Sam Lowrie

Sam Lowrie was born on 6 September 1889, in Thames. His parents were Samuel Lowrie (1854-1913) and Johanne Donnelly (1868-1933). He had 12 siblings; William Ernest Lowrie (1886-1959), Mary Helena Lowrite (1887-1954), Alice Hannah Lowrie (1891-1962), Millicent Ellenor Lowrie (1893-1969), Annie Elizabeth Lowrie (1896-1970), Archibald James Lowrie (1898-1898), Flora Lowrie (1900-1902), Hilda Emily Lowrie (1903-1921), Jessie Myrtle Lowrie Cousin (1905-1967), Leslie John Lowrie (1910-1973), and Rachel Vilate Lowrie (1912-1973). Sam Lowrie did not marry and had no children.^[3]

Various census rolls showed where he was living and what his occupation was at these times. In 1914 he was living in Karangahake as a miner. In 1915 he was living on Victoria Avenue and working as a miner. In 1919 he was living at 151 Newton Road and working as a miner. In 1928 he was living at 66 Beresford Street and working as a chamber hand. In 1935 he lived at 21 Virginia Avenue in central Auckland and was a labourer. He moved to Rotorua and was living in Ngaputahi as a contractor in 1938. From 1946-49 he was living at 165 Jervois Road and was a steelworker.

Lowrie played for the Ponsonby club in the Auckland Rugby League competition.^[4]

In 1919 Lowrie played for Auckland and was first selected to represent New Zealand, playing in three test matches against the touring Australian side.^{[citation needed]}

In 1922 Lowrie toured Australia, with the New Zealand Māori rugby league team.^[5] He qualified for the Māori side through his grandmother Mere Tipona, who married his grandfather Samuel George Kennedy Lowrie.^{[citation needed]}

Lowrie was named Ponsonby's best forward in 1923. He again played for New Zealand in 1924, against the touring Great Britain Lions, and toured Australia in 1925, a tour where no test matches were played.^{[citation needed]}

He retired in 1927 after fracturing his jaw. He played in 153 games for Ponsonby between 1914 and 1927.^[5]