Relatives of Edith Cowan set to attend Geraldton unveiling of statue honouring political pioneer

Descendants of one of Geraldton’s most influential daughters, Edith Cowan, will attend the unveiling ceremony in Geraldton next week of a statue dedicated to the political trailblazer.

The unveiling of the bronze statue at Edith Cowan Square, opposite the Geraldton Courthouse, is set to take place on Wednesday, February 25 at 1.30pm, with a dedication ceremony set to be attended by Cowan’s family members.

The actual unveiling will be done by Cowan’s great nephew and former deputy premier of WA Hendy Cowan, and Geraldton Voluntary Tour Guides Association president Julie Clark.

Originally planned for December, the transportation of the statue was delayed due to a protective wooden crate not being made in time. The statue missed its window to be transported from the Smith Sculptors’ Perth Hills studio in Gidgegannup to Geraldton.

Transport has now been secured for the statue set to arrive in time for next week’s unveiling.

Ms Clark said she was grateful to all the project partners that had assisted the organisation with bringing the statue to Geraldton.

“It will be a great honour to commemorate such a wonderful woman and the sculpture reflects her legal legacy and her tireless work furthering the rights of women and children. The story of bringing her back home to Geraldton depicts her younger days,” she said.

Cowan was a political force who tirelessly campaigned for women’s suffrage. The first woman in Australia to be a member of parliament, she was born on Glengarry Station along the Greenough River in 1861 and served in WA Parliament between 1921 and 1924, before her death in 1932.

She made many important contributions to WA society throughout her life, including being an instrumental figure in the building of King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women and founder of the Children’s Protection Society.

Once installed, the City of Greater Geraldton will take ownership of the statue from the GVTGA, which raised more than $120,000 to commission it through grants and donations from the community.