Sport
19 September, 2023
Ciesiolka: It doesn’t matter where you’re from
Oakey’s Brisbane Bronco Shenae Ciesiolka shared a message of encouragement for those from the bush in her talk at the Leading Women’s Luncheon.
Her journey to top-level football began with a conversation with her Dad, Brett, in Oakey.
“One day at home, my brother was talking about playing football, and I asked Dad if I could play football,” she said
“He said no. It took me about two years to get him to change his mind.”
“I would wear headgear with the blonde hair sticking out the back.
“The boys would tackle me and they would say ‘Oh, it’s a girl!”
“I went and played touch and rugby sevens, but I always had rugby league in the back of my mind.
“Our family’s rugby league and we’re mad rugby league fans,” she said.
Shenae is renowned for her athletic prowess, and was a high achiever in virtually every sport she tried as a kid.
As a story in the 2009 Oakey Champion relates, she was picked to play cricket for the Darling Downs in an under age competition without having played the game.
When asked by The Champion about this experience, Shenae told the full story.
“One of my mates was a really good cricketer and she kept asking me to play,” she said.
I’d never played cricket apart from when my brother got home from work in the backyard.
“I think we made a few dents in Dad’s Colourbond fence!”
“I went out to trials and made the Darling Downs team in Rockhampton.
“I knew nothing about where to stand or how it all worked.
“I couldn’t hold a bat to save myself, but I was a pretty good fielder, and had a decent bowling average.”
Shenae is currently studying a Bachelor of Education at the University of Southern Queensland.
Sources say she’s currently achieving a high GPA with the help of understanding lecturers and tutors.
Her central message as a girl from the Central Downs was clear throughout.
“I would say that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, you can still achieve your goals,” she said.
“I still remember all my teachers in primary school and the support my family gave me.”
“I always come back to my family, and where I’m from.”
