Islay McOwan

Islay McOwan CMG (4 April 1871 – 4 April 1948) was a first-class cricketer, Australian rules footballer and colonial administrator.

Born in Melbourne, McOwan attended Melbourne Church of England Grammar School and played junior football for South St Kilda, McOwan carried his form into 1892, being one of Carlton's better players. McOwan played his last game of football on 27 August 1892 against Fitzroy at Brunswick Street Oval, finishing with around 29 VFA matches for Carlton.

In Fiji, McOwan found time to play cricket, leading to his selection for Fiji for the tour of New Zealand in 1894/95. McOwan played in the inaugural Fijian first-class match, starting 25 January 1895 against Auckland, scoring four and 22 and taking 1/24, with Jocelyn Kallender his first first-class wicket. McOwan also kept wicket during the tour, taking two stumpings against Hawke's Bay. In a non-first-class match against Nelson, McOwan topscored for Fiji with 45 not out to win by three wickets.

In Fiji McOwan rose through colonial administration ranks, holding positions such as acting Stipendiary Magistrate from 1896, Inspector-General of Police and Prisons in Fiji from 1909 to 1911, acting British agent and consul in Tonga to 1913. a position he held until his retirement in 1936. and became a leading golfer in New Zealand, winning local open titles in his sixties. and Eileen, a Fiji-based daughter. Following his death, a former colleague in Fiji said that "Fiji probably owes more to him than to any other officer who has served there in recent years.