Holly Ferling

Fast bowler for the Queensland Fire and Melbourne Stars cricket teams and media commentator

‘The future for Queensland women looks like an even playing field, with opportunity for girls and women to find and pursue their passions.

‘It was just by chance I gave cricket a go, but I soon I discovered there were no girls’ teams, and no female change rooms. Now, with all female tournaments and specialised girls’ clinics, the next generation of athletes will not be left to chance – they will be stronger, faster and more talented than the generations before.

‘Opportunity for the spotlight is not to be mistaken for tokenism. That’s a double-edged sword which gives critics a voice and hands women the belief they must go above and beyond to excel or be noticed. Let’s continue to show the next generation that women sell out stadiums, lead the sports bulletin, are the face of major campaigns and household names. Let’s make it happen so often it becomes NORMAL.

‘This Queensland Women’s Week I’m celebrating how far our sport has come and how bright the future looks under those stadium lights. Be it the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, a World Cup or a domestic Grand Final – the spotlight is, and will remain, on women.’