Mills, May (1890 - 1984)

May Mills was played a prominent role in the development of women's sport in South Australia. She was President of the South Australian Women's Cricket Association and the Australian Women's Cricket Council in the 1960s. Prior to that she was President of the South Australian Women's Amateur Sports Council, the body that successully lobbied the then Premier, Sir Thomas Playford, to secure access to playing fields for the dedicated use of women. Trained as a teacher, she taught at Unley High School for thirty years. She became the first female President of the South Australian Institute of Teachers in 1943.

Apart from her interest in women's sport and teaching, Mills was active in a number of other spheres of public life. She was the first President of the South Australian Film and Television Council, a founding member of the Australian College of Education, a Life Vice-President of the National Council of Women and a Life Member of the Royal Commonwealth Society. She was the first women in South Australia to secure a license to drive a motor car.

May Mills contribution to women's cricket was recognised in 1984/85 by the creation of the May Mills Trophy for the Under 18 national Championship. This competition ran until 1995/96.

The extent of Mills' involvement in public life gives proof to the old aphorism which tells us that if you want something done, ask a busy person. May Mills wasn't just busy, however, she was canny. She saved thousands of dollars of development costs by enticing major corporations to test their heavy machinery on the ovals, therefore getting them cleared and leveled at no cost to the sporting clubs. She organised parties of youngsters to plant almond trees around the oval and then, when the trees began to bear fruit, organised other children to harvest the crop, thus creating another source of funds through their sale.

Presided

• Australian Women's Cricket Council (1931 - )

  May Mills was President of the Australian Women's Cricket Council in the 1960s

• South Australian Women's Amateur Sports Council (1953 - )

  May Mills was president of the South Australian Women's Amateur Sports Council in 1953

Related Corporate Bodies

• National Council of Women of South Australia (1902 - )

  May Mills was a Life Vice-President of the National Council of Women of South Australia

Related Places

• Women's Memorial Playing Fields (1953 - )

  May Mills lobbied the South Australian State Government to secure land for dedicated use by women.

  [1953]

Australian Women Exhibitions

• She's Game: Women Making Australian Sporting History, Australian Women's Archives Project, 2007, http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/sg/sport-home.html. [ Details... ]