This event was held annually and served as the Australian senior women's national ice hockey championship.

The original 4 teams represented: New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia and Queensland.

The first senior women's national ice hockey final was held in Sydney, New South Wales in February 1995.

[6] As well as the tournament, this year included a series of exhibition games between Australia and a United States visiting team from Assabet Valley, Massachusetts.

New South Wales won the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy after defeating the Australian Capital Territory with a score of 5-3 in the final game.

The four-day tournament was held in the Australian Capital Territory and marked the third annual competition for the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy.

[7] The tournament began on July 3, 1997, with a curtain-raiser exhibition match between the 1996 Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy Champions, New South Wales, and the previous year's runners-up, Australian Capital Territory.

[7] Individual awards:[7] Most Valuable Player (MVP) – Rebecca Jalleh - SA Best Forward – Stephanie Wheaton - ACT Best Defenceman Amanda Fenton - SA Goaltender Award Rebecca Jalleh - SA Rookie Award Shelley Orr - WA The year 2009 marked the last year that the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy was held as an interstate round robin tournament, named Nationals Joan McKowen Tournament JMK 2009.

The 4 teams that were involved in the 3 game tournament represented New South Wales, Victoria, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland.