The Australian Women's Register

Summary

Merle Richardson was introduced to lawn bowls in 1959, when she was invited by her husband to roll the first bowl under new lights at New South Wales’ Bulli Club. Within a year, Richardson had recorded her first win, defeating the club champion at the president’s singles competition. She would go on to win more than two hundred and fifty games over the next thirty years.

Named the New South Wales Champion of Champions in 1970, Richardson has represented Australia three times in international competitions. She won the world singles and the world pairs competitions held in Melbourne in 1985. The following year she defeated New Zealander Peter Belliss, also a world champion, in ‘the Battle of the Sexes’ held in Victoria and was awarded the OAM for services to lawn bowls. Richardson published her book, Bowls for Everyone, in 1988.