by Nicholas Duck

Warragul's Samantha Atkinson has been crowned one of Victoria's best bowlers after being named the 2023-24 Female Bowler of the Year at the Bowls Victoria Awards Night last month.

The award caps off an extraordinary two years for the local bowler, who won titles left, right and centre and even earned the title of world champion.
The night recognised several of Victoria's top performing players across both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, as well as inducting four new members into the Bowls Victoria hall of fame.
Samantha said it was "pretty special" to be named Female Bowler of the Year.
"I think it's great recognition but what a special night with so many people honoured and the hall of fame inductees as well," she said.
Samantha admitted the nerves kicked in, especially after an early winner on the night delivered a sizeable speech and she realised she might have to have something prepared in case she won.
"I sort of panicked a bit. I was scribbling notes during the ceremony. One of my friends said 'surely you've already written a speech?' and I said 'that's what I'm doing now!' Thank God I put a few dot points down."
Samantha also was recognised for her efforts as part of the Victorian team that won the national competition in 2023, bringing the Marj Morris trophy back to the state for the first time in 19 years.
Winning the mixed pairs event at the World Indoor Bowls Championships in Guernsey was her standout highlight from the past two years, saying it was "a moment I'll never forget."
Other highlights include three state titles, wins at the Australian Indoor Championships and Victorian Open as well as getting the chance to compete in the Bowls Premier League.
Samantha also had the chance to represent Australia at the Oceania Challenge in New Zealand and has been ranked as high as second in Australia and sixth in the world.
Having plied her trade most recently at a local level at Dandenong Club, she will be making her return to the Strzelecki North competition after signing for Newborough Bowling Club.
It also will see her reunite with her mother Sheryl, as the pair aim to resume their winning ways at state level together.
She still loves living locally in Warragul after growing up in Drouin, saying it's the area she's always called home and will continue to do so for a while to come.
Her main goal now is to earn a spot in the Australian Jackaroos, the country's national team. Samantha has previously been named in the Emerging Jackaroos and with an open spot now available in the women's team, she's hoping to hear her name called when the squad is announced in November.