Mervyn Bower

Mervyn Bower skated pairs with Jackie Mason and they competed at the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics. They also attempted to compete in 1956, but Bower broke an ankle in training in Cortina d’Ampezzo shortly before the Games. Despite that injury they competed at the 1956 World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, although they finished last. Bower and Mason won 12 Australian pairs titles, the first in 1951 (1951-60, 1962, 1964). In 1952 they became the first Australian couple to compete at the World Championships. They also competed at the British Championships in 1952 and 1956, placing third both times.

Bower and Mason competed together through 1964. Although Mason became an international judge, Bower turned professional and began competing in ice shows, performing in Pat Gregory’s shows on The Tivoli Circuit. After he stopped skating professionally, Bower opened a gift business called “Baskets With Love.” In 2004 the pair was inducted into the Ice Skating Australia Hall of Fame.