March 20, 2023 – Stawell, VIC: Invictus Australia will be the official charity of the 2023 Powercor Stawell Gift carnival, Australia’s oldest and most prestigious footrace, for the second consecutive year.

Invictus Australia strengthens the wellbeing of former and current serving Australian Defence Force personnel and their families, through the power of sport, at a grassroots and international level. The not-for-profit organisation is the legacy of the highly acclaimed Invictus Games Sydney 2018.

“We are proud to support the work of Invictus Australia, the work they do for veterans and their families with sport in the community is truly inspiring,” said Cr Murray Emerson, Chair of Stawell Gift Event Management Limited. 

“For over 140 years the Stawell Gift has been inspiring generations to enjoy athletics and to share the experience of coming together as a community. We believe every runner, regardless of ability, should have the opportunity to compete and push themselves to new heights. The professional running circuit is like joining a family. And like Invictus Australia, we share the philosophy that promoting community spirit through sport promotes good health as well as a sense of belonging. We look forward to working together to raise awareness and funds for our veterans and their families.”

According to the 2021 Census, there are 581,000  veterans in Australia, plus their family members.

“We are delighted to return as the charity partner of one of Australia’s most iconic sporting events, the Powercor Stawell Gift. Athletics attracts many veterans and their families through participation or volunteering at early winter weekend meets at local clubs, all the way through to the international stage as one of the foundational Invictus Games sports.” said Invictus Australia CEO, Michael Hartung.

“The Australian Invictus Team is set to compete at  the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf from 9-16 September. The support generated through this partnership with the Powercor 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 SGEM to inspire all Australians to get active and connected through the power of sport.”

Invictus Australia’s Regional Manager Veteran Engagement, Vanessa Broughill, will be on site at the Powercor Stawell Gift to cheer on the competitors, and discuss how her participation in Athletics at two Invictus Games and ongoing participation in sport, has positively impacted her life. 

According to Broughill, ‘Before my Invictus journey began, I’d spent years with crippling anxiety and depression, often suffering in silence. I always struggle to explain the cause of it, but the closest answer I can give is that it was the perfect storm of challenges that life threw at me. Being involved in sport on an international level at the Invictus Games was the start of my recovery, and helped regain my confidence. Now, through my involvement with local sport, and working with Invictus Australia to encourage other veterans to get active and connected, I continue my journey to remain physically and mentally healthy.’

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

The 2023 Powercor Stawell Gift carnival will take place from April 8-10, at Central Park, Stawell.  Easter Sunday is Family Day with a host of activities happening for the kids on and off the track and admission is free for under 12’s. The finals of the Strickland Family Women’s Gift and Powercor Stawell Gift and other races are broadcast live and free on Seven from 11.30am AEST on Easter Monday April 10, 2023 and across all three days of the carnival on 7+.

Tickets for the 2023 Powercor Stawell Gift are now on sale via Ticketek at https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=STAWELLG23 

Read more:

• Invictus Australia names as charity partner of Stawell Gift in 2022