Flora Rowe did the opposite to the traditions of the time. She took up tennis late, after her son grew old enough, it is said, to chase the balls for her.
Flora Jane Rowe – nee Daily – was considered something of a tennis legend.
During the first hundred plus years of sporting pursuits for women in SA, it was common for females to give up playing sport once either married or having had children.
But Flora Rowe did the opposite. She took up the game late, after her son grew old enough, it is said, to chase the balls for her.
Given her mature age or perhaps it was a natural quality, but she was generally deemed to have strong leadership skills. Today she is considered a pacesetter of her time.
Flora Rowe represented SA 24 times, mostly for the Adelaide v Melbourne interstate tournaments, and captained SA to four outstanding wins over Victoria, the dominant state at the time.
Remarkably, she and her son both captained the SA team in 1921, against Victoria, and played mixed doubles together.
She was State singles championship in 1921, at age 45, and doubles titleholder three times, and mixed doubles winner twice – all throughout the 1920s. She won the clean sweep of titles in 1921.
Flora Rowe showed leadership off the court as well.
In June 1930, it was noted in The Register that women were excluded from voting in the SALTA meetings and were in fact, also excluded from some meetings. It was also mentioned that women provided the afternoon tea for many years, saving significant money for the SA Lawn Tennis Association.
It was Flora Rowe who possessed the conviction and courage to speak out urging the right to vote for women. She was also a coach and promoted the game in afterschool coaching and games.
