By Liam Emerton
Emerald’s Bonnie Berry continues to make her region proud with the Central Highlands cricket star grabbing another huge opportunity with two hands and proving to those in regional areas that you can achieve any goal you set your mind to.
Berry, who grew up playing for the Emerald Brothers Cricket Club, will be steaming in for the Queensland Fire this season having earned her first ever professional contract.
Berry, 17, is already a Queensland Under-19 representative who has also played for the Queensland Country Brolgas women’s team at the Toyota Australian Country championships.
Berry will now have the chance to play alongside one of the greatest cricketers Central Queensland has produced in Fire captain Jess Jonassen who will lead the team in the 2023-24 season.
Emerald Today caught up with Berry who said it was a spectacular moment in her cricketing career.
“It feels amazing and it’s pretty exciting,” she said.
“It’s special that all the work that I’ve been doing has paid off.
“A lot of those girls in the team are from regional centres but it’s good to show girls in CQ that it is possible to make it from CQ.
“It’s an awesome experience to learn from the players and the top coaches teach you a lot as well.”
Berry went on to thank her teammates and coaches from Emerald Brothers where she learnt the sport including those who she played against when she was growing up.
Her mum Carmel Berry spoke about that persistence and how proud the family was of Bonnie’s achievements in the sport and life.
“It proves that dreams do come true after a bit of hard work and determination,” said Carmel.
“We’re very proud. It shows kids in general what can be achieved in small regional areas.
“It was the ultimate goal but it was all about what she had learned in the journey along the way.”
The right-arm quick will rip into her first professional season likely at the end of September where she will bowl against Australia’s best female batters.