Star: Bamawm netball export Sharelle McMahon with her mum Olive and dad John. A statue of the Australian Diamonds star was unveiled outside John Cain Arena on Wednesday. Photo: Netball Victoria
Bamawm netball export Sharelle McMahon has been immortalised in bronze.
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Ms McMahon’s legacy and contribution to the sport was recognised on International Women’s Day with a statue unveiled on Wednesday outside of Victoria’s home of netball — the John Cain Arena in Melbourne.
She becomes just the fifth sportswoman to receive a statue in Victoria after Olympians Betty Cuthbert, Shirley Strickland and Nova Peris, and AFLW star Tayla Harris.
Ms McMahon’s family, including her mum Olive and dad John, were in attendance at the unveiling.
“I feel like I have been shaped immeasurably by the amazing women that I have been surrounded with, so thank you to everyone who has had that impact on me,” Sharelle said.
“My family has always kept me grounded — I don’t know how that goes, as you’re standing in front of a statue I’m being awarded.
“It’s a bit of a surreal feeling.”
Mum Olive produced one of the lines of the day when interviewed.
“I’ll call myself the mother of the statue now, I used to be the mother of the netballer,” she joked.
The statue, sculpted by artists Gillie and Marc, is of Ms McMahon in a trademark pose while shooting at goal and takes pride of place outside John Cain Arena.
“I think it looks amazing, I’m amazed where it is sitting, I thought it was going to be tucked away,” Sharelle said.
“John Cain Arena will always be a venue that’s really close to my heart.
“I have spent many times out on court here, amazing memories of playing netball and representing not only our state but Australia too.”
Ms McMahon remains an icon of the game with her illustrious netball career spanning 25 years as both a player and coach, amassing a long list of outstanding achievements.
She represented Melbourne Phoenix and later Melbourne Vixens as a player more than 200 times and at age 21, she made her debut for the Australian Diamonds.
Rochester connection: A teenage Sharelle McMahon was crowned Miss Junior Showgirl in 1989 at the Great Northern Show in Rochester. She won the title from 20 other girls.
Ms McMahon went on to captain Australia 12 times in an international career that spanned 14 years and 118 matches, including two gold and two silver medals across four Commonwealth Games and two Netball World Cup victories, even scoring the winning goal at the 1999 World Cup.
She was the first athlete from a team sport selected as flagbearer for the 2010 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony and in 2016 was inducted as an athlete member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
Ms McMahon continues to be a commanding presence in sport, working as Cricket Victoria’s Head of Female Cricket since December 2021.
The statue was commissioned as part of the state government’s Celebrating Female Sporting Icons initiative.
“Recognising our female sporting heroes will help level the playing field and inspire the next generation of elite sporting talent,” Minister for Sport Steve Dimopoulos said.
“Victorians, like the sports we play, are diverse and it’s important that the athletes we choose to honour reflect that diversity.”
Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins said Wednesday was a significant moment.
“It’s a fitting recognition on International Women’s Day for Sharelle McMahon whose incredible achievements, both on and off the netball court, have left an indelible mark on Victoria’s sporting history and been an inspiration for women and girls everywhere,” she said.
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