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Monday, April 6, 2015STAWELL GIFT STARS GET THE EQUALITY THEY DESERVEThe Stawell Gift will offer equal prize money to male and female athletes at today’s 134th instalment of the time-honoured race.The prestigious 120m handicap – Australia’s oldest and richest short distance running event – offers male athletes a $60,000 prize purse, and a $40,000 lump sum for the winner.Before 2015, the women’s event attracted a pool of $6000, but this year marks parity. The women’s event has attracted a star-studded list of world-renowned competitors. Cathy Freeman and Sally Pearson are just some of the stars to have graced the Central Park turf, while Tamsyn Lewis features on the winners’ honour roll. Minister for Sport, Tourism and Major Events, John Eren, congratulated Australia Post for bankrolling the prize-money boost, which sees the women’s pool increase tenfold. It comes after the Andrews Labor Government moved to ensure no less than 50 per cent of all future appointments to paid Government boards and Victorian courts will be women. The Stawell Gift is a key date on Regional Victoria’s tourism calendar, giving Western Victoria an opportunity to showcase its strengths into living rooms across the country. More than 300,000 viewers around the nation will tune in to watch emerging sprint star Jack Hale and Australian 100m record holder, Melissa Breen race. Locally, the meet nets the town and state $5.7 million.Victoria’s impressive list of major events are a key component of the state’s $10.9 billion regional economy, keeping visitor rates healthy and creating jobs for regional Victorians.The women’s race gets under way at 2.15pm, before the men’s at 2.45pm.Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport, Tourism and Major Events, John Eren“Nothing says Regional Victoria quite like the Stawell Gift. Some of the best athletes our country and the world has ever seen have raced here before a crowd of thousands.”“Today’s not just about a race; but about gender equality, too. Outcomes for women start with attitudes, and the Stawell Gift is leading the charge.”“Victoria’s proud reputation as a major events leader is built on the reputation and success of great events like these.” ................
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