW Department Sport under its Grants for Disability Groups scheme was received. Not included in the financial statement to 30 June 2010, but since received are very generous donations of $1000 and $350 from Andrew Fox and Shirley Bassil.

Thanks as well to Ian Cohen, our Treasurer, for his excellent work in keeping the books.

3. Events

“The main events for Achilles are the Sunday morning training sessions which aim at getting our members fit and healthy in a social, friendly and encouraging atmosphere.

“Special thanks go to Charlie who was the force behind organising the entries for City2Surf , the Orange weekend and various other events.

Special mention is made of John Simon who is still part of a select group “The Legends”, those select few who have completed every single City 2 Surf event.

4. Uniforms

5. Training

Special thanks go to Trevor Heaslip from the Botanic Gardens Trust for organising and supplying the parking permits which are working well.

I am very keen to get a formal training program up and running for guides. At present, new guides are giving introductory instructions and then they “learn on the job”. We have asked our members with disabilities not to be shy to request different guiding techniques. Each disabled person has their own preferences in being guided, so guides should expect to vary their guiding techniques accordingly. Overall, however, things are generally working very well.

6. Awards

7. Logo and Marketing

The design of the new Club logo and unification the brand name and brand collateral of Achilles is complete.

8. Website

Once again, special note is made of the massive and invaluable contribution that Martin Ruane has made in managing the website.

9. 15^th Year Anniversary

10.Thanks

Thanks go to individuals and groups:

To the Committee for the excellent work they have put into the running of Achilles, and the time and effort they have generously given. Brian, Martin, Charlie and Ian have been mentioned already. I also thank Nick for his tremendous input with all things, but in particular, strategic planning. As always it has been an absolute pleasure working with you.
New Horizons Learning Centre and, in particular, Carol Cooke and Mark Davis, who have most generously continued to provide the venue for our meetings.
Ravine Foundation, Andrew Fox and Shirley Bassil for their very generous cash donations.
To my family for allowing me to devote the time and supporting me in my involvement with Achilles.
And, of course, thanks to all Achilles members for their excellent contributions and their enthusiasm.

11.Achilles in the future

There are exciting times ahead for Achilles.

The website is such an integral part of Achilles and will constantly be updated and added to.

More disabled members are needed. The marketing committee are addressing this.

The Orange Running Festival will again be earmarked as a Club weekend away event. This will once again be heavily subsidised by the Club

The bushwalking events will be considered for the coming year

I wish Achilles every success, and positive growth in the future.

Ellis Janks - President

Achilles Running Club’s 15^th Anniversary

In the 15 years that Achilles had existed, many people had been involved with the club. The uncontrollable changes in life had seen people come and go, and sometimes, return.

Volunteers: Ellis Janks, Michael Levy, Stephen Lenn, John Simon, Martin Ruane, Brain O’Dea, Shirley Bassil, Oscar Fragiacomo, John McIntyre.

Martin presents Ellis his lifetime membership award.

Portrait of an Achilles Member – Ben There; Done That.

Before Ben disappears into the world of Reality TV, we decided find out more about him.

He spent his school years in Kiama, where he developed a love for beach sports, competing in surf-boat races and developing his swimming and body-board skills.

In winter, Ben would ski at Thredbo, occasionally using trees and fences as course correctors more often than he would have liked.

In his last season, Ben was made captain of the team and he still fondly remembers the guard-of-honour that applauded him from the field at the end of his last game.

If he makes the team, he has promised to wear his Achilles shirt at some of England’s historic landmarks. [Just don’t wear it in the nightclubs, Ben.]

Ben finishes his first marathon

The 2011 Annual General Meeting

The Financial Report was read by Treasurer Ian Cohen and his report will be posted on the Achilles website.

As is the custom, all official positions were declared open and a new committee was elected. The 2012 Committee will consist of:

President: Ellis Janks

Vice President: Martin Ruane

Treasurer: Ian Cohen

Secretary: Brian O’Dea

Charlie McConnell

Diane McEwin

Majella Knobel

Nicole Tillotson

Nicholas Gleeson

Disabled Athlete of the Year – Majella Knobel.

Volunteer of the Year – Renata Steele

Congratulations to Majella and Renata!

Majella and Renata

Our 4 legged friends enjoy the AGM!

Special Awards

Thank you, Mr Ambassador.

From the NSW Government Department of Family and Community Services Home Page:

The 2011 UN theme is Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development.

Each year ambassadors are selected to support and strengthen the Don’t DIS my ABILITY campaign.

In 2010 and again 2011, Achilles member Nick Gleeson has been an Ambassador for the “Don’t Dis My Ability” campaign. On November 23^rd, The Bankstown Torch ran this story about Nick.

Nick and the other Ambassadors were present at the launch of the campaign on December 3^rd. Also in attendance from Achilles were Ben Phillips, Martin Ruane and Brian O’Dea.

Out and About

· It was great to have Fay Pisier back with us after her recent foot operation. She is keen to join us again in 2012.

2012 Season

Volunteers

As usual, we will be looking for Volunteers to act as guides at our Sunday training sessions. If you are available, even if only infrequently, please send us an email.

15th anniversary photos

Ron McCallum speaking

Martin presents the lifetime membership award to Ellis

Bronwyn and Lola

Ellis on the Mike

Joe and Woody

Marjorie

Group Shot at the 15th Anniversary

The Janks Family and Relatives

Marjorie, Annette amd Lola

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MISSION STATEMENT

"To enable people from all walks of life, including those with physical impairments, to enjoy the health giving benefits of walking and running in a supportive, social and encouraging environment."

LATEST EVENTS:

7th Jan 2012 - Resolution Run

29th Jan 2012 - Training Resumes

2nd-3rd March 2012 - Hollows Foundation Coastrek 2012

4th March 2012 - Orange Running Festival

Comrades - Doug's Report 2010

DOUG’S COMRADES REPORT

Hi there,

I want to start off by thanking you for sponsoring my running of the 2010 Comrades Marathon and supporting the chosen Beneficiaries outlined above in the attachment from Sister Mary Paule. I’m really appreciative of the level of support given by yourself and delighted to tell you that I managed to raise a total of $3,000.

This was my first attempt at running the Comrades Marathon, run on the 30th May from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, South Africa. Happily, I completed the 89km run in 11hrs 35 mins, a bit battered and bruised but with an immense feeling of elation and relief.

Race day

My alarm went off at a very unreasonable 3.30am and immediately I felt that mixed sense of dread and excitement. The day that I had been planning for at least 12 months had arrived.

After a quick breakfast it was time to put all the planning behind me, don my running belt and load up with all the energy gels, salt tablets, electrolyte drinks, pain killers, water and elastoplasts that would be required for the day ahead. Talk about feeling loaded down with extra supplies, I virtually waddled to the start line at 5am in order to get a good spot for the 5.30am start (not one to be too pushy I settled in behind 16,000 other nervous runners).

Pre race rituals saw the singing of the South African national followed by a traditional Zulu miner’s song “Shosholoza” by the 16,500 runners, spine tingling stuff. The starting cannon fired and with the temperature hitting a heady 4 degrees it was on for young and old! The journey to Durban had begun. After stopping off at the side of the road to take an early toilet break I looked back towards the start line and had to laugh to myself as I was officially in last place, with a police escort to boot. Fame at last! It surely couldn’t get any worse that this.

My race tactics were simple, just keep moving towards Durban, remain focussed and try and enjoy the experience. I had heard many times from experienced Comrades runners that the race only really begins at the 60km mark, a sobering thought considering that the longest run I had managed in my 6 months training for Comrades had been a “paltry” 50km. It was too late to worry about that. I had promised myself that I would complete the distance no matter what as there was a lot riding on my completion of the distance within the allotted 12 hours (sponsors, benefactors, family and friends and of course personal pride).

As the sun rose and the temperature increased fellow runners gradually stripped off the many layers of clothing they had donned in the wee hours of the morning and threw them to the many spectators (mainly children) at the side of the road for whom a warm jumper or a beanie meant warmth during the upcoming cold South African winter months. This was a sign for me to do likewise, stripping down to my highly visible Australian running singlet which pre race I thought might be a good idea as it may raise the occasional cheer of encouragement from a spectator or two and in turn aiding motivation. Bad move. Little did I know it would raise a huge amount of attention and support, with the dreaded “Ozzie, Ozzie……yup, you know how it goes, chant being directed at me every 20 or so paces. The novelty of this soon wore off especially as I felt I had to acknowledge all who took the trouble to chant it and shout back in response a sickly and very unenthusiastic “Oi, Oi, Oi.

The km’s kicked by and Inchanga hill came and went with this notorious climb being taken slowly as the sun at this time of the day was higher in the sky and surprisingly hot with little shade to be found.

5 hrs and 39 mins saw me crossing the halfway point (Drummond, 44km) and for once I took my eyes off the road and looked North to see the Valley of a Thousand Hills stretching beautifully into the distance. Surprisingly, I felt remarkably fresh at this stage but knew that that wouldn’t last for long as the second half of the run had some very punishing “downs” to negotiate and the small detail of a further 45kms to run. I was right, the good feeling didn’t last long and the run out of Drummond was easily the hardest section for me and motivation was beginning to wear thin. What am I doing here? What’s this all about? Can I get a beer at the side of the road?

The stretch down Fields Hill seemed to go for ever, made worse by a severe cambering road. Much needed motivation was to be found in nearby Pinetown (not a Pine tree to be seen) after a friend in the crowd spotted me and ran with me for about 10 mins, encouraging me all the way and giving me hope by telling me that if I kept up this pace I would definitely finish within the 12 hour cut off. Thanks for your support Braam.

The last 20km was quite possibly the hardest thing I have ever done. It was time to put the mind into overdrive, pull down the brim of my cap (so I can’t see the hills ahead) keep my eyes on the heels of the runner in front and just plough on, one foot in front of the other.

Running through the outskirts of Durban was dull to say the very least and seemed to go on forever, freeway overpasses and long stretches of road without the support of any spectators.

With 2km’s to go I saw the floodlights of the Kingsmead Stadium and the finish line. Bynowall I was focussed on was feeling the green grass of the stadium track underneath my feet and the final 500 metres before crossing the line. On entering the stadium the noise of 10,000 odd spectators was a stirring incentive to finish strongly. Crossing the line was the culmination of 6 months of early morning training runs with many moments of self doubt and dealing with injuries. A wave of relief, joy and satisfaction took over. I had finished.

The finish line!

The finish line 2 minutes later …

Celebrations continued deep into the night!

My many thanks go to Trudi for her support and patience and my many friends in the running community who supported me on my wish to complete Comrades 2010.

In the week following Comrades, Trudi and I had the pleasure of visiting Ikhwezi Lokusa School. For Trudi and I this was a special highlight of our trip to South Africa, going back to the school where I was the first overseas volunteer 30 years ago. It was wonderful to reconnect with the inspiring Sister Mary Paule after all these years. She has the same lively sense of humour and has retained all of her enthusiasm and devotion to helping the people of Mthatha and surrounds through many community based Charities.

Cheque presentation with Sister Mary Paule

Thank you all for contributing to these Charities, it will make a huge difference.

Cheers,

Doug

Children from the Ikhwezi Lokusa School

The following email from Sister Mary Paule demonstrates just how valuable fundraising efforts can be:

From: Sr. Mary Paule [marypaule.bethany@goggaconnect.co.za]
Sent: Tuesday, 13 July 2010 5:30 PM
To: Ritchie, Doug

I was so thrilled that Douglas and Trudi while in South Africa took time to visit us at Ikhwezi Lokusa where Douglas was a much loved volunteer 30 years ago. And blessedly Douglas is as kind, charming and fun-loving as before. And when he told us about the fundraising he had done in support of our work, I thought this young man has not changed. We were, of course, moved by his thoughtfulness and impressed by the way he included you, his friends and family, to in the effort to assist us. The donation came to the impressive total of three thousand Australian dollars which was exchanged for South African Rand, 18 682.50

Douglas and Trudi gave me the go ahead to decide on the beneficiaries. After thought and prayer this is what was decided:

Ikhwezi Lokusa Rehabilitation R3 000.00

Thembelihle Home R3 000.00

Bethany Home R2 000.00

Temba R2 000.00

CINDI R2 000.00

SANTA R2 000.00

School needs R2 000.00

Food for the destitute R2 682.50

Let me tell you briefly about each of the beneficiaries:

- Ikhwezi Lokusa Rehabilitation - a vocational training centre for physically and mentally challenged.

- Thembelihle Home - place of safety for abondoned or abused children from 6 to 16 years.

- Bethany Home - place of safety for abandoned or abused infants from birth to 2 years.

- Temba - hospice for 32 terminally ill adults.

- CINDI - care for AIDS orphans.

- SANTA - care of tuberculosis patients.

- School needs for children - fees, stationery, uniform, shoes ........................

- Food parcels for destitute families.

We want to send our warmest and deepest thanks to you Douglas and Trudi and to each and every person who contributed to this wondrous donation. May each of you be richly blessed.

Yours gratefully

Sister Mary Paule