March 24, 2022: Stawell Gift Event Management (SGEM), promoters of the iconic Powercor Stawell Gift carnival, has announced Invictus Australia as the official charity of Australia’s richest footrace. 

Invictus Australia delivers sport and recovery programmes and services to improve the health and wellbeing of military veterans and their families. The not-for-profit organisation is the legacy of the highly acclaimed Invictus Games Sydney 2018.  

Through collaboration with sport, community and veteran organisations, Invictus Australia will deliver more opportunities for veterans and their families to engage in sport from grassroots participation through to international competition, such as the Invictus Games The Hague taking place from 16-22 April this year.

This partnership has been developed in collaboration with Powercor Stawell Gift corporate partner SYPAQ, which works closely with the Australian Defence Force and collaborated with SGEM to engage a charity with alignment to the defence forces. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Invictus Australia as our official charity for the 2022 Powercor Stawell Gift,” said Stephanie Spence, Chair of Stawell Gift Event Management Limited. 

“Invictus Australia inspires veterans to continue to engage in sport and we like to think that the Powercor Stawell Gift has inspired generations of Aussies to participate in athletics. Together, we can showcase the great work of both organisations.” 

Quote from Invictus Australia CEO Michael Hartung: 

“We are delighted to be the charity partner of one of Australia’s most iconic sporting events, the Stawell Gift. Athletics is a foundation sport of the Invictus movement and attracts many veterans and their families to be part of these engaging communities. The Australian Invictus Team are set to compete at The Hague Invictus Games from 16 – 22 April. The support generated through this partnership with the Stawell gift will support our Invictus competitors and our efforts to engage and inspire veterans and their families to get involved in their local sporting communities. We look forward to working with Stawell Gift to inspire all Australians to get active & connected through the power of sport.” 

Someone else excited about the partnership is Invictus Games 2022 competitor, Emma Murfet. Emma will be competing in swimming, powerlifting, indoor rowing, and a sport close to her heart, Athletics.

“The partnership between Invictus Australia and Stawell Gift is so exciting! The Gift is an event I always wanted to compete in, but never quite got there as I enlisted in the Army. Athletics was a huge part of my life, running for Melbourne University Athletics Club under Manfred Lewandowski. He still takes athletes to the event each year. I’m so pleased that the Stawell Gift will be supporting veterans and their families through this partnership, as athletics is a great way to stay active & connected. I hope we can find a TV to watch the races while we’re in The Hague!”

The race that meant the most to Emma was the women’s 60m at the Maribyrnong Gift in 2011. All Emma’s hard work paid off for her last run before enlisting, which saw her come away with the victory. The sash still takes pride of place at her parent’s home. It’s this guts, determination and perseverance we’re looking forward to seeing on display as Emma competes on the world stage next month.

The 2022 Powercor Stawell Gift carnival will take place from April 16-18, 2022 at Central Park, Stawell.  The finals of the Change Our Game Women’s Gift and Powercor Stawell Gift take place on Easter Monday.  The finals are broadcast live and free on Seven from 11.30am AEST Monday April 18, 2022. 

Tickets for the 2022 Powercor Stawell Gift  are now on sale via Ticketek at https://premier.ticketek.com.au/. 

For more information please contact Jane Owen from 360 Sport and Entertainment on 

0407 936 005 or via email jane.owen@360se.com.au. 

More reading:

• Read out our surfing partnerships here
• NRL and Invictus Australia partnership
• Yoga partnership here to Namaste