A life-sized bronze statue of world champion surfer Pauline Menczer, a proud lesbian, was unveiled at South Bondi this weekend.
Menczer is the only world surfing champion ever to come from Bondi, winning the 1993 Women’s World Championship without a sponsor. She was inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame in 2018.
Created by artist Cathy Weiszmann, the statue depicts a young Menczer with her surfboard and a skateboard – a nod to how she would skate to Bondi Beach as a child.
The work was funded through the community-led Pauline in Bronze campaign, which raised around $150,000 after Waverley Council approved the project.
Menczer's legacy extends far beyond competition. Throughout her career she fought sexism, homophobia and chronic arthritis, becoming a strong advocate for equality in sport.
She previously told Gay Sydney News that the push to commemorate her emerged after the release of the documentary Girls Can’t Surf.
At the unveiling, she said the piece was dedicated to anyone who has “copped a few knocks but refused to give up.”
“Christopher Nelius was behind it … when he did the movie, he realised not many people know the history of Bondi surfing, and women surfing in general … and he had this idea to do a statue of me at Bondi," she said.
At the unveiling, she said the piece was dedicated to anyone who has "copped a few knocks but refused to give up".
“This statue isn’t just about me,” she added. "If it inspires even one kid to have the courage to paddle out, its done its job."
Menczer thanked supporters for helping bring the project to life.
“I’m so grateful to this amazing community,” she said. “You legends made this happen.”
Raised in Bondi by her mother alongside three brothers, Menczer often surfed on a broken board. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 14 and frequently competed in excruciating pain during her world-championship campaign.
When she won her 1993 title, she didn't receive a prize cheque – only a broken trophy.
Following the release of Girls Can’t Surf, supporters launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise the prize money she never received. They raised more than $60,000, far above the $25,000 she was originally owed, and Menczer donated the surplus to charity.
She now lives in Byron Bay and continues to advocate for beach accessibility, gender equality in sport and recognition for women’s surf legends.
This article has been syndicated with permission from Gay Sydney Daily, run by journalist Eliot Hastie.
Eliot Hastie is a senior news producer at Channel Ten, reporting on a range of general stories, specialising in foreign affairs and LGBTQ+ stories. He’s also a reporter for Gay Sydney News, where he covers LGBTQIA+ culture, politics and nightlife. He previously helped to build and launch ausbiz, Australia's only live streaming finance news channel, where he was also an executive producer and host. He has previously worked as a finance and business journalist for publications including Fintech Business, Real Estate Business and other Momentum Media titles. Eliot holds a journalism degree from the University of Westminster and brings experience in both broadcast and digital reporting. Contact Eliot: [email protected]
