Costelloe calls for statue of Frank Costa

VILLAWOOD Properties executive director Rory Costelloe has renewed his call for a statue to be built in honour of Geelong businessman, former Cats president and philanthropist Frank Costa.

The proposed bronze statue at the T&G building in Geelong’s CBD would perpetuate Mr Costa – who died on Sunday at the age of 83 – as a 12-year-old boy selling newspapers in the city centre and the start of a lifelong entrepreneurial, philanthropic and sporting commitment to Geelong.

Mr Costelloe said his campaign had the backing of the Barwon Health Foundation and other community leaders.

“Frank’s passing is very sad news for the family and Geelong but he’s left a great legacy both here and further afield,” he said.

“His business operations have created and maintained work for so many, his philanthropic efforts have been extraordinary and helped so many.

“And, of course, his unyielding support for the Geelong Cats has hauled them up by the bootstraps into a golden age on and off the field not matched since its historic records of the latter 1800s.

“A couple of years ago I had the idea of putting a statue up of Frank as a 12-year-old boy selling newspapers on the corner outside the T&G Building, to recognise the story Frank tells everyone about his first job, where he learnt the concept of wholesale.

“Frank would recall: ‘I used to sell papers on the corner of the T&G building and noticed many potential customers pouring out of the pub down the road. I approached my boss at the newsagents, who explained that he was only licensed to employ a certain number of paperboys, but you (Frank) could employ more boys yourself.

“‘So I called in a few boys whose names were on a waiting list and offered them a job whereby they didn’t get the commission for the paper sales but could keep the tips.

“‘We soon increased our sales many-fold, and I learnt the value of wholesale sales rather than just one-on-one retail. My parents traditionally ran a retail fruit and vegetable business but with my brothers we expanded into wholesale, and the rest is history’.”

Mr Costelloe said he had previously sourced some photos from Mr Costa’s daughter Gillian to make a life-size statue, and “while many people, including the Cats, were keen to be involved, the city council didn’t show much interest in the idea at the time”.

“I think it’s the perfect time to try again.”

He said Mr Costa’s multiple public awards, including the Order of Australia Medal, Officer in the Order of Australia, Governor-General’s Centenary Medal, Australian Sports Medal and Geelong Football Club Hall of Fame, reflected a rare depth of character and commitment to the community.

“It would be great to celebrate, every day in the middle of our city, that sense of community importance with a statue of Frank as a young kid setting out in life.”

“Frank really understood how a community all comes together – family, colleagues, neighbours and people with like-minded interests. He knew the intrinsic value of supporting the community and the broad benefits that brings us all.”