Frances Erceg

Frances Erceg represented New Zealand in badminton at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games, playing in the singles and women’s doubles.

In the singles, Erceg lost to Canadian Jane Youngberg 11-8, 5-11, 11-3.

In the women’s doubles there was a tough draw for Erceg and Glenys Waller, who struck second seeds and eventual silver medallists Susan Whetnall and Margaret Boxall of England and went down 15-1, 15-6.

Erceg, born in 1949, hailed from the Far North and attended Whangarei Girls High School. She developed into a strong doubles player and won selection for New Zealand in Whyte Trophy matches against Australia and in the 1972 Uber Cup team in Japan.

She married Ron Erceg and they settled on the North Shore. Their daughter, Petra, was an outstanding basketballer from her days at Northcote College and after making the New Zealand junior team took up a basketball scholarship in the US.

Frances worked in the BNZ for many years.

Frances Erceg died of cancer in 2005.