A crowd of family and supporters gathered at the Queanbeyan Bicentennial Centre’s LinkQ gallery on Wednesday for the unveiling of a bronze and marble sculpture of the late William Byrne Freebody.

On hand for the unveiling by Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council Mayor Kenrick Winchester and grandson Glenn Freebody, were members of the family who had entirely funded the project, the sculptor Neil Dickinson, federal member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain and former mayor Tim Overall.

William Byrne Freebody served continuously as an alderman to Queanbeyan Municipal Council from 1915 to 1956, during which time he was mayor on six occasions, first at the age of 36. A fiery debater, he was an influential citizen whose name has also recently been given to the council chambers in QPRC’s new building.

He was not just a local government politician but a sportsman active in cycling, motorcycle racing, football, tennis, cricket and bowls and a businessman whose bicycle and sports equipment shops were known in Queanbeyan and Braddon. He was also the proprietor of the Triumph and the Star cinemas.

Accepted last year by the council as a donation, the sculpture is the second in a long-running Twelve Apostles project, which began 25 years ago with the unveiling of the sculpture of founding father, John Gale.

Sue Jarvis, former counsellor and member of the of Queanbeyan Heritage-Culture Arts Promotions Committee, which was behind the venture, explained that the project had been the brainchild of the late sculptor and activist, Connie Colleen. She noted that the work was positioned immediately facing the Freebody family home in Crawford Street. Now a solicitor’s office, it would soon be marked with a heritage sign.

Sculptor Neil Dickinson told how he had worked with local historian Phil Hawke for background and with family members to get the likeness right, even carving off a bit of one ear on the advice of a grandson.