DESPITE this year's Stawell Gift remaining without a naming rights sponsor, Stawell Athletic Club officials and promoter Twenty3 Sport and Entertainment, are refusing to raise any alarm bells.
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The club and Twenty3 have been unable to secure a major sponsor, following the decision by Australia Post to not renew its connection with the iconic footrace at the end of 2014. Australia Post had sponsored the Stawell Gift for 20 consecutive years.
A spokesperson for the event organiser, Twenty3 Sport and Entertainment said while the search continued for a major sponsor for the event, it was business as usual as they headed towards Easter 2015."We are currently still in the market for a naming right's partner for the Stawell Gift," the spokesperson said.
"Discussions will continue with a number of companies interested in becoming the naming rights partner of the Stawell Gift for 2015 and beyond and we are hopeful that we will have a signing in time for this year's event.
The Stawell Gift is, and will continue to be, the pinnacle event on the Australian athletics calendar.
"With the support of current sponsors and the Victorian Government, the 2015 Stawell Gift will go ahead as planned and the delivery of this year's event will not be affected by the signing of a naming rights partner.
"People can expect the event to run in a similar format to previous years, with a number of new additions, which will enhance the carnival atmosphere of this prestigious event including the Gift Enclosure hospitality area and the Food Hub."
Twenty3 also confirmed that the Stawell Gift has the continued support of existing sponsors Victorian Government, Australia Post, Asics, Northern Grampians Shire Council and a number of other valued local sponsors.
It has also been confirmed that the 2015 Stawell Gift will again be broadcast across Australia on the Easter Monday.
Stawell Athletic Club spokesman, Robert Irvine, said the club recognised it wasn't an ideal position to be in, not having a naming rights sponsor signed at this point in time, but members were pressing ahead as planned.
"There certainly are no panic stations within the club at all," Mr Irvine said.
"We are confident that we will run the Stawell Gift as planned and that it will be a resounding success.
"We already have everything in place, so there's no reason why it wouldn't be a success. Television coverage is locked in, programming is all in place, we know the runners will still come, so the Stawell Gift will be run as normal.
"Being without a naming rights sponsor to date is not a place we would like to be in, but it's important that we continue to put the measures in place as we have always done and plan for a successful Stawell Gift.
"The club members are very positive about where we are at at this point of time."
Mr Irvine said he understood Twenty3 Sport and Entertainment were still in discussions with potential naming rights sponsors, but if one did not sign on, it would definitely not spell the end for the Stawell Gift.
"The event would still go ahead and we would see all the activities and foot running that we would normally see at Central Park. It just might be the case that we go ahead without a major sponsor," Mr Irvine said.
"Apart from that, everything else is under control and that's very important for our club, that we are always focused on moving forward.
"We certainly don't hold any punches when it comes to our meetings. We have strategies in place to ensure that we all move forward, not backwards and that the Stawell Gift becomes bigger and better than ever."
Mr Irvine said the Driscoll, McIllree and Dickinson ladies day, featuring fashions on the field, the calcutta on Good Friday, all the children's entertainment and of course the excellent foot running, would all form part of a magical Easter weekend at Central Park.
"We are extremely confident that the running events will be better than ever," Mr Irvine said.
"The club always has measures in place that prepares us to deal with the worst case scenario each year. That scenario is we do our best and we make it work.
"At the very worst, we are going to have a successful Stawell Gift and we will come out at the end of it, knowing that we have done our very best.
"The committee is positive about it, we're here, so let's make it work."
Mr Irvine said there was still a possibility a naming rights sponsor could be secured for the 2015 Stawell Gift. If not, the committee and Twenty3 will turn their focus early on ensuring a sponsor is signed on for next year and beyond.
"There is still hope that we will have a sponsor on board this year," Mr Irvine said.
"If not, we are still positive, still here and still thriving as a club. That's the message we need to be getting out to our supporters.
"It's an important message, because we have a strong group of supporters in Stawell through the local supporters club. They have always supported us and we want to ensure that continues this year and beyond.
"Our supporters appreciate what the Stawell Gift brings to Stawell.
"With regards to the Stawell Athletic Club and the Stawell Gift, it's onwards and upwards from here."