Whitehead aims to create history
Kylie Whitehead, like most junior bowlers across the country, inspires to one day don the green and gold for Australia; however the 20 year old from Wodonga in country Victoria has high ambitions motivating her to achieve her dreams.
Whilst VIC/TAS National Training Centre Coach Mark Cowan is also a positive driving force, Whitehead needs no pushing and at just 20 years of age she is self-motivated, coachable and heading in the right direction.
The rising star of Australian bowls has aspirations to become the first female Aboriginal Australian to represent Australia in the sport of lawn bowls, and in just five years of taking up the sport, Whiteheads achievements indicate her goal is not out of reach.
VIC/TAS NTC coach Mark Cowan speaks very highly of Whitehead who he believes is working harder than most to continue improving her game.
“Kylie is now a regular in the Victorian state side because she has been a consistent performer in 2014 and has demonstrated that she is an integral part of the Victorian side,” Mr Cowan said.
“Kylie is quiet in nature but she is working very hard to adapt her game to suit playing all the positions and a vast array of greens; she is quickly becoming a great all-round package.”
In 2012, just three years into her short bowling career, Whitehead won the State Novice Singles and not long after winning her first state title she was selected in the Victorian senior side.
Whitehead has been selected to represent Victoria against South Australia on February 18-20 at Sunbury, where she will be in hot company leading for Australian Jackaroo Carla Odgers, along with Australia’s forthcoming Trans-Tasman singles representative Chloe Stewart as their third.
The announcement of the Victorian side to contest the Australian Sides Championships in Perth will come shortly after the VIC v NSW test series in March and it is there Whitehead hopes her second Australian Sides Championships is a golden one!
Victoria’s fresh faced state side skipped by Carla Odgers (24), Samantha Shannahan (25) and Elise Cowan (23), have been competitive at the previous Australian Sides Championships and will be strong contenders to knock off the ‘Blues’ who are searching for their fourth straight title.
Whitehead may have her own personal short and long term goals; however she would love to be part of a successful Victorian team at the Australian Sides Championships so she can share the success with her team mates.
Whitehead has surrounded herself with good role models within the sport; however the mature young adult inspires to be a positive role model for young indigenous children.
Whitehead is in her third year studying physiotherapy at Charles Sturt University (Albury Wodonga Campus) but says she has strong feelings as to what she wants to achieve outside of bowls.
“I would like to be the first Aboriginal to represent Australia in bowls however once I complete my university degree I have also got aspirations to work in an indigenous community helping to improve the health and well-being of Indigenous Australia,” Miss Whitehead said.
2015 has already started well for Whitehead, making the semi-final of the Under 25 State Singles, she has won her club singles and will contest the state triples later in the year.
Whitehead says she would be happy to achieve a quarter of what some of the Australian Jackaroos have done before her, however her rapid rise to the top and her determination demonstrates this youngster has got what it takes.
