Jean Lomax

Jean Betty Lomax (née Willson; 25 December 1910 – 7 August 1990) was a New Zealand netball player. She played for the New Zealand team in their first Test match, in 1938 against Australia.

Jean Lomax

Personal information
Full name	Jean Betty Lomax (née Willson)
Born	(1910-12-25)25 December 1910 Wellington, New Zealand
Died	7 August 1990(1990-08-07) (aged 79)
Height	1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Netball career
Playing position(s): GS, GA, WA
Years	National team(s)	Caps
1938	New Zealand	1

Early life

Born Jean Betty Willson in Wellington on 25 December 1910, Lomax was the daughter of Emily Beatrice Willson (née Boyes) and Percy William Copeman Willson.^[1][2] She was educated at Wellington Technical College where she excelled at athletics, winning the junior girls' championship in 1925,^[3] and the senior girls' title in 1926.^[4]

Athletics

Willson represented Wellington at athletics. In January 1929, she finished second by eight yards to 1928 Olympian and national 100 yards champion Norma Wilson in a 100 yards race in Gisborne, where Wilson equalled the national record for the distance.^[5] At the 1930 national athletics championships, Willson was a finalist in the women's 100 yards, and was a member of the Wellington 4 × 110 yards relay team, alongside Norman Wilson, Thelma Kench and C. Millar, that won the national title.^[6]

A member of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club, Willson served as a member of the club committee.^[7]

Netball

Domestic

Willson was a member of the Wellington 'B' team in 1930 and 1931, and played for the top Wellington team as a defender in 1932. In 1936, she switched from playing as a defender to the attacking third, and once again was selected to represent her province in 1936 and 1937. She also represented the North Island in 1936 and 1937. In 1938, her play was described as being "speedy and active" and she was said to be "shooting accurately".^[8]

International

In 1936, Willson was first selected to tour Australia with a New Zealand national team the following season,^[9] but the tour did not proceed.^[8] In 1938, Willson was selected when a national side travelled to Australia and competed in the Australian interstate tournament in Melbourne.^[8] At times, the New Zealand team struggled as the matches were played on grass courts under Australian rules, which differed from those used in New Zealand at the time, but they defeated Queensland 13–9, before losing to Victoria 16–48 ^[10][11] However, in an exhibition match played under New Zealand rules, the New Zealand team beat Victoria 19–5.^[11] In New Zealand's remaining matches of the tournament, they were defeated by South Australia 14–47^[12] and Tasmania 17–32,^[13] before overcoming New South Wales 21–18.^[14] Willson played in all of the matches except against South Australia.

Willson played in the single Test match, the first played between New Zealand and Australia, in Melbourne on 20 August 1938. New Zealand were defeated 11–40 in the match, which was played under Australian rules.^[15]

Later life and death

Willson married Aubrey Perry Lomax. She died on 7 August 1990, and her ashes were buried in Tuamarina Cemetery.^[16]

References

1. "Jean Lomax". Netball New Zealand. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
2. "Birth search: registration number 1911/3490". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
3. "Technical College year: break-up ceremony". New Zealand Times. Vol. 52, no. 12323. 18 December 1925. p. 3. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
4. "Records broken: Technical College sports". Evening Post. Vol. 112, no. 105. 30 October 1926. p. 7. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
5. "Anniversary Day sports". Poverty Bay Herald. Vol. 55, no. 16866. 1 February 1929. p. 9. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
6. "Splendid talent". Evening Post. Vol. 109, no. 64. 17 March 1930. p. 14. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
7. "Lady delegate". Evening Post. Vol. 116, no. 87. 10 October 1933. p. 9. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
8. "Dominion basketball players". Manawatu Times. Vol. 63, no. 173. 25 July 1938. p. 5. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
9. "Basketball: N.Z. tourney". Evening Post. Vol. 122, no. 56. 3 September 1936. p. 25. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
10. "N.Z. basketball team: competing in state tournament". Evening Star. No. 23037. 16 August 1938. p. 4. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
11. "Victoria beat Dominion basketball team". Horowhenua Chronicle. 17 August 1938. p. 6. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
12. "Again beaten". Horowhenua Chronicle. 18 August 1938. p. 5. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
13. "Basketball tourists: defeat by Tasmania". Poverty Bay Herald. Vol. 65, no. 19713. 19 August 1938. p. 8. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
14. "Dominion basketball team: defeat of New South Wales". Horowhenua Chronicle. 20 August 1938. p. 5. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
15. "Australia wins". Auckland Star. Vol. 69, no. 197. 22 August 1938. p. 16. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
16. "Cemetery records search". Marlborough District Council. Retrieved 13 August 2021.