Bowler Olivia Cartwright is 2025’s Senior Sportstar after a stellar year on the greens. Photo: Holly Daniel.
Top-class lawn bowler Olivia Cartwright was crowned the 2025 Echuca-Moama Senior Sportstar on Thursday night.
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The 21-year-old put together several career-best performances throughout the year, culminating in a number two world ranking in November.
“It's kind of unexpected in a way,” Cartwright said of the Sportstar honour.
“You trust in yourself that you’ve had a really good year and things like that, but I’m a humble athlete, so this is just another humbling award and so it’s a privilege to receive it.”
Cartwright’s best result was at the Bowls Australian Open where she took out a world champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist en route to the women’s singles final at the country’s most prestigious event.
Cartwright was runner-up in the women's singles at the Bowls Australian Open. Photo: Bowls Australia/Paul A. Broben Photography
She added another runner-up medal in the fours at the same event, going on later in the year to be crowned the Victorian Indoor Champion.
She was also awarded her first national cap in Scotland in October.
“There were definitely a few (highlights),” Cartwright said.
“A pretty big year in terms of my stepping stone into the next level, but obviously the AO (Australian Open) was a huge individual reward for my efforts and then obviously getting my cap as well in Scotland was pretty exciting too.”
Representing Moama, the Kyabram native also picked up a host of local titles including the Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Premier League and weekend state pennant, before transferring her allegiance to Bendigo Bowls Club later in the year.
Cartwright received her first Jackaroos cap in 2025.
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Twelve months ago, Cartwright was on the road to recovery after an injury, but said the time off helped her refocus for what turned into her best competitive year.
“I actually fractured my ankle, I was in a moon boot this time last year,” she said.
“I think it was just maybe that reset that I needed, trusting my ability getting on the green more and having a good network around me (led to a strong 2025).”
The bowls calendar never slows down and Cartwright continues to have lofty aspirations into 2026.
“Comm Games comes this year, but I think that's just a little out of my reach so AO is probably up there for me,” she said.
“Another stint at the Golden Nugget would be huge and then just nationals and hopefully building my confidence and ability to make worlds next year.”
Senior monthly nominees Divya Crane, Olivia Cartwright, Joanne Hadley, Trevor Bassett and Steven Schenk. (Absent: Levi Hone, Oskar Smartt, Tyler Phillips, D’Arcy Whyte and Cassandra Millerick). Photo: Holly Daniel.
Cartwright claimed the Senior Sportstar honours ahead of a strong contingent of nominees, including Levi Hone (cycling), Divya Crane (table tennis), Oskar Smartt, Tyler Phillips (football), D’Arcy Whyte (golf), Cassandra Millerick (bowls) Joanne Hadley (darts), Trevor Bassett (croquet) and Steven Schenk (boxing).
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