Project to have statue of Edith Cowan in Geraldton gains momentum

A larger-than-life statue of Edith Cowan could grace Geraldton’s CBD, with a leading sculptor keen to immortalise the political trailblazer in her birthplace and the project securing the backing of key local stakeholders. Australian sculptor Robert Hitchcock, whose work includes the bronze statue of Noongar warrior Yagan on Heirisson Island and the Special Air Service figures at the Place of Reflection at Kings Park, has approached the Geraldton Historical Society with an offer to create an Edith Cowan statue. It comes as an anonymous donor pledged $50,000 to fund a statue in the Perth CBD to mark the centenary of Mrs Cowan’s election as the first female member of an Australian Parliament, for the seat of West Perth. Mr Hitchcock met City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn and Geraldton Historical Society president Rita Stinson last week, with both organisations agreeing to support the statue proposal. Mr Hitchcock said he had been putting his hand up to honour Mrs Cowan, pictured below, since the 1980s. “No one has really been that interested, I think, over the years,” he said. “ I think now, because of the 100th anniversary of her getting into Parliament, I think that’s brought it to the forefront, and also what’s happening ... about women’s rights, which in her time were very lacking. “My mother always said, ‘behind every successful man is a woman and behind every successful woman is a mum’, and I’ve been a strong supporter of everyone having equal rights, particularly women, and being very interested in Western Australian history.” Mrs Stinson said the historical society would take the lead on the project, which it hoped would be completed within a year. “Edith Cowan is not as well known in the Geraldton area as she should be. What I really want to see is ... it’s not a one-organisation project. It is for the whole of the region, especially Geraldton and women,” she said. “She did so much for women ... she deserves to have a statue of her here. I would like to see the women of Geraldton get behind this. “One thing I would very much like to see is if we can get our new local MP, Lara Dalton, involved, because Lara, of course, is the first woman MP elected in Geraldton and in this historic year.” Mrs Stinson said the sculpture would be 10 to 20 per cent bigger than scale and was expected to cost up to $100,000 to commission. She planned to meet Ms Dalton this week to discuss the project. Mr Van Styn said the City would not fully fund the sculpture, but would support the historical society to fundraise and explore offering some endowment. The sculpture would be erected in the public square that bears her name on Marine Terrace. Mrs Cowan was born at Glengarry, a sheep station on the outskirts of Geraldton in 1861 before moving to Perth aged seven.