Pauline Menczer might have appreciated a little more recognition when she won her world title in 1993. Typically, there was a bonus check for clinching the championship, but that year Pauline never received one. Meanwhile, the second-rate trophy she received had a strange rattle.
However, today Pauline lends her name to a legacy that will endure for centuries to come, when she unveils a life-size sculpture at South Bondi, where she grew up. It’s the first time an Australian surfer has been commemorated in a free-standing bronze statue.
Masterfully crafted by revered sculptor Cathy Weiszmann, the statue depicts a young Pauline with a skateboard tucked under one arm and a surfboard under the other as she overlooks Bondi. The design was inspired by Pauline’s memories of riding her skateboard down the hill with a board under her wing to surf at South Bondi. Pauline got a sneak peek at the statue yesterday, before the unveiling, and was already chuffed by the response it was getting. “It feels amazing, people were frothing the whole time I was there, taking pics…”
The community-driven statue campaign gained momentum after Pauline’s featured role in the revealing documentary, Girl’s Can’t Surf. Inspired by Pauline’s story and stoicism, the film’sdirector, Chris Nelius, initiated the statue campaign and soon after Pauline’s partner, Sam, swung into action. After several years of liaising with Waverley council, plus multiple fundraisers and callouts, the community-funded sculpture is now a striking, permanent feature of the coastline that all surfers and Australians can celebrate and draw inspiration from.
“It’s much better than a shonky trophy and I hope it inspires anyone with health issues,” explained Pauline who overcome crippling arthritis while competing and has dealt with a host of health challenges in recent years. These days Pauline also is heavily involved with initiatives that provide support, facilities and opportunities for anyone with disabilities.
Pauline’s bronze depiction also helps even the score a little, given that women are grossly under-represented in Australia when it comes to statues. In NSW only 6% of statues feature women. Hopefully the trend changes, but for now the plucky surfer who overcame sexism, homophobia, crippling arthritis and almost no sponsorship to win the ASP World Surfing Championship in 1993 has something to be truly proud of.
