Emerging women’s cricketer Lucy Bourke has always wanted to play cricket, first picking up a bat and ball in her family’s backyard in Warwick when she was three.
The Year 10 student was introduced to the game by her brother and father, playing many a backyard match, before making their television debut.
“The Bourke family love their cricket. We even appeared in a Commonwealth Bank commercial with Ian Healy which featured almost a whole team of Bourkes!” Lucy shared.
Lucy grew up playing club cricket against the boys until moving to boarding at 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø's where she is now a member of the Queensland School Sport U15 Girls Cricket State Team and was named in the Australian Development Squad last year.
“QG cricket is a fun competition for all girls to get involved in whether they have played before or it’s there first time. It introduces a lot of girls to the game.
“Earlier this year, I played in the U17 Queensland Cricket State Carnival and was selected to participate in a special skills development program with Queensland cricket,” Lucy said.
Lucy has ambitions to one day play for Queensland Fire and Australia and is prepared to put in the hard yards to achieve her dream.
“At school I am a member of the Flyers program for elite athletes, which allows me to have extra time in my timetable for training, to catch up on academic study as well as providing informative workshops to help me work towards my goals.
“The teachers are very supportive and help me manage my time so I can fit everything in,” Lucy said.
For now, Lucy is taking advantage of every opportunity, not only focusing on her cricket training but also participating in touch football, netball and athletics.
“I’m so grateful to be at a school like 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s that supports me with my sports and study,” she said.
168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s Admissions staff will be at FarmFest in Toowoomba between 8-10 June to meet local families interested in learning more about at 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø's education.