The Weyman family were joined by the wider community to unveil the commemorative statue of the late Ack Weyman at the Moruya Showground on Saturday 27 March.
The bronze memorial was commissioned by the Moruya Sharks Rugby League Football Club, engaging local artist Terry Fuller to create the new work.
Mr Fuller also created the Mick Weyman bronze, displayed until recently at Moruya’s Russ Martin Park.
The rugby league legend said it was appropriate the two sculptures be displayed together at the showground’s Ack Weyman oval.
“It’s great Terry is making the statue of dad and I need to thank the Sharks; they fundraised all year to make it happen,” Michael Weyman said.
“Council have been great too, with help from the public art advisory committee and especially the parks staff helping with relocation and installation at the showground.”
In November 2020 Council’s Public Art Advisory Committee endorsed the installation of the Ack Weyman memorial sculpture and the relocation of the Mick Weyman bronze sculpture, The Memorial Sculpture Committee, a subcommittee of the Moruya Rugby League Football Club commissioned a bronze statue of Ack Weyman as a companion piece to the existing bronze of local footballer Mick Weyman that was, until recently, situated in Russ Martin Park, Moruya.
Ack Weyman was a community member of standing and an advocate for rugby league in Moruya, who passed away late in 2019.
Ack was a driving force behind establishing the rugby league oval at the Moruya Showground which was named in his honour.
The existing Mick Weyman sculpture was submitted to the PAAC in 2011.
At this time, the PAAC recommended installation at the Moruya Showground.
The Moruya Chamber of Commerce preferred a more prominent site and Russ Martin Park was chosen as an interim location, with a view that the sculpture be relocated to the showground at a later date.
With the death of Ack Weyman in 2019 and the new commission complete the Memorial Sculpture Committee believe it to be an ideal time to relocate the original piece. The newly commissioned piece is by the same local artist, Terry Fuller, who created the existing Mick Weyman bronze.
The committee fundraised all of 2020 and advised that they would like to see both bronzes located at the Moruya showground, at the entrance to the Ack Weyman oval with some landscaping to enhance the area. Their proposal also includes an upgrade of the existing sign with stone pillars to be placed at the project site acting as a landscape feature.
Moruya Sharks RLFC have posted:
"For those of you that couldn’t get down there, some photos of the unveiling of the statues at Ack Weyman Oval.
"A very proud day for the club, the town and the Weyman family. A huge shout out to the statue committee and all involved in making the great day happen, and also a massive shout out to the Boorowa Rovers boys and girls, even though games were cancelled they were still very well represented which is a huge effort, thanks guys
Photo credit to Nicole Langtry
