General News
25 April, 2025
BARRY'S CORNER: Golden Gift
The hush of the crowd in anticipation is almost deafening as they sweat for the starter's gun.
A huge relief sweeps the thousands of eager faces as the gun launches another Stawell Gift and the runners explode from the blocks.
It is a desperate focus on the finish line as the handicapped sprinters lunge for the prize the winner to take home a cheque for $40,000.
It is a credit to organising committees to have kept the flame alive with supporters, volunteers, shires, and organisers.
It is a challenge to maintain momentum over such a long period of time and make improvements every year.
The carnival takes over the community in the preparations and as the planning gets into gear.
All the accommodation is fully booked and overflowing with merchants capitalising on the great influx of visitors.
And visitors roll in from all over Australia as ex pats head home for the weekend and maybe try their luck at one of the various races.
There are races over three days from 70metres to 1500metres.
It is a track and field carnival like no other and attracts competitors from across the country as many of them are in peak condition for national and international events.
It gives a sense of pride to be surrounded by so many toned, fit and dedicated humans who take care of their diet and exercise to a plan.
Oh to be so fit once again. It is a great incentive to put in some effort to claw back a decent level of fitness because it is so easily lost by inaction.
It is a wonder that doctors don’t prescribe exercise as a solution to many of our ailments.
Being a bit fitter helps normal work and the ability to cope with movement in anything we might like to tackle.
The Gift is finished for the season and planning gears up for 2026.
The athletes have gone home to train for their next challenge and Central Park is turned back to football and cricket.
Watching wildlife can use a lot of energy and it helps to be a little fitter.
Be sure to start off with small efforts and build into a program quietly.
There is no need to copy these elite athletes with the type of programs they will be following.
But it is still a challenge to make the effort.