Councillor Matters | Cr Jenny Greenberger, April 3, 2026

Published on 03 April 2026

Is the Powercor Stawell Easter Gift a big deal? You bet it is! For the Greenberger family, as for many others in Stawell, it’s a cherished tradition.

When Ken, now 95, takes his seat at Central Park this Easter Monday, he will mark a remarkable milestone: attendance at every Stawell Gift held since he was four years old.

Peter served as president of Stawell Athletic Club in 2004; the year Victorian Governor John Landy presented the winner’s trophy. Now our two sons have joined the committee, and it won’t be long before our grandson, August, continues the family tradition and joins the colour kids on the track.

For Stawell and district, the event is just as significant. The Powercor Stawell Easter Gift draws between 12,000 and 13,000 visitors to the region each year, effectively doubling the town’s population.

The event injects an estimated $3.7 to $4.7 million into the local economy. It places little old Stawell not only on the national map but on the international one.

Last year, crowds gathered to watch Australian stars Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy compete. This year, we welcome American Olympians Sha’Carri Richardson and Christian Coleman.

Our town features on television screens every Easter Monday, and this year a production team will be on-site filming for a motion picture inspired by the Stawell Gift. How exciting is that?

Of course, the weekend isn’t just about the running. Children love the Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday morning, and Fashions on the Field remains a highlight.

Add the Morris Transport Great Western Rodeo on Friday, Stawell Biz’s Main Street Extravaganza on Saturday morning, and the Thomas Foods Stawell Gold Cup race meeting on Sunday, and we have a full weekend of entertainment.

A heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who makes this all happen. Our Northern Grampians Shire parks and garden staff keep the town and Central Park looking magnificent. Stawell Athletic Club members, their supporters, and the Stawell Gift Event Management Group work tirelessly to deliver the event.

Adrienne, Llewelyn and the Stawell Biz volunteers bring the main street alive each year. Thanks also to Great Western Football Netball Club and Stawell Racing Club for hosting their wonderful events.

But while we enjoy all the fun of Easter in Stawell, let us also remember the troubled world around us. Easter is a Christian tradition, and it reminds us that while darkness, loss and despair exist, new life and renewed hope will always follow.

Happy Easter, everyone.