Kyle Burden memorial sculpture

It’s where her son, Kyle, was taken by a shark while bodyboarding in September last year.

It is also how she got the idea for a memorial sculpture for him, which has been created by Cowaramup artist Simon James.

“The memorial is designed to inspire people to stop and do what I like to do – take the time to appreciate the view,” Sharon said.

“When I travelled around Australia with Kyle, and we spent a couple of years doing it, he always wanted to stop and reflect on memorials and public art.

“It was something he had done since he was about nine, so a sculpture seemed a fitting tribute to him.

“The thing for me is that I want people to admire Bunker Bay. It’s something Kyle would have liked – being at Bunker Bay, feeling at peace and most importantly, enjoying the surf,” Sharon said.

Once she had the idea for a memorial sculpture Sharon went looking for an artist.

“I wanted to use a local artist and spent a lovely day going around looking at studios (in the region).

“I saw something by Simon and loved his work and went on his website to see more.”

Simon picked up the story as Sharon looked at the finished work at his Cowaramup studio last week.

“I initially tossed around ideas. I still hadn’t spoken to Sharon.

“Kyle’s partner Jess suggested I do something inside the tube that was probably a bit active,” he said of the sculpture, which depicts Kyle surfing.

Sharon loved it.

“It was young, fun and vibrant,” she said.

“Simon tapped into my thinking – being a surfer as well. 

“The wording (on the plaque) is a mixture of Kyle’s classic sayings.

“He would say something and then follow up with ‘fact’, so you would accept what he had said was a fact. 

“He enjoyed reading philosophy, so we thought it was appropriate to have a reminder of the importance of appreciating nature, and of course, his passion for surfing with his mates. 

“The first couple of lines played a role in how we celebrated his life and said goodbye at his funeral.

“There’s nothing tangible to remember Kyle, except this memorial, as his ashes were spread at one of his favourite surf spots in the region.

“He would sooner have us sitting on the beach thinking about him. 

“From my point of view, it is such a positive thing for us as well as a piece of art.

“I see it replacing the surfboard that was put up the same day (that Kyle died), which was such a heartfelt expression on the part of his friends.”

Simon’s connection with Sharon in regards to the sculpture is not surprising.

He was commissioned to create a memorial, by the families of victims of the Gracetown tragedy, when the cliff collapsed. He is also a keen surfer.

“The circumstances make me emotionally involved with what happened,” Simon said.

“I’ve spent thousands of hours surfing and always have it (sharks) in the back of mind when I go out. I was out the day Brad Smith was taken (2004).

“It was about a kilometre away.

“It could have been me.

“It’s been an honour to meet Sharon and do the memorial.”

Cr John McCallum, who is a member of the Meelup Regional Park Committee, which has endorsed the memorial, hopes the council will support a staff recommendation at next week’s meeting for it to be erected at the Boneyards surfbreak.