Stawell Gift status secured

Stawell Gift organisers have welcomed a review of operations as part of a deal struck with state and local governments to return the footracing carnival’s prizemoney to last year’s levels.

Earlier this month Stawell Athletic Club announced it would decrease the prizemoney for the winners of its men’s and women’s gifts from $40,000 – where it has been for both races since 2015 – to $17,000.

The race has been without a major naming rights sponsor since 2016 and organisers admitted the lack of sponsorship money had left them with little choice but to offer less prize money across the board.

Northern Grampians Shire Council and the State Government stepped in to negotiate a financial assistance package to ensure the gift retained its status as Australia’s richest footrace.

On Friday the club announced it had reached an agreement with council and the State Government.

Stawell Athletic Club committee member Robert Irvine said the club had agreed to review its operations after this year’s gift as a condition of accepting the money.

“The review will give us the structure to go forward,” he said.

“We don’t know who will be conducting the review yet, but it will be an agreed-upon consultant.

“They will be able to help us through the process.

“I’m not sure what areas might need to change, because I’d say we’ve been working particularly effectively for a long time.

“We’re going to go into it with an open mind and the consultant will give us some advice and we’ll make decisions from there.”

Northern Grampians Shire Council mayor Kevin Erwin said the council would work with gift organisers during the review process.

“The council is happy to work with Stawell Athletic Club and the State Government to ensure the Stawell Gift’s long-term viability post-event,” he said.

“Until we sit down and go through everything I wouldn’t say there are any particular things we know need to change.

“Our main concern is making sure the prestige of the event remains the same and that it does have a future.”

Cr Erwin said the council hoped the restored prizemoney helped entice runners and patrons back to the carnival, which Stawell Athletic Club estimated generates $4-million annually in the shire.

“I imagine there has been some excitement about the prizemoney going back up and hopefully it encourages a lot of athletes to come here at Easter time,” he said.

Positive outlook

Mr Irvine said the response from the athletics community following the restoration of the gift’s prizemoney had been overwhelmingly positive.

“Our starters have been starting races at the weekend at Geelong and they got really great feedback,” he said.

“There has been good feedback from the Victorian Athletic League, so everybody is on the same page.”

Mr Irvine said the club was thrilled to have completed negotiations with state and local governments and was now focused on making this year’s gift a success.

“Everyone wants to make sure the Stawell Gift continues to be the great event it always has been,” he said.

“We’re absolutely still on the lookout for a major sponsor, but we have to put everything to one side and actually get on with running the thing now.

“We’re certain we’ll be able to run a top-class event.”