Lizmania The Bondi Mermaid and Mr. Mercules
Lizmania The Bondi Mermaid and Mr. Mercules
“We have some wondrous characters in our part of the world and Lizmania fits right in there. Always true to herself, she lives and breathes the things she cares about.”
What is your Bondi story?
“I swam in with the king tide in 1995 to resurrect my 2 seasters, Jan and Lynette, Mermaids who once lived atop the massive boulder (Big Rock) located on the lower headland at North Bondi. The Bondi Mermaid sculptures were victimised by scandal and malicious gossip for 15 years and eventually both disappeared. Lynette was reclaimed by the seas in 1976 and Jans' remnants were stolen by Waverley Council not long afterwards. (Council claimed this was to protect her but she lived in the ocean and not on their land so technically it was out of councils jurisdiction and they had no right touching her, especially after the way they had mistreated the artist, Lyall Randolph who created the 2 beauties). It was also my proposal to council in 1996 which mysteriously 'found' or relocated the 'lost' Jan Mermaid who was then preserved and encapsulated in her 'aquarium' where she still lives now at Waverley Library. Jan’s remnants do not belong in a library, she belongs' somewhere much more prolific and respectful to her iconic and legendary status. I became known as The Bondi Mermaid in 1996 in order to rescue and reinstate 2 life-size mermaid sculptures which quite literally put Bondi Beach 'on the map'. It is my intention to fulfil this dream in the most honourable manner possible to pay tribute to the original mermaids. It was my soul idea to return my 2 seasters to their original position, (and nowhere else) and during this epic 30 year battle of a journey, I have enjoyed and manifested many mer-related wins, such as being the custodian of the '3 Sister Sculptures', which the same Artist, Lyall Randolph, created 6 years after he finished the Bondi Mermaids. The '3 Sister sculptures' were once a great fountain at the entrance to Katoombas' tourist attraction called 'Scenic World', also known for its wild cable car rides. The fountain informed tourists of the indigenous legend of the (real) 3 Sister Mountains and raised much money for the disabled children in Katoomba, (you placed money in an automated slot, which then played a recording of the story.) Many coins were also randomly thrown straight into the fountain and this money was also donated to the disabled children.
The 3 Sister Sculptures, which is made up of 4 life-size sculptures, have nearly been fully-restored and are being reinstated as a fountain in a predominant position within months. (shhhh) This is super-exciting and a major development to pay tribute to the mer-Artist Lyall Randolph.
This is simply a drop-in-the-ocean of my 'bigger picture'. I am a colourful Artist who loves being as bubbly as possible in what can be a dark and problematic world. I love history being respected and preserved, I love sewing and creating something out of nothing in the most outrageous and yet functional manner. I love being in Bondi Beach as close to the ocean where I belong and can't wait for my (5) seasters to shine once again. (2 Bondi Mermaid Sculptures and the 3 Sisters Sculptures).”
How do you spend the first hour of your day
“Hanging on the rocks overlooking the sea, watching the sunrise with whales, dolphins, seals, fishermen, swimmers.....whoever and whatever may be out there. I watch the shark nets and sadly wonder which of my friends is hooked and close to death, ironically stuck as shark bait in those prehistoric nets. Protecting and creating safer-seas should be a priority and marine-must, but tragically it's just not! I try to avoid nasty, negative, boring hoomans, especially those-with-toes who drink too much coffee, gossip, judge and do nothing but hang-to-be-seen by the sea. It all sounds too good to be true, but honestly hoomans, how lucky am I, for the first hour of my day is simply a reset to be ME(R). ???”
Is there something you’d like the world to know about you?
“I am a very sensitive, intelligent and caring mermaid who’s a very wise old soul. I love meeting nice, interesting hoomans and listening to their stories, which are quite often shared, and enjoyed by the sea. I am very intuitive, I love animals and miss my previous little merpuppy, named 'Tipseatoes' (so much) but I have a new shipmate named 'Mr.Mercules' who’s a white and gold pomeranian fluffball. Finally, I would love for everyone to know The Bondi Mermaids' scales may not always be perfectly balanced, but sometimes it's ok, not to feel ok. I am a proud member of Grant Trebilcos' One Wave Bondi, (also known as FluroFriday) a community mental health support group that meets at sunrise every Friday at South Bondi. You are all welcome to wear bright colours, bring your boards, fins or bathers and come say SHELLO SHELLO SHELLO.”
