Hidden beneath a cover of blue tarpaulin and cyclone fencing, the bronze statue commemorating the centenary of surf-lifesaving at North Wollongong and Wollongong City clubs will finally be revealed tomorrow.
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More than three years in the planning, 16 months in the making and composed of 800kg of bronze, the statue is the work of Blue Mountains sculptor Terrance Plowright, who will be joined at the unveiling by dignitaries and NSW surf-lifesaving community representatives.
North Wollongong's centenary chairman Peter Oyston refused to reveal what the statue of the 1908 surf-lifesaver looked like but admitted that it was in an "action" pose.
"We have gone for the action and we chose Terrance because he had a lot of expertise and a good track record," Mr Oyston said.
"We gave him some old photos of lifesavers to work from, but it's modelled from no-one in particular."
Plowright was also the sculptor behind the bronze of cricket commentator Richie Benaud unveiled at the SCG yesterday.
The $83,000 statue is mounted on a three-tonne granite plinth and was installed by crane at 7am on Thursday morning.
Mr Oyston said the lifesaver would likely become a tourist attraction to visitors travelling along Grand Pacific Drive.
The unveiling at 11am tomorrow will be preceded by a Grand Street Parade and followed by demonstrations by lifesavers from Bondi, Manly, Wollongong City and North Wollongong.
More information in Saturday's Weekender.
