JEAN COWAN

  • Date of Birth
    05/06/1914
  • Place of birth
    Victoria
  • Debut match
    Melbourne, AUS, 20 August, 1938
  • Cap Number
    3
  • Team Years
    1938 & 1948
  • Hall of Fame
    2008

Jean Cowan (nee Wood) enjoyed a distinguished netball career at the highest level from the 1930’s to the 1950’s. 

Her international career was interrupted by the second world war after she as part of the inaugural Test match played between Australia and New Zealand in Melbourne in 1938. 

Cowan was chosen in the Australian team that would have toured New Zealand in 1940 before war prevented the series from taking place. 

However, in 1948 she was named vice-captain of the Australian team that toured New Zealand and won all three Tests played and 22 of its 23 overall matches played. 

In 1948 she was awarded her All Australia Umpires’ badge and became an administrator – even before her retirement from active netball – spending 40 years in that capacity. 

Cowan was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1976 for her service to netball, inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1986 and in 2008 was named in the Australian Netball Hall of Fame. 

1986 Inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame
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