Spotlight on fashions
While the annual Stawell Gift meeting offers plenty of action on the track, the spotlight will temporarily shine on a different part of Central Park on Easter Saturday.
Saturday is ‘ladies day’ at the gift carnival and the highlight is a long-running fashions on the field competition.
Ladies – and men – will strut their stuff down a garden path, vying for several prizes up for grabs.
Organiser Joan Macpherson said entrants were judged on elegance, style and classic carnival racewear. “The fashions on the field competition is always popular and it’s wonderful to see everyone dressed up in their finest,” she said.
Australia’s fastest woman and former Stawell fashions on the field winner Melissa Breen will be among the judges for this year’s competition.
The lady of the day will win $1000 along with a sash named in honour of the late Billie Jo Petersen, an elite sprinter and popular fashions on the field winner who died suddenly in 2009, aged 26.
Runner-up in the lady of the day category will win two pairs of Maui Jim sunglasses, with the third place-getter to receive one pair of sunglasses.
The best-hat winner will take home a $100 Gift Hotel voucher, as will the best-dressed man, who will also collect a pair of Maui Jim’s. Each winner will also receive a bottle of Grampians Estate sparkling wine.
People can enter at the Grampians Estate Fashions on the Field marquee from 12.30pm.
Entrants will go before the judges at 3.45pm.
The first 200 ladies through the gate will receive a complimentary glass of sparkling wine.
Sunday is family day and will include children’s activities, an animal nursery, arts and crafts and an Easter egg hunt.
Gift party
This year’s Stawell Gift will include a new Saturday ‘Off The Track Street Party’.
The party will start at 5.30pm and feature food stalls, live music and a fireworks show.
Festivities will be on Victoria Street, at the front of the Central Park entrance gates near Cato Park.
Presented by Northern Grampians Shire Council, the concept aims to widen the gift weekend’s appeal to a broader demographic.