Later this month, Miss Cartwright hands over to Kate Holland (25), formerly of Oamaru, as she leaves to spend time travelling.
Coming home was one of the main attractions for Miss Holland, who brings double majors in exercise prescription and sport and leisure studies to the job.
The former Waitaki Girls' High School pupil said she was looking forward to working in an area that makes a difference.
''I like the community focus and working with people,'' she said.
Having taken a break from elite sports in recent years, Miss Holland enjoyed being involved in a range of different sports while growing up in Waitaki.
''I used to be a rower in Oamaru and [have been involved in] basketball, netball, athletics - the whole shebang, really,'' she said.
She would like to place emphasis on public health by encouraging more people to be involved in physical activity, as part of a total health plan, by extending the The Green Prescription to the region.
She also hopes to focus on initiatives for people with disabilities, having just handed in her PhD thesis on young people with physical disabilities and their experiences of physical education, sport and recreation to the University of Otago last week.
Leaving Oamaru will be bittersweet for Miss Cartwright, who said she will miss Waitaki and all of the ''good people'' she had got to know.
Coming to Oamaru with her partner almost three years ago, Miss Cartwright said the Sport Waitaki role came up at the perfect time and she considered herself very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to do what she loved.
''I've thoroughly enjoyed it,'' she said.
''It's a good chance to work with the community and you've got the flexibility to look at the needs throughout Waitaki.''
Miss Cartwright said she was thrilled to be able to pass over the job to someone who knows the area and is ''equally as passionate''.
''I think that's really special,'' she said.
''[Miss Holland] has some awesome strengths and she'll be able to use her knowledge in the community which is exciting, and at the same time continuing with all the good things we have going.''
Miss Cartwright said working in small towns had been very rewarding, citing her proudest moments as introducing the successful gentle exercise programme, establishing the annual Colour Run and, outside of Sport Waitaki, organising the Portside Punch charity boxing extravaganza - the biggest one-night fundraiser Oamaru had seen.
She is not sure what the future holds for her, but is looking forward to spending the next few months travelling the world.
The Sport Waitaki co-ordinator role involves facilitating local training opportunities, identifying needs and solutions with local community sport and recreation providers and assisting them in developing appropriate policies.
Other responsibilities include co-ordinating the sharing of good management practice between clubs, codes, and communities and assisting in the organisation of local events.
