Cleeland celebrates success of 3rd annual Cleeland bowls tournament

The Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland MP has congratulated participants and winners of the Annual Cleeland Bowls Tournament.

For the third year running, local communities swapped their home greens for the lawns of Parliament House on Monday 16 February, as Annabelle Cleeland hosted her annual Cleeland Bowls Tournament.

The event welcomed bowlers from 11 communities across the region, reinforcing its core purpose of bringing country communities together while demonstrating that Parliament is open, accessible and not an intimidating place for regional Victorians.

Communities were represented by:Avenel – Noel Slater and Pam Pedder

Seymour – Alison Ridley and Elliot Jarman

Seymour VRI – Wendy and Michael Szcykulski

Benalla – Christine and Clive Gray

Violet Town – Laurell Heckenberg and Jye Webb

Murchison – Rachel and Bill Puts

Nagambie – Kim and Brett Blennerhasset

Heathcote – Christine and Barry Cail, Robert Dashwood and Peter Cunningham

Kilmore – Mavis and Douglas Haynes

Euroa – Mark Jervies and Tracy McConnell

Nagambie – Kaye and John Tennant

“Parliament should belong to every Victorian, including those in our small towns,” Ms Cleeland said. “This tournament is about breaking down barriers, celebrating community spirit and showing that our regional voices have a place here.”

Players travelled from across the electorate turning the day into a celebration of connection, friendly competition and regional pride.

This year’s champions were Wendy and Michael Szcykulski from the Seymour VRI Bowls Club, who claimed the title after a strong performance throughout the day. Runners up were Peter Cunningham and Robert Dashwood representing Heathcote.

Ms Cleeland said the growing participation each year reflected the strength of community sport in regional areas.

“In small towns, sport is more than recreation. It is connection, it is community and it is identity. Seeing representatives from 12 electorates come together on the lawns of Parliament is something very special.”

The Cleeland Bowls Tournament has now become a regular fixture on the parliamentary calendar, showcasing the best of regional Victoria and strengthening ties between local communities and their Parliament.