Laura Geitz Sporting Bronze Statue, Life Size | Unveiled – 2019

In his life-sized bronze tribute to Laura Geitz, Liam Hardy has sculpted more than a sporting icon—he has given form to a cultural shift. First unveiled in 2019 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and later moved to its permanent home at the Queensland State Netball Centre, the statue holds the distinction of being the first public monument to a female athlete in Queensland. It stands not only as a celebration of Geitz’s extraordinary achievements, but as a landmark in the recognition of women in Australian sport.

Laura Geitz Sporting Statue Smiling woman in gray dress stands by a Bespoke Bronze Memorial of a netball player with ball, displayed outdoors near a modern building.

Project Snapshot

Location: Queensland State Netball Centre, Brisbane, QLD

minimalist brown silhouette of a person with a circle head and semicircle body on a light background, elegant and timeless.

Client: Queensland Government / Sports Commission

Elegant brown feather quill displayed diagonally on a light background, symbolizing timeless tribute and classic remembrance.

Commission Type: Sporting Statue

Materials: Bronze, Life Size

Bespoke Bronze Memorial plaque illustration featuring a bronze broom sweeping dust, symbolizing remembrance and care on a clean white background.

Figures Sculpted: 1 (Laura Geitz)

Completion Date: 2019

Project Overview

The First Female Sporting Statue in Queensland

Geitz, the former captain of both the Australian Diamonds and Queensland Firebirds, is immortalised in a moment of poised strength. Hardy’s rendering is resolute yet dynamic—a portrait of leadership, focus, and grace under pressure. The sculpture radiates the same commanding presence that defined Geitz’s career, while capturing the humility and approachability that made her a beloved figure on and off the court.

Hardy’s treatment of the bronze medium demonstrates his characteristic blend of technical precision and emotional insight. Hardy’s work transcends commemoration—it makes a social statement. In choosing to honour a woman whose contributions to sport have redefined national standards of excellence, Hardy’s statue rebalances a public landscape long dominated by male figures.

Unveiled with fitting ceremony by Geitz herself and Queensland’s Minister for Sport, The Hon. Mick de Brenni, the statue’s installation was a moment of collective pride and historic resonance. With this work, Liam Hardy has not only captured a singular athlete’s legacy—he has cast, in bronze, a powerful gesture toward equity and enduring inspiration.