Some of her earliest memories of the game go back to when she was 7-years-old playing golf with her parents on Saturday mornings before they would have to rush off to the afternoon netball game.

Beyond her passion for golf Mrs Cartwright finds time to volunteer at Kyabram’s local lawn bowls, tennis, netball and cricket clubs.

Mrs Cartwright has been announced as the Shire of Campaspe finalist for the Sports Focus Administrator of the Year Award for her contribution to Kyabram Parkland Golf Club.

The never-ending challenge which golf presents to players is one of the main elements of the game which has kept her hooked for decades.

“It’s how relaxing and challenging it can be, which are two things which don’t normally go hand-in-hand,” Mrs Cartwright laughed.

“Each time you go out on the course you don’t know what shot you are going to need to hit or where your ball will end up next.

“At the end of the day the challenge is getting that little white ball into the hole.”

RELATED: Sports Focus announces finalists for the 2018 Administrator of the Year Award

For the last 30 years she has been involved with the club, tirelessly working to provide her community with sporting opportunities.

Her roles include operating numerous committees, assisting members with anything related to handicaps, in addition to her chairperson duties of the Victorian Par 3 Committee.

In 2016 she was honoured for her commitment to sports within her community with the Australia Day Sports Person of the Year Award for both Kyabram and the Shire of Campaspe.

The award led to her also being given the Kyabram and District Sports Star Award for Best Contribution to local sport.

However, there is one element of the sport where her real passion lies, and that’s ensuring a future for golf by increasing junior participation.

“Unfortunately golf has a bit of a stereotype of being a boring game. It’s not really that attractive to children and that needs to change,” Mrs Cartwright said.

“It’s critical. We’re finding participation numbers are dropping and it’s concerning from a golfer’s and a club’s perspective.

“We need to engage with schools and children to help keep the numbers up.”

Mrs Cartwright runs numerous junior programs at the Parkland Golf Club including MyGOLF, with Kyabram being recognised as one of the top 5 operators of the national program.

Mrs Cartwright met her husband on the golf course, she recalled in earlier years when her group would play behind her husband’s and he would leave hidden presents for her.

“He would always leave presents in the holes as I would putt out,” Mrs Cartwright laughed.

To continue the family golfing tradition she regularly plays with her husband and their two children, who like to have a hit with mum and dad from time-to-time.

“We really are a true golfing family,” she laughed.

2018 Finalists

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