Pauline Menczer
in Bronze
1993 World Champion Pauline Menczer is the first and currently only surfer from Bondi to ever win a professional surfing world title.
This statue celebrates Pauline’s life of perseverance, passion and community spirit. It stands as a tribute to the waves she rode and the barriers she broke – in sport and in life – and is intended to inspire others to follow their dreams.
Visit: The Pauline Menczer statue is located at South Bondi beneath the pandanus trees on the pathway leading from the stairs at Knotts Avenue to the carpark at Queen Elizabeth drive.
Cutting her teeth in the surf at South Bondi in the early 1980s, Pauline Menczer overcame sexism in the water and crippling juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as a teenager to win the World Amateur title in 1988.
Despite limited sponsorship and not fitting the ‘beach babe’ image promoted by the surf industry at the time, Pauline’s grit, humour and competitive drive led her to claim the World Title at Sunset Beach, Hawaii, in 1993.
Contending with homophobia within the sport, Pauline was a fierce advocate for gender equality and equal prize money – helping pave the way for future generations of female surfers.
Pauline spent nearly 20 years on the World Surfing Tour, winning 28 major events including three Easter Bells Classics. After retiring from professional surfing, she became a school bus driver.
Pauline’s favourite saying – handed down from her mum – is “There’s a positive in every negative.”
See more about Pauline’s story here: Pauline’s Instagram.
Installed in November 2025, the statue was commissioned by the ‘Pauline in Bronze’ campaign committee. The sculpture was funded by private donations from the community, and gifted to Waverley Council and the people of Bondi.
The life-size bronze depicts a young Pauline doing a ‘surf check’, with a surfboard in one arm and a skateboard in the other. It was created by acclaimed Sydney sculptor Cathy Weiszmann and brought to life by Matthew Crawford at Crawford Castings in Sydney.
The ‘Pauline in Bronze’ campaign committee is composed of Christopher Nelius, Nicola Britton, and Samantha Endell. The project was initiated by film director Christopher Nelius during the production of the documentary Girls Can’t Surf, with help from the films’ producer Michaela Perske.
The statue is the first statue of any Australian professional surfer in the country. With only 6% of statues in NSW being of women, and most of them royalty, ‘Pauline in Bronze’ is also intended to help increase diversity in statues across the state.
The Pauline Menczer statue was made possible through the passion and support of many.
It took over 4 years to complete, raising money from grass roots donations, contributions from the surf industry and Bondi local businesses, and larger individual donors. It received welcome technical and moral support from the lovely and hardworking people at Waverley Council.
With the support of TRACKS magazine, the Bondi Hotel, and the people of Bondi, a campaign fundraiser raised over $30k in one night. Coming together with no major corporate, government or financial backers, it truly is a landmark by the people, for the people.
‘’Bondi is an iconic world famous surfing beach and Pauline as a World Champion Surfer has earned the right to be recognized and acknowledged at the Beach where she learnt her surfing skills. The Bronze sculpture of Pauline located at the South end is so appropriate. Tourists will be made aware , Locals will pay respect and young Surfers will be inspired by Pauline in Bronze’’
Terry Jenkins – Director ‘Bondi Forever’
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS
Bronte Gooch • Jenn & Robyn Crowe • Peter Strain & Luke Kennedy (Tracks Magazine) • Terry Jenkins
VERY SPECIAL THANKS
Allegra Spender • Andrew Landman • Ben Davies • Bondi Boardriders • Bondi Girls Surfriders • Brenda Miley • Clare Wright • David Gyngell • Jackie Dillon & Mary-Ellen King • Jeannie Nove • John “Red Ted” Sullivan • Kellie Sloane • Kevin & Amanda Skelton • Kim Maloney • Lucy, Malcolm & Daisy Turnbull • Margie Burns • Matthew Crawford • No Pong • Ocean Lovers Festival Hidden Sea Wine • Paul Wiegard • Peter Everingham • Tara McKenty • Tom Carroll • Victoria Austin
WAVERLEY COUNCIL
Paula Masselos • Tanya Goldberg • Liz Reidy • Nick Prell • Shaun Munro
COMPANIES WHO GENEROUSLY GIFTED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Annabelle Selleck – Sandbar Beach Ranch • Atmosea • Banya Bathhouse • Bruns Picture House • Childe Eyewear • Crawford Castings • Cunning Stunts • Dhinawan Baker – Artist • Gertrude and Alice Café & Bookstore • Helen Monks – Wagstaffe Bush Studio • Hotel Bondi • Hotel Ravesis • Huey’s Choice • Let’s Go Surfing • No Pong • Patagonia • Rip Curl • Salt Gypsy • Spooked Kooks • Style Surf School Byron • Surfing Australia • Tijuana Cartel Band • Urbnsurf • We Are Feel Good Inc.
Click here to see list of donors, small and large, from our GoFundMe page.