WHERE IS QUEENSLANDER CASSANDRA MILLERICK NOW?

By Kelsey Cottrell

Talk about taking an opportunity with both hands and running with it, that is exactly what Gin Gin/Bundaberg prodigy and former Queensland representative, Cassandra Millerick, has done since moving to the Victorian-New South Wales border town of Moama.

If you have been a keen follower of bowls in Queensland for some time, you would know the name Millerick. The twins Cassandra and Bolivia are much loved wherever they have gone and were identified as Queensland’s next best stars from a very young age.

Bolivia has gone on to represent Australia, but now twin sister Cassandra is hot on her heels, working her way through the Australian Pathways system which has been somewhat fast-tracked thanks to opportunities which have emerged from joining powerhouse bowling club Moama.

Cassandra was somewhat living in the shadows of her sister Bolivia who was the first to crack the Australian Jackaroos squad, but now Cassandra is lining up in events such as the Bowls Premier League and Ultimate Bowls Championships with the likes of Alex Marshall, Aron Sherriff and Ryan Bester.

“It’s been amazing, playing with the best in the world boosts my experience and confidence on the green,” said Millerick.

“The biggest thing I’ve learnt playing with the best players in the world is not to be short but also just relax and enjoy yourself.”

Whilst she pinches herself, her success has been more than just a case of being in the right place at the right time; hard work and dedication not to mention that down to earth personality has contributed to her rapid rise in the sport.

“I’m training a lot more, still bowling as much as I did in Queensland but getting to play in such big events has been great; I’ve had great opportunities since I’ve moved to Moama,” she said.

On a more personal note, Cassandra is now engaged to former Scottish International Bowler Kevin Anderson who took the job of Bowls Manager at Moama Bowls Club. That required them both to pack up their lives on the Gold Coast and head away from family and friends to chase careers in bowls.

“She’s taken the move in her stride and got straight into the Victorian team, won the Victorian Champion of Champion Singles in her first year and settled in so well,” said her partner Kevin. “She’s fitting in well at a new club, getting the opportunity to play backend most of the time, and she’s been given some great opportunities that she wouldn’t have got in Queensland to play with better players.”

Cassandra is currently a member of the Australian Emerging Jackaroos and is working harder than ever to push selectors for that prized spot in the Australian Open Jackaroos alongside sister Bolivia. Whilst Queenslanders will have to compete against Cassandra at National Events as she now plays third in the Victorian State Team, we will watch our former Queensland prodigy with great interest and hope one day she returns home with an Australian cap number.