In partnership with the Costa Family, Rory Costelloe and Geelong Cats Football Club, we have commissioned internationally renowned sculptor Louis Laumen to create a sculptural memorial to the late Frank Costa AO.
The Newsboy (Frank Costa, aged 13) is a sculptural
memorial to the late Frank Costa AO, who passed away on 2nd of May 2021.
Frank’s contribution to the Geelong community was highly significant through
many avenues of business, community support and sporting. This sculpture
depicts a teenage boy standing on a fruit box, selling the Herald Sun
newspaper.
As a young boy, Frank sold newspapers (primarily the Herald
Sun), on this very corner in front of the T&G Building on the corner of
Ryrie and Moorabool Streets in central Geelong. His entrepreneurial spirit
showing early, Frank recruited other young “newsboys” to sell papers to extend
his reach.
The fruit box upon which he stands references the highly
successful Costa Group, Australia’s largest horticultural company, and major
supplier of fresh produce throughout Australia, which Frank and his brother
Adrian developed from small beginnings at their parent’s fruit shop in the late
1950s.
Keen-eyed viewers will notice that the Herald Sun being held
in the sculpture is dated 29th of September 1951, when the Geelong Cats won the
Grand Final over Essendon. This is a nod to Frank’s crucial time with the
Geelong Cats Football Club, particularly as the President from 1998 – 2010 when
Frank’s business acumen elevated and united the club.
Frank was also a keen supporter of the community through
philanthropic contributions and ongoing roles in support of sports, business,
medical, education and social welfare. In 1997 he was awarded the Medal of the
Order of Australia for his service to youth and the community. The depiction of
Frank as an entrepreneurial youth was an important decision for this memorial
as it spoke to Frank’s keen support and fostering of young people in the
Geelong community.
About the artist
Born in the Netherlands before arriving in Australia at aged
2, Louis Laumen is an internationally regarded Melbourne-based sculptor. Graduating
from the Victorian College of the Arts with a degree in Fine Art (Sculpture),
Louis has gone on to have an extensive career in sculpture, with over 50
commissions to his name. Lending his experience to others through teaching
roles at the National Gallery Society Summer School and RMIT, Louis also gained
foundry experience at Meridian Sculpture Founders.
A full-time professional
artist for over 25 years, he has extensive experience in the creation of
life-like bronze statues. Notable sculptures include the life-sized mounted
horsemen at the National Boer War Memorial, Anzac Parade in Canberra, a series
of life-sized sporting figures in the Parade of Champions at Yarra Park,
Melbourne Cricket Ground, football great Nicky Winmar in his iconic stance
against racism at Optus Stadium in Perth, and most recently the Brothers in
Arms Memorial in Belgium.
Frank Costa Statue Unveiling
Artists perspective