For those who don't know, Queensland recently selected its state team for next year's Australian Sides Championships in Canberra and there is a new face in the team. My mum! I've pasted a story from today's edition of the Noosa Journal.

COOLUM mum Marilyn Clayton was over-the-moon this week after hearing she will represent Queensland in a major Australian sports competition.

But the added bonus is that she will get to play alongside her superstar daughter, Kelsey Cottrell.

It was Coolum Beach bowler Marilyn who first introduced Kelsey to the sport as a young girl.

``The deal was that if I went to watch her play tennis, she would come and watch me play bowls,’’ said Marilyn.

``She soon got tired of standing on the sidelines and wanted to start playing.’’

That was in 2002 when Kelsey was 12. Just eight years later Kelsey is a World Championships medallist, a Queensland and NSW champion and the current Queensland Junior Sports Star of the Year. In between there have been numerous competitions played, and medals and titles won.

And now Marilyn will fulfil a long-held ambition next March when she steps out alongside Kelsey Cottrell for Queensland’s Australian Sides title defence.

Marilyn, who has racked up several club and district titles since taking up the sport in 2000, was this week named in a reshuffled women’s state squad.

The news came as a complete surprise to the 51-year-old, who impressed selectors with a solid performance at state trials earlier this month.

``I was a bit shocked to be honest, but it’s awesome. I’m really stoked,’’ said Marilyn.

``I trialled very well, but I suppose I still didn’t really expect to get it, so when I heard I’d been selected I was very happy.’’

Clayton comes in as second for the experienced outfit skipped by Aussie star Lynsey Armitage.

Beachmere’s Marilyn Peddell will play lead, while Clayton’s Coolum clubmate Julie Keegan steps in as third.

But more than anything the proud mum said she was looking forward to representing Queensland alongside her daughter.

``We are not on the same team but we are both representing Queensland and that’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,’’ Marilyn said.

Clayton is one of two newcomers set to make their debut at the event in ACT, with Caloundra RSL’s Jane Bush also getting the nod.

The 2009 Australian Sides Championships will be held at ACT’s Tuggeranong and Western Creek bowling clubs from March 23-26.