MIDDLE Swan sculptor Ron Gomboc was recently invited by NSW Governor Margaret Beazley to attend a reception to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Sculpture by the Sea organisation at Government House, Sydney.

He was honoured by the governor for his contribution in being the only Australian sculptor with continuous involvement in this major cultural international exhibition, as a Double Decade member for Bondi and a Double Decade member for Cottesloe.

Mr Gomboc is the only Australian sculptor to be selected to exhibit at Sculpture by the Sea from the first exhibition in 1998 at Albany coordinated by founding director David Handley where he was awarded the Director’s Prize with a special invitation to exhibit at Sculpture by the Sea Bondi 1999.

This exhibition led to his participation in 23 annual Sculpture by the Sea Bondi exhibitions and all 21 Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe events.

As Sculpture by the Sea is a major international event and Japanese sculptor Keizo Ushio (pictured with Ron at NSW Government House) is a major international exhibitor and has been involved in all the Sculpture by the Sea Bondi and Cottesloe exhibitions, he was also honoured by the Governor.

Both Mr Ushio and Mr Gomboc are preparing for the next Sculpture by the Sea Bondi exhibition in October 2026.