Month: January 2026

Cycle Challenge 2026

Health studio customers and workforce cheering as the Cycle Challenge begins.

ACH Group Cycle Challenge 2026

Inspired by last year’s HESTA-awarded ACH Group Cycle Challenge across ACH Group’s residential care homes, the Social Team geared up to make this year bigger and better by extending the invitation to Health Studio customers.

For Health Studio customers, the challenge run from 19-23 January and customers could take part in the gym at their local Health Studio.

And that’s not all – residents and customers were joined by workforce with a dedicated workforce cycling challenge for the duration of the Santos Tour Down Under.

It’s fair to say January was the month of cycling! See the highlights below.

ACH Group’s Cycle Challenge hits the headlines on 7NEWS Adelaide

Our Cycle Challenge was featured on 7NEWS Adelaide – a wonderful recognition of the strength and spirit of our community.

We’re proud to see our customers, residents and workforce come together with a shared focus on health and wellbeing – supporting one another, collaborating across roles, and strengthening our communities.

By prioritising wellbeing and teamwork, we’re building a more connected workforce while helping to strengthen the communities we support. A huge congratulations to everyone involved!

Fun and fast-paced indoor Cycling Challenge relay at Health Studio Rostrevor

As part of the ACH Group Cycling Challenge, Health Studio Rostrevor hosted a fun and fast-paced 4-minute indoor cycling relay. Two teams went head-to-head, each pairing a community customer with an allied health team member, taking turns for 2 minutes each – with the clock ticking right through the handover!

Customers and staff filled the studio with encouragement and team spirit. Moments like these remind us why community and connection matter so much, and we can’t wait to share more highlights soon.

Customers in the background, Lisa - Personal Trainer and Yvonne, Customer - participating in the Cycle Challenge

Betty and Mike participating in Cycle Challenge at Health Studio Rostrevor

Friendly competition at Health Studio Rostrevor

Congratulations to winners Lisa and Yvonne

Pictured here are the wonderful teams: Lisa, Personal Trainer, with Yvonne, a Health Studio customer; and Betty, a Health Studio customer, with Mike, Personal Trainer. The relay was kicked off by Team Leader Luke Maloney, while Executive Manager of People, Culture & Safety Cher Lopresti cheered on the participants and presented prizes to the winners.

Cycle Challenge across Residential Care Homes

From joyful opening ceremonies to lots of friendly competition, the challenge has been packed with excitement, laughter, and shared moments!

Resident at ViTA at the opening ceremony

All smiles and happiness - resident at Highercombe

Residents and staff wave in excitement for the cycling challenge

Fun opening ceremony - Cycling Challenge at ViTA

Clocking up the kilometers for Cycling Challenge at Highercombe

Introduction of what the cycling challenge is about at ViTA

It's a photo finish for cycling challenge participant at Highercombe

Life is a ride! Welcome to Highercombe cycling challenge

Beth officially opening the cycling challenge at Perry Park

Resident at Highercombe enjoying the cycling challenge

Resident at Highercombe championing the cycling challenge

Residents at Highercombe enjoying watching Tour Down Under

Meet residents championing the Cycle Challenge at Highercombe Residential Care Home

Rita’s story is a wonderful reminder of a lifelong love of cycling, and we celebrate her alongside all the fantastic riders who joined in across ACH Group residential care homes.

Richard’s enthusiasm is just one of many highlights from the challenge, and we celebrate his involvement — what a wonderful achievement as he settled into his new home.

Workforce joining the Cycle Challenge

ACH Group Workforce was also invited to join the challenge.

A big cheer for everyone taking part:

Teams: Mikes Bikes, Squeaky Wheels, Spin Doctors, Spin Cycle, Non-Riders and BT
E-Riders: Nic, Ella, Margie and Leanne
Individuals: Rylee, Jodie, Mary-Anne, Beth, Brodie, Kathleen, John, Anil, Denise and Katey

Throughout the challenge, a special recognition board highlighted participants who embraced the challenge and did their best. It encouraged friendly interaction and created opportunities for connection, helping teams get to know each other beyond the ride.

And the winners are…

While the challenge isn’t just about winning, we look forward to celebrating those who gave it their all.

Health Studios – Cycle Challenge Winners

Individual winners

Rostrevor Health Studio – Heather Watson
Glenelg Health Studio – Peter Richards
Christies Health Studio – Marion Lees

Congratulations to the Rostrevor Health Studio, who recorded the most time/distance across the week! A trophy will be displayed in the gym for 2026 to acknowledge their achievement.

Residential Care Homes – Cycle Challenge Winners

We’ve wrapped up another incredible year of the Cycle Challenge, and the results are in!

King of the NuStep – Noel Fieldhouse (Kapara) – 32,278 steps – an amazing effort! Noel is the overall individual winner!
King of the Recumbent Bike – Phil Mueller (Kapara) – 44 km – smashing last year’s PB of 40.1 km
Queen of Pedals – Irene Kacar (Highercombe) – 180 minutes – and her second consecutive win

A big round of applause for all our champions.

Overall winner: ViTA Residential Care Home

Workforce – Cycle Challenge Winners

The very first ACH Group Workforce Cycle Challenge has officially wrapped up – and it’s been inspiring!

Individual Rider Champion – Anil Sharma, Business Improvement Manager – an amazing 152.6 km of pure commitment and pedal power.
Team Riders Champions – Spin Doctors – averaging an impressive 253.9 km (Health Team Members: Luke Maloney, Robert Lee, Mike Cooke and Marc Tunbridge)
E-Bike Rider Champion – Ella McDougall, Executive Manager Legal & Risk – 87.6 km.

Photo Challenge Winners – Clinical & Quality Team

The Photo Challenge was judged on Tuesday 3 February by Phil Mueller and Kate Dobie, Executive Manager Care. Phil, a resident at Kapara, is no stranger to cycling success, having won the 2025 and 2026 Residential Cycle Challenge on his recumbent bike.

The winning photo from the Clinical and Quality Team stood out for its thoughtful interpretation, beautifully capturing their shared journey, teamwork and memorable highlights.

Adelaide Fringe guide

Enjoy Adelaide Fringe your way

ACH Group tips for shows and social connection

At ACH Group, connecting people with social experiences is at the heart of what we do, and this Fringe season is no exception.

Highlights include show recommendations curated by Fringe reviewer Barry Hill, alongside tailored opportunities such as Adelaide Fringe Festival Escape for social experience customers.

The festival comes to residential care homes too, with the uplifting energy of Movin’ Melvin Brown delivering moments of joy and laughter.

Whether you’re venturing out into the city or enjoying the festivities closer to home this Adelaide Fringe season, these tips offer an easy way to take part in one of Adelaide’s most celebrated cultural events.

Top six Fringe shows from Barry Hill

Barry Hill is a familiar and trusted voice in the ACH Group community as well as at the Fringe, regularly reviewing shows year after year – and this season is no exception. When asked for recommendations, he was characteristically measured, noting that it can be difficult to endorse a production before seeing it.

Find out what’s caught his eye this Fringe and why his curated shortlist could save you time, money, and a few hit‑and‑miss nights out.

Sinatra e De Maria

Emma De Maria pays homage to the incredible Frank & Nancy Sinatra through her favourite jazz standards and elements of dance. With soaring vocals, witty and unique family stories, and an important nod to mental health awareness, audiences will be left entertained and understood in this elegant, heart-warming cabaret.

See more details about Sinatra e De Maria

Dinner with the Stars

Dinner Dance Spectacular – A Night of Music Magic!

Step into the spotlight and dine among the legends! Experience an unforgettable evening as Pulse Band presents Dinner with the Stars, a spectacular tribute to Showbiz icons like Neil Diamond, Tina Turner, and The Beatles. Featuring powerhouse vocalists, Tony Genovese, Tracey Aberle and Gady Fantasia, this high-energy show bursts with dazzling costumes, fun trivia, audience interaction, and all your favourite sing-along classics.

Celebrate the golden era of music in true style — laugh, dance, and relive the hits that defined generations.

See more details about Dinner with the Stars

Lewis Major: Triptych

Three unique repertoire pieces investigate various poetic possibilities, universal rhythms and cycles performed by Major’s company of dancers. This is a captivating evening of dance, of connection between internal and external worlds, all set within a whirling maelstrom of movement, sound and light.

See more details about Lewis Major: Triptich

Simply Brill: The Teens Who Stole Rock N Roll

Step inside New York’s legendary Brill Building – the hit factory where teenagers wrote the songs that shaped the sound of the 1960s.

Award-winning performers Amelia Ryan, Michaela Burger and Lindsay Prodea celebrate the young songwriters behind the hits: Carole King & Gerry Goffin, Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, Cynthia Weil, Barry Mann, Neil Sedaka and more.

With powerhouse vocals, joyful banter and irresistible nostalgia, Simply Brill delivers iconic songs like Leader of the Pack, River Deep – Mountain High and Da Doo Ron Ron in a joyful, feel-good musical ride.

See details about Simply Brill: The Teens Who Stole Rock N Roll

Waiting for Monarto

Adelaide gave Sandi the opportunity to learn classical piano, musical theatre, songwriting, high school music teaching, music arranging, choir leading, accompanying, piano teaching, and solo cabaret performance.

Sandi has been one of South Australia’s most widely-travelled and enduring and versatile entertainers, including as an unofficial ambassador for Adelaide and South Australia in song.

See more details about Waiting for Monarto

Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett

Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett

Join deliciously salacious, über-award winning Bernie Dieter as her gin-soaked haus band soundtracks a night of breathtaking circus, gender-bending aerial and fire-breathing sideshow at its most provocative and hilarious best. With a dizzying lineup of world class artists it’s an unmissable night of debauchery done right.

See more details about Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett

With such a variety of shows this year, audiences can look forward to a season that is sure to be lively, engaging, and full of memorable performances.

Adelaide Fringe Festival Escape Getaway

Social Experience customers will enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and energy of the Adelaide Fringe with a 3-day, 2-night getaway, which includes two spectacular Fringe performances and provides an opportunity to explore the city’s lively streets, including indulging in local flavours at the Central Market.

Learn more about Discover & Explore social expreriences.

Photo credit: Jenny Kwok

Movin’ Melvin Brown’s shows at ACH Group’s residential Care Homes

For the third year, the Adelaide Fringe is coming to ACH Group’s residential care homes, featuring the unstoppable Movin’ Melvin Brown!

All the way from Texas, Melvin Brown lights up the stage with his signature tap dancing, infectious energy and dazzling mix of music, comedy and charm.

Learn more about the different entertainment events in Social and Wellbeing Guide – Residential Care.

Libby Donovan presenting Sister Elizabeth to ACH Group’s Retirement Living community

Libby Donovan returns to perfom for the retirement living community, this time with a Fringe Festival show ‘Sister Elizabeth’, drawing on her own experiences growing up with nuns, diving into the many screen portrayals and the fascinating and eclectic figures who’ve worn the habit throughout history.

Learn more about retirement living with ACH Group.

Supporting older South Australians to live well

Whether you’re looking for support at home, a vibrant retirement lifestyle, or expert care in a residential setting, we’re here to help you live life your way.

Stage lights, gym gains, and gratitude for life

Barry Hill having a chat about his life in theatre in Adelaide

Stage lights, gym gains, and gratitude

2026 marks three years since Barry Hill’s lifelong dedication to the performing arts was recognised with the Order of Australia Medal, celebrating his outstanding contributions to theatre and musical performance. Barry’s life has remained as full and vibrant as ever, with the stage, travel, and active lifestyle continuing to inspire him.

A familiar and trusted presence within the ACH Group community, Barry is equally well-known at the Fringe, where he has long been a discerning reviewer of shows. This season is no exception, and we asked him to share his top picks – read his favourites in our Adelaide Fringe season guide.

With this occasion, we also connected with Barry to find out how life has been since he received the OAM.

A busy life on and off stage

Reflecting on the past few years, Barry says: “The last few years have been busy. I have become Secretary at Tea Tree Players Theatre and that keeps me on my toes.”

One of the ways he maintains his energy and wellbeing is through regular exercise, which has become both a social and personal highlight.

As Barry explains: “I have also started at the ACH Group Health Studio at Rostrevor. I look forward to this every week, eight o’clock for 45 minutes with the greatest gym buddies and instructor anyone could want! My balance has improved as has my strength, and then of course, there is the coffee date with them after.”

In addition, travel has also featured prominently in his life. Barry has visited Cambodia, Vietnam, and New Zealand, while continuing part-time work in Reception and Administration at St John’s Youth Services.

Theatre highlights

Barry’s passion for theatre has shown no signs of slowing. He recounts last year’s performances: “Last year I stage managed Shirley Valentine, played Sir Lancelot Spratt in Doctor in the House, directed Girl of the Frozen North (a melodrama) and played Dame Cookie in the pantomime Alice in Wonderland, all for Tea Tree Players.

“I think I enjoyed playing the Dame most of all as in classic pantomime the Dame works with the audience, ad-libs freely, and provides a lot of the adult humour of the production. The ‘custard pie’ sequence was a lot of fun getting 4 pies in the face every night and then having to refresh the makeup quickly and change for the next scene!”

Looking ahead, Barry has two exciting productions planned. “The first show I am directing is Spamalot (the musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail).”

“This show is for the Metropolitan Musical Theatre Company and will be performed at the Arts Theatre in Angus St Adelaide in May. It is a hard show and I am looking forward to the challenge. The second show is Lend Me a Soprano, a farce by Ken Ludwig at Tea Tree Players in August. It is a fast-paced comedy about a talented but eccentric opera singer whose arrival sparks chaos and mistaken identities at a small-town theatre.”

Supporting young talent

Barry’s dedication to nurturing new performers remains central to his work. “Yes, young performers are vital to the growth of theatre right around the world.”

He adds: “My shows always include mentoring young people. In fact, most of my cast of Spamalot are 18 to 30 year olds who were not around when Monty Python and the Holy Grail was first released so there will be a lot of coaching of the acting style required and vocal delivery. In the pantomime in which I played the Dame there were cast members as young as 8, so patience was key, as was trying to pass on some valuable acting skills.”

Building strength and friendships

Barry is equally enthusiastic about his experience at ACH Group’s Health Studio Rostrevor.

“I must add that the facilities at the Health Studio Rostrevor are wonderful. Your data is recorded on a card which you insert into the different exercise machines and they recalibrate the settings of the machine to suit your current state. It is a social atmosphere, but we all get our exercises done in a fun way.”

“There is also a weekly riddle to answer and of course the friendly reception staff and the physios who I see as well. I cannot speak highly enough of the gym at Rostrevor!!!”

Staying young at heart

Asked what keeps him motivated, Barry is clear: “My theatre life keeps me young, unfortunately my body does not always agree, but with regular gym I’m keeping up.”

“Of course, a good circle of friends and a supportive partner are the keys when it comes to matching theatre life with my personal life. ACH Group also offers a supportive community which is important! It’s your state of mind that ultimately does the trick, if you think young, you will be young!”

Barry’s upcoming shows

For those wishing to experience Barry Hill’s direction live on stage, his upcoming shows are not to be missed:

Spamalot – Metropolitan Musical Theatre Company, Arts Theatre, Angus St, Adelaide, May 2026.
Lend Me a Soprano – Tea Tree Players, August 2026. teatreeplayers.com

Barry Hill’s story is one of energy, creativity, and community, a reminder that passion for life – and theatre – knows no limits.

There are no limits to a good life