A memorial celebrating the life and achievements of the late Frank Costa AO has been unveiled to his family, councillors, Cats representatives and community members on the corner of Ryrie and Moorabool Streets.
Funded by the City of Greater Geelong, the Costa family, Rory Costelloe and the Geelong Cats, 'The Newsboy' sculpture recognises the many roles Frank Costa played in the community: a generous philanthropist, passionate Geelong Football Club president, well-known businessman and fierce advocate for our region.
Accomplished Australian artist and sculptor Louis Laumen has spent six months in the studio and foundry carefully crafting the bronze statue through the process of Lost Wax Casting.
Frank Costa is represented as a 13-year-old newsboy outside the T&G Building, where he sold newspapers and sub-contracted other paperboys. The statue explores a number of unifying themes evident in his life:
- the newspaper represents his ties to the Greater Geelong community
- the Herald front page about Geelong's 1951 Grand Final victory over Essendon links to his lifelong dedication to the Cats and crucial role as President (1998-2010) when Frank's business sense elevated and united the club
- the burden of papers in his arm pays homage to his strong and unwavering work ethic
- the money pouch represents his business acumen and appreciation of the value of a shilling and
- the newsboy stands on a fruit-box pedestal, alluding to the greengrocer trade and family business that started in 1888 and grew into the highly successful Costa Group.
The newspaper being held aloft in the sculpture details how more than 85,000 people watched the Cats claim its fourth premiership by 11 points amid police clashes with up to 8,000 people locked out of the MCG. The article text is fully legible.
The celebrated sculptor has completed many commissions across Australia, such as the Dennis Lillee statue at the MCG and Nicky Winmar at Optus Stadium.
The artist was carefully chosen through an invited Expression of Interest to a select number of Australia's leading bronze sculptors working in the figurative form.
Rory Costelloe (Geelong Authority member) approached Council with the idea to create a permanent memorial to Frank Costa.
The cost to fabricate and install the memorial was $100,000.
Mayor Trent Sullivan
Council is thrilled with how this permanent tribute to such an iconic Geelong figure turned out.
Frank's passing two years ago remains a massive loss to our community because of his incredible advocacy and contributions to make our region the best it can be.
He is known as a legend in these parts and it's only fitting that we celebrate his values and achievements through a bronze statue.
We are very grateful to sculptor Louis Laumen for his commitment to this important project and his skilled eye for detail.
The statue not only illustrates the many facets of Frank's life, but symbolises a youthful sense of adventure, entrepreneurism, and the promise of a bright future that the community can relate to.
Gillian Costa - Franks' daughter
I've worked on the project from Rory Costelloe's initial concept and am honoured and humbled to be involved with such a significant piece of both family and Geelong history.
The T&G corner is where Dad began his entrepreneurial journey, so this statue is not only a lovely way to remember him and the big part he played in Geelong as an employer, visionary and champion of growth, it also illustrates a moment of Geelong's past in such a lovely way that residents and visitors alike can relate to and enjoy.
Louis Laumen
I spent three months in the studio and three months in the foundry getting the statue just right.
I've been guided during the design and artistic process by conversations and consultation with the Costa family, photographs and research.
You're living with him in a way over a period of time and you have a sense of the presence of the fellow and especially of him as a boy.
The statue had gone through several different metamorphoses, from a concept and maquette to a full-size clay statue, wax cast and then a hollow cast in bronze.
There is something primal and exciting about the bronzing process when you hear the roaring of the furnace and see molten metal glowing bright orange - it's a make-or-break thing and there's no second chance.
I've enriched the look of the metal by treating the surface chemically, making the skin warm and rich, and scrubbing the statue to create highlights and lowlights.
I'm quite pleased with the result; particularly with the fine resolution of the newspaper detail - a testimony to the special skills of the foundry technicians.
Joel Selwood - Geelong Football Club representative
I am excited to see that the project had come to life to honour Frank's memory.
Frank would light up a room when he walked in, and this sculpture is a nice reminder for the entire community of just how impactful Frank was.
An iconic figure in the region and at the Football Club, Frank was always a community leader. This statue reminds us of the belief and contribution he made to Geelong.
When the history of the club is written, it will be impossible to do so without having Frank at the forefront - this statue being a part of that history on the streets of Geelong.
