After runner-up performances at the Bowls Australian Open, Olivia Cartwright was crowned 2025 Senior Sportstar of the Year. Photo: Bowls Australia/Paul A. Broben Photography
One of the country’s best lawn bowlers and a leading football prospect have been recognised at the 2025 Echuca-Moama Sportstar awards.
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The awards night, held at Moama Bowling Club on Thursday evening, February 19, saw Olivia Cartwright claim the Senior Sportstar of the Year honours, while Cody Walker was deemed Junior Sportstar of the Year.
Echuca Moama Cycling Club president Matt Dobeli claimed the Spirit of Sport award, the Moama Steamers were named Team/Club of the Year, while Rushworth senior coach, Mark Wheatley, and A-grade coach, Sheree Starling, were co-winners of Coach of the Year honours.
Senior Sportstar Cartwright was recognised for a stellar year on the bowling greens, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the women’s singles at the Bowls Australian Open, the country’s premier annual event.
Cartwright also claimed silver in the fours, won the Victorian Indoor Championship, and reached a career best world ranking of second in November 2025.
She was capped nationally for the Australian Jackaroos in October.
The Kyabram local represented the Moama Steamers for most of the year, recently transitioning to the Bendigo Bowls Club.
Leading 2026 AFL Draft prospect Cody Walker was named Junior Sportstar of the Year.
Junior Sportstar Cody Walker is set to be a marquee member of the 2026 AFL Draft class after a starring season of football in 2025.
Walker was one of only three bottom-age prospects selected by Victoria Country for the under-18 national championships, and on AFL Grand Final day, claimed the Futures medal for best on ground in the futures showcase game at the MCG.
The Echuca Football Netball Club product has committed his draft future to Carlton through the father-son rule, his father, Andrew, playing 202 AFL games for the Blues.
The Spirit of Sport winner was Echuca Moama Cycling Club president Matthew Dobeli, who was recognised for years of service to the club and promoting the sport of cycling.
Navigating the complex cycling scene, Dobeli puts in a mammoth effort managing road permits and traffic management to ensure the club can race on a variety of courses through most weeks of the year.
Dobeli is also a staunch advocate for the sport, working to grow EMCC and with a particular focus on getting new female and junior members on board.
Rushworth’s top grade bosses shared the Coach of the Year honours after two mirrored seasons in 2025.
Both Mark Wheatley and Sheree Starling led their respective football and netball sides to resurgent seasons after a difficult 2024.
Rushworth didn’t field a senior football side at all in 2023 and earned only five wins in 2024, but under Wheatley not only did the club post a 9-7 record in the Kyabram District League, it also rose from sixth position to reach the preliminary final.
The A-grade netball turnaround was just as stark, the Tigers going from a winless 2024 to a 12-4 2025 under Starling’s leadership, the side also reaching the preliminary final.
2025’s Team/Club of the Year was awarded to the Moama Steamers bowls squad after a litany of titles and top performances across all levels.
The Steamers successfully defended their Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Premier League championship, going on to claim the weekend state pennant, the highest honour a domestic bowls side can achieve.
The club also won the Campaspe Playing Area weekend pennant, and Bowls Premier League 22.
Moama representatives also starred at an individual level, including Cartwright’s Australian Open silvers, Cassandra Millerick’s pairs and mixed pairs (with Kevin Anderson) state titles, and Gracie Retallick’s under-18 girls state title.
Also on the night, an all-star panel of special guests entertained nominees and spectators with a discussion of sport at the highest level.
Zimbabwean international cricketer Regis Chakabva, AFL footballer Marty Hore, Olympic snowboarder Joh Lyle and long-distance runner and coach Brady Threlfall shared their expertise after competing domestically and internationally at some of the world’s biggest sporting events.
Find full coverage of the 2025 Echuca Moama Sportstar awards in a special eight-page feature in Tuesday’s Riverine Herald.
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