Statue of Edith Cowan to be voted on by council next week to immortalise Moonyoonooka-born parliamentarian

Volunteer tour guides are leading the charge to bring a statue of Edith Cowan to Geraldton, as a marker of thanks to the influential change maker who was born in the region. At the council agenda meeting on Tuesday, volunteer guide Julie Clark presented the case to immortalise Mrs Cowan in Geraldton, which saw support from the council. Deputy Mayor Natasha Colliver and councillor Simon Keemink agreed Mrs Cowan, the first woman elected to any Australian Parliament, was an important historical figure for Geraldton to recognise. Mrs Cowan was born at Glengarry Station in Moonyoonooka in 1861. Ms Colliver asked if there was an established time frame for the project. The Geraldton Volunteer Tour Guides Association (GVTGA) are hopeful the statue will come to fruition in March, at Edith Cowan Square, outside the Geraldton Courthouse. The area of the CBD has a number of parcels of land subject to planning for future development that may have implications for the park in the future. As a result, should the council support the proposal in principle, it is recommended the GVTG agree to the potential relocation of the sculpture should this be required in future. The GVTGA has pledged $40,000 to the project, which is expected to cost $110,000. Smith Sculptors is involved with the project, and is able to use the same mould of Mrs Cowan from an existing project, which Ms Clark said would help cut costs drastically. Smith Sculptors has made numerous statues in Geraldton, including The Waiting Woman at the HMAS Sydney II Memorial and the piece of Monsignor John Hawes and his dog Dominie at the St Francis Xavier Cathedral precinct. Executive staff recommended councillors approve the GVTGA’s request for in-principle support to commission the statue and help them identify external sources of grant funding. The council will vote on the matter next Tuesday.