Vol. No. Vol. 2518No. 3927
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Wednesday, January 13, 2023 2016 Wednesday, April 12,
SPIRIT OF SPORT: Two Wimmera league football and netball clubs will honour Victorian police officers who have died in the line of duty this weekend. Warrack Eagles netballer Ashlynn McKenzie, Horsham Saints footballer Gage Wright and Horsham Blue Ribbon Foundation’s Dale Russell display the Blue Ribbon Cup Warrack Eagles and Horsham Saints A Grade netballers and senior footballers will battle for in round one. A best player award will also be presented for each code. Story, page 49. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Tourism ‘appetiser’ C
BY ABBY WALTER
ommunity leaders say the ‘gigantic’ impact of Australia’s richest footrace, at the foothills of the Grampians, continues to demonstrate the compelling attractiveness of the region to visitors.
Easter in Northern Grampians shire, which includes the iconic Stawell Gift and other events such as carnivals, markets and horse racing in Stawell and Halls Gap predominantly, brought thousands of people and investment worth nearly $5 million into the economy. Stawell Gift event management
chair Murray Emerson, also a shire councillor, said the Stawell Gift was the central point of an economic boon. “It’s about a $4.7 million investment into the community over the four to five days of Easter, so we really couldn’t do without it,” he said. “The economic benefit to our community is gigantic – there are no negatives. “I also believe businesses survive on the Stawell Gift. For the hotels and motels, it’s a time when they have a real opportunity to generate economic benefit.” Grampians Tourism chief executive Marc Sleeman said the Easter week-
end came at an important time, in line with term-one school holidays and before tourism started to slow during winter. “It’s quite the economic boost for Stawell, Ararat and Horsham with Easter being a busy time and the Stawell Gift on top of that,” he said. “It maximises all available accommodation and attracts many visitors from across Australia.” Mr Sleeman said his organisation capitalised on the busyness of the weekend and sought to share the diversity of tourism experiences with visitors. “We wanted to get people in cars
to explore. We know that when the region fills with people, they disperse and all our small communities benefit,” he said. “Having people visit for the weekend, coming to the Stawell Gift or just visiting boosts our destination profile. “It brings people in to see the Grampians, including the Wimmera and Mallee region, and it drives further visitation later in the year. “The Stawell Gift weekend is like an appetiser to get people to come back and see all the things we have on offer.” StawellBiz president Llewelyn Clark
said the weekend was ‘amazing’ for businesses. “All sectors benefit, from retail to hospitality to accommodation – accommodation is packed out over the whole weekend,” he said. “Even in the lead-up to the Easter weekend, there is huge hype across the town and community.” Mr Clark, who also owns Clarks Furniture, said many business owners were ‘absolutely hammered’. “It was the busiest and best Easter Saturday we’ve had on our records,” he said. Continued page 3
IN THIS ISSUE • Burn-off health warning • Edenhope development • Football-netball season start Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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School Holiday FUN Melbourne Museum FREE 11am to 3pm daily PLUS ……. $4 Craft Workshops
Monday to Friday, April 17 to 21 from 11am to 3pm Monday—Frizbees
Thursday—spoon city
Tuesday—Wooden money box
Friday—animal masks
Wednesday—Door sign KMART l SPOTLIGHT l REJECT SHOP l BEST & LESS l WIDE RANGE OF SPECIALTY STORES l WWW.HORSHAMPLAZA.COM.AU