It’s been a big month for women’s rugby league player, Heather Ballinger, who grew up at Yaraka, south of Longreach.
A familiar face in women’s representative teams after beginning her football career in Cairns in 2006, being part of the Queensland team since 2009, and debuting for the Harvey Norman Jillaroos in 2011, Heather was named in early June as one of the first five signings for the Brisbane Broncos in their inaugural NRL women’s premiership team.
The front row player then went on to play last week for Queensland in the interstate fixture that came under the State of Origin banner for the first time.
After 19 years of interstate contests, the fixture broke through the glass ceiling when it was granted State of Origin status.
Heather, a police officer, has been part of the Jillaroos' two World Cup final wins, in 2013 and 2017.
She will play in the NRL women’s premiership in September.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
