At the Club's AGM on October 18, Geoff McDermott was voted in as the new president for the 2022 term.

After the decision was announced Mr McDermott said he was "honoured" to step into the role.

"I am very proud to be leading a group of dedicated people who work to ensure this historical event continues its legacy," he said.

"What makes it worth it is being a part of an event when you get to see some truly amazing performances and history making performances."

Mr McDermott first joined the Stawell Athletic Club in 2012, as he nears a decade of service with the committee, but it will be his first stint as president.

Mr McDermott will replace former president Neil Blizzard, as the Club runs a rotating, one-year presidency process.

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After changes in his work life Mr McDermott said he was ready to play the pivotal role in helping to organise the 2022 Stawell Gift.

"2022 will be the second year back after the COVID cancellation of 2020," he said.

"In 2021 we had a successful year, even with the constraints that we had and it was our first year working with the Stawell Gift Event management team."

"To take on this role you have to dedicate a lot of time because it is all volunteer.

"It was really just making sure I had the time to had the time to do a good job of it.

"I also wanted to get in touch because of the history of the event.

"When the Gift first started it was an event and picnic race for a lot of the miners and with my connection with the industry I wanted to make sure the history of the event remained.

"I wanted to be on the committee to make sure the event was in a better place than when I started."

Mr McDermott there was plenty to be excited about with the 2022 event and encouraged anyone to think about joining the Stawell Athletic Club.

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"We are very hopeful that some of our runners that represented us at the Olympics Games might be joining us here and that is pretty exciting," he said.

"We want to get more younger people involved.

"We want to put on a good show and give the town and the wider viewing public an event we can be proud of."

The Stawell Athletic Club hold their monthly meeting on the third Monday of month.

The other face of the Stawell Athletic Club, Wendy Hopwood, will also be staying on her role as office manager.

A stalwart of the Club, Mrs Hopwood, said the history and excitement of the event capture her attention each year.

"I just think it is phenomenal," she said.

"The first year I moved there was people parked on our nature strip. Having not been here before, it was amazing to see the crowds flood in.

"There is people that come and sit in the same seat in the grandstand each year for 50-60 years.

"I have already had people ringing wanting to book their 2022 seat."

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