AUSTRALIAN netball legend Sharelle McMahon is set to be immortalised in the heart of Melbourne, recognising her contribution to the sporting world. McMahon will become the first Victorian-born – and fifth overall – woman to receive a bronze statue, following in the footsteps of Betty Cuthbert, Shirley Strickland, Nova Peris and Tayla Harris.

The accolade has been the result of Netball Victoria’s advocating for greater recognition of female sporting icons in Melbourne. Teaming up with the Victorian Government as part of the Celebrating Female Sporting Icons initiative and Statues for Equality project, the overall goal of the global movement is to balance gender and racial representation in public statues.

To put the disparity in perspective, 29 men have sporting statues to the four women, whilst three horses also have statues. Renowned sculpture artists, Gillie and Marc will produce the statue which will stand out the front of John Cain Arena, where both the Melbourne Vixens and Magpies Netball play their home games.

McMahon’s sporting career stacks up against the very best, having played for almost 15 years, and amassing more than 200 national league games and six premiership for the Melbourne Phoenix and Vixens. The legendary Australian Diamond also took to the court in 118 international matches, winning two World Cups and two Commonwealth Games gold medals, captaining her nation on 12 occasions. She also carried the Australian flag at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, the first athlete from a team sport to do so.

Already a member of the Vixens’ Hall of Fame, McMahon crossed from the court to the sidelines post-career, moving into a coaching role with both the Vixens from 2014, and then with the Diamonds at the Constellation Cup earlier this year. Despite now being at Cricket Victoria as Head of Female Cricket, there will never be any doubt that McMahon and netball are as iconic as any duo.

Netball Victoria CEO Rosie King said the fact that the advocating and support of the community to make this possible was able to change the landscape for future generations to see what is possible aspiring netballers, and female athletes across the country.

“Whilst we can’t rewrite history, we can ensure that the story of Australia’s sporting landscape more accurately reflects the impact that women have. Sharelle McMahon is an icon of our great game of netball,” she said.

“However, her statue isn’t just about netball – it’s about giving the community the chance to reflect on the legacy that women have created and will continue to create for generations to come. It’s an important story to tell and Sharelle McMahon is the right person to tell it.”

McMahon said it was an honour to receive a statue, but credited the sport’s growth as the reason behind the immortalisation.

“It’s a wonderful individual accolade, but it’s a real recognition of the sport of netball and the contribution that the sport of netball has made to Victoria,” she said.