And the debutante has be given little time to settle into her new team, with the squad set to take on the world’s number one team, Argentina, on their home soil throughout February.

Kellie, on her debut, will travel to Argentina to compete in two 4 Nations tournaments where she will face Argentina (world rank 1), Germany (world rank 3) and USA (world rank 13). But this focused, mature young

lady is determined this is her time to shine.

“The feeling is like I have finally reached my ultimate goal,” said Kellie.

“That I have achieved one chapter and now I am ready to keep flipping the pages.

“I know it is going to be hard work, but I am prepared to put in the hard yards to keep my position.”

Kellie said the announcement came as a complete shock to her.

“With all of my injuries I have sustained over the last 18 months or so, I really didn’t expect it,” she said.

After two years of being injured and having schooling commitments Kellie said she managed to work hard to gain her fitness and strength back to play in the national under 21’s tournament in Brisbane where she co-captained the side to a bronze position.

“Before this tournament I was training around 10-12 times a week, sometimes even more,” Kellie said.

From there Kellie was named joint player of the tournament, joint highest goal scorer and named in the junior world cup qualifiers Australian squad.

“I received an e-mail from Hockey Australia during the tournament confirming my position in the national development squad to train in Melbourne for an all Eastern side player’s camp.

“Coming back from the camp I was added to the NSW Arrows squad which I am endeavouring to be selected in for the 2011 Australian Hockey league Tournament in the striker and midfield role.”

Kellie played in the National Hockey league tournament held in New Zealand with the southern storms side as a guest international player in September of last year. During the time she was in New Zealand Emily Smith and herself were selected in an AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) team to travel to Japan in October to play a five test match series against the Japanese national side.

“From there I had hoped I would make a good impression on the three coaches that were on tour,” Kellie said.

In December she had a phone call from the NSW institute of sport coach Anthony Thornton telling her she was one of 10 selected to be an AIS scholarship holder from January to March 2011 and was invited to a national camp in Perth.

There, Adam Commens, the newly appointed head coach, would be selecting the Australian Hockeyroo squad, Australian development squad and the Australia A side’s for the first six months of 2011.

“The camp was hard,” Kellie said.

“A full 25- 30 hour week of meetings, trainings and games. “On Monday January 24 I was informed I was selected in the 2011 Australian Hockeyroo squad and would be flying out to Argentina the following week to debut for my country.”

In Argentina Kellie will be competing against some of the best players in the world including world number one, Luciana ahmar. Kellie currently lives in Perth and is training around eight to 10 times a week.

“Never did I ever expect a long two years of setbacks I could make my dream come true within a year,” said Kellie.

“It was a very hard 2010, but I had the support of my brother, Josh, who helped me believe in myself and my parents, family and friends who gave me continual support and encouragement to keep persisting for my goals.”

From the Crookwell Gazette