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This article was published on Friday, 9 May, 2025. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Novice State Carnival rolls into Greater Shepparton this weekend

In Summary

Greater Shepparton will host the 2025 Novice State Carnival from Friday 9 to Tuesday 13 May, welcoming over 400 emerging bowlers from across Victoria.
The event, delivered in partnership with Bowls Victoria, will take place across multiple local clubs, with East Shepparton Bowls Club as the main hub.
The Carnival has expanded from four to five days due to strong participation and showcases Greater Shepparton’s ability to host major state sporting events.
The finals will be live-streamed, and the event is expected to deliver significant economic and tourism benefits to the region.

This prestigious event, delivered in partnership with Bowls Victoria, will see male and female bowlers compete in singles and pairs events across premier bowling venues within the region. East Shepparton Bowls Club will serve as the main hub for the Carnival, with additional matches played at Tatura, Tallygaroopna, Murchison, Dookie, Katandra West and other local clubs. The expansion of the event from four to five days reflects the strong interest and growing participation in the sport.

Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, expressed his enthusiasm for the event.

"Greater Shepparton City Council is delighted to be partnering with Bowls Victoria to deliver another high-quality state event in our region for the next three years, starting in 2025. It is fantastic to see that, off the back of really strong entries, Bowls Victoria has had to extend the event from four days to five days,” he said.

"We are thrilled that some elements of this carnival will hit our small towns, which will give those clubs some recognition for preparing high-quality facilities, while the main hub will see plenty of great bowls from both men and women at East Shepparton.

"We hope that while these bowlers are visiting our region, they get to experience everything that is great about our city – from cafes, restaurants, the Victoria Park Lake precinct, and some of our wonderful tourist attractions like SAM and MOVE."

Bowls Victoria CEO, Tony Sherwill, said the move to bring the championships to Greater Shepparton highlighted a shared commitment to growing the sport across the state.

“The decision to move the State Novice Championships to Shepparton for the first time is a reflection of our commitment to broadening the reach of bowls across Victoria,” he said.

“Shepparton is the perfect location for this event, offering excellent facilities and a strong community spirit. We believe it will set the stage for an exciting new chapter in the championships’ history.”

Mr Sherwill said the organisation was looking forward to the 2025 event and confident it would deliver a great experience for all involved.

“With its wonderful sporting infrastructure and the city’s enthusiasm for community-based events, we are confident that this will be a memorable experience for everyone involved,” he said.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the incredible talent of novice bowlers from all across the state in a new and dynamic setting.”

The Novice State Carnival is open to bowlers who have become affiliated with a club (nation-wide) within the past three years, providing a platform for emerging talent to showcase their skills. The event's relocation to Greater Shepparton underscores the region's reputation for quality greens and its capacity to host significant sporting events.

The Carnival is expected to make a significant economic contribution to the local and broader Greater Shepparton region, with participants and their families exploring the area's offerings during their stay.

The finals will be live-streamed on Tuesday 13 May 2025, allowing broader audiences to witness the culmination of this exciting event.

For more information about the 2025 Novice State Carnival, visit the Bowls Victoria webpage.

For further information, please call Council on 5832 9700 or email events@shepparton.vic.gov.au.