A community-driven effort to immortalize local surfing icon Pauline Menczer with a bronze statue at Bondi Beach is nearing completion, but requires additional funding to reach the finish line.
For the past four years, members of the surfing community have worked tirelessly to commission a life-sized bronze sculpture celebrating Menczer’s historic 1993 world championship victory and her enduring impact on the sport.
Renowned national sculptor Cathy Weiszmann has been leading the creation of the statue, which aims to recognize not only Menczer’s athletic achievements but also her role as a trailblazer for women in surfing.
To raise the necessary funds, the Pauline in Bronze committee is organizing a major raffle on June 22, coinciding with the Seas the Day women’s surf festival in Kingscliff. The event highlights female accomplishment and seeks to inspire future generations.
“We want to celebrate female achievement and show young women that anything is possible,” a spokesperson for the campaign said. “Believe it or not, there are more statues of animals than women in Australia. We want to change that.”
Prizes in the raffle include a three-night stay at Menczer’s eclectic surf studio in Brunswick Heads, a Patagonia Yulex wetsuit, a signed surfboard, gift vouchers, surfing lessons, and tickets to the Byron Writers Festival. Tickets are currently available at www.raffletix.com.au/northernrivers2025.
While attendees are encouraged to join the women’s surf festival, physical presence is not required to participate in the raffle or claim prizes.
Pauline Menczer, who resides in Brunswick Heads, won her world title in 1993 despite battling severe arthritis, a condition that limited her during her career. Remarkably, she received no prize money or sponsorship at the time — an oversight later recognized as an injustice.
Since retiring from professional competition, Menczer has remained deeply involved in surfing, especially in advancing opportunities for women. She has been active with the All Girls Surfriders and was featured prominently in the 2021 documentary Girls Can’t Surf.
A committed advocate for equality, Menczer continues to campaign for equal prize money and fair representation for women throughout the sport.