Groundbreaking monument of female cricketer progressing

THE artist and location for a new public statue honouring pioneering cricketer Barbara Rae, the top scorer at Australia’s first women’s cricket match held during the Bendigo Easter Fair in 1874, has been announced.

The statue will stand at the entrance to the Queen Elizabeth Oval (QEO) and will be crafted by Barkers Creek artist Lis Johnson.

Johnson’s previous public art commissions include the Rod Laver statue at Rod Laver Arena, as well as works at the Vietnam War Memorial and the Avenue of Legends at the MCG.

She said the assignment was very special.

“I’m especially happy in recent times to see the gender and diversity imbalance being addressed in commemorative public artworks, and to contribute to that,” she said.

“I want to capture Barbara Rae’s youthful confidence and determination and to faithfully sculpt her many-layered intricate period outfit.

“The sculpture will portray her poise and determination in a moment of free-spirited celebration.

“I hope when people observe (it), they’ll see a renewed invitation to play, as if Barbara is saying, ‘come on ladies, we can do this, ignore those ignorant critics, follow me – let’s play cricket’.”

Having created a small model of the sculpture, Johnson has used historical imagery to mirror Barbra’s period cricket attire alongside costume designer Larry Edwards, and is currently sculpting the full-sized piece in clay.

Once the mould is finished, a cast will be made in silicon bronze, lasting up to 1000-plus years.

The bronze statue will weigh 140 kilograms and reach a height of 1900 milimetres, set on a plinth sympathetic to the surrounding garden beds outside the QEO entrance gates.

It will be unveiled later this year.