Victorian Government provides $600,000 backing for the Stawell Gift

While mass media attention focused on the young winners of the 2016 Stawell Gift events, the Victorian Government has announced backing for the historic 120 metre footrace with the announcement of $600,000 over four years to support the event.

With Victorian Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford presenting the winners trophies to both the Men’s and Women’s Gift Champions in Central Park, she announced “a race rich in history deserves a hopeful and prosperous future. We are proud to support the Gift as part of our commitment to invest in regional Victoria – because it deserves the best of everything.”

“It’s races and sporting events like this that truly make Victoria the sporting capital of our nation.”

 “We have seen champions born at the annual Stawell Gift and we look forward to seeing many more emerge.”

The Gift final the feature race of a three day carnival comprising sixty running events and associated activities, was televised live on Easter Monday to an estimated audience of 900,000.

The three day event is a major boost for Stawell’s tourism, hospitality and small business sector, generating over $1 million in spending.

Easter Monday also saw the official opening of the Women’s Gift Champions Parade featuring stone plaques engraved with the names of the 27 past Women’s Gift champions located under trees lining the road adjacent to Central Park.

Last year, 1,900 athletes participated in the carnival and for the first time female athletes competed for prize money equal to the men’s.

The women’s event has attracted a list of world-renowned competitors with Olympic champions Cathy Freeman and Sally Pearson among past stars to have graced the Central Park turf, while Tamsyn Lewis features on the winners’ honour roll.

Top image of the Stawell Gift courtesy of Tourism Victoria.

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