A pre-stamped envelope commemorating the 100th Running of the Stawell Easter Gift will be issued on 6 April 1981.
Stawell, situated 241 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, is the home of one of Australia’s greatest sporting events, the Stawell Easter Gift foot-race.
The pioneer settlers of Stawell regularly organised sports meetings at Easter to help relieve the tedium of their sometimes harsh living conditions. In 1878, the Stawell Athletic Club was formed, and the first Easter Carnival was held later that year. The highlight of the Carnival was The Stawell Easter Gift, a professional sprinting event run over 130 yards to which prize money of £24 was allotted, with £20 going to the winner.
Since 1878 the Stawell Easter Gift has been run annually with the exception of five years (1941-1946) during World War II. Prize money for the Gift has varied from year to year, depending on the resources of the Stawell Athletic Club. This year the Stawell Easter Gift has been allotted $22,000 prize money, of which $12,000 will go to the winner.
In 1973, with the introduction of the metric system, the distance of the Gift was changed from 130 yards to 120 metres.
Over the yers there have been many outstanding performances by athletes in the Stawell Easter Gift, the fastest time being recorded by Madagascan sprinter Jean-Louis Ravelomanantsoa in the 1975 Gift.
Details
- Date of Issue: 6 April 1981
- Withdrawn Date: 30 October 1981
- Invalidated:
- Designer: Australia Post Graphic Design Section
- Printer: Mercury-Walch, Division of Davies Brothers Limited, Hobart, Tasmania
- Press: Six colour Roland Ultra
- Process: Offset Multi-colour photolithography with luminescense impregnated varnish
- Colours:
- Paper: 105 gsm Glacier White
- Quantity: 1,596,850
Pre-Stamped Envelope No.034
The envelope was designed by Australia Post’s Graphic Design Section and carries a 22c denomination. The envelope measures 190 mm x 101 mm and numbered 034. It will be available over the counter at all Australia Post philatelic sales centres, at a cost of $A0.28, until 30 October 1981, provided stocks last.
First day of issue postmarked envelopes will be available at these centres until 17 April 1981, provided stocks last.
FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTMARKER OFFICES
Australian Stamp Bulletin
Australian Stamp Bulletin No.153 – March-April 1981
