It will be a special St Albans Gift this year with the big race meeting celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The Gift, run by the St Albans Sports Club on behalf of the St Albans cricket and football clubs, has become a popular annual event on the Victorian Athletic League calendar.
This year’s meeting will be held at Kings Park Reserve on January 20, with a massive 11-race card, including the 120-metre open gift, which has $5500 in prizemoney.
It is a free community event with the support of the Brimbank City Council.
The St Albans Gift originated through a conversation between St Albans Sports Club chairman of the day, Harry McFerran, and Victorian Athletic League committee member of the time, Terry O’Donnell, who became friends though their links with the Western Region Football League umpires program.
McFerran and O’Donnell spent two years planning the concept of St Albans hosting a VAL meeting.
It was an extra push from St Albans Sports Club general manager of the time, Des Barnard, that ensured the project would get off the ground, after he lobbied the council to fund the event.
The St Albans Gift finally came to fruition on one of Victoria’s darkest days in 2009.
The first meeting had to be delayed because of the devastating Black Saturday bushfires, but the race meeting went ahead and a new tradition was born.
Ten years on, and the St Albans Gift is still going strong. The question is, who will etch their name into history in becoming the winner of the 10th event?
The day is not just about running – it’s also about fun and family.
There will be jumping castles, a petting zoo, roving superheroes, food trucks and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade will show off one of its fire trucks.
Racing will begin at 3pm, and activities will be in operation from 1pm.
