KYABRAM’S Olivia Cartwright had an Australia Day to remember on Sunday, taking out both the Kyabram and Campaspe Junior Sportsperson of the Year awards at the 2020 Campaspe Shire Australia Day Awards.
It capped an exceptional 2019 season, as the 15-year-old lawn bowls talent held her place in the under 18 Victorian squad and recently finished third in Australia’s most competitive junior tournament.
Olivia also won the 2018/19 Kyabram Ladies Club Championship, beating experienced and talented senior bowlers, and made history by becoming the youngest ever winner of the Goulburn Valley Ladies Champion of Champions event.
Olivia said she was happy to see lawn bowls get recognition in a town dominated by football and netball.
“It’s just good to be recognised for a sport that isn’t particularly a young people’s sport,” she said.
“I know there’s some other young kids around Ky that play and I hope they look up to me and see that you can go far in a sport that is just now becoming more of a junior sport than a seniors sport.”
Kyabram Rotary Club president Carol Howell, who presented Olivia with her awards, said she deserved both honours.
“We had some very good award winners this year… and I was extremely pleased to see Olivia take out the Campaspe award as well as Kyabram’s,” she said.
