Marjorie Jackson
Encyclopedia
Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, AC, CVO, MBE (born 13 September 1931) is a former Governor of South Australia and a former Australian athlete. She finished her sporting career with 2 Olympic and 7 Commonwealth Games Gold Medals, 10 world records and every Australian State and National title she contested from 1950–1954.
a number of times in 1949, thus earning the nickname "the Lithgow Flash", after the New South Wales town of Lithgow
where she lived and had grown up.
Having won four titles at the 1950 British Empire Games
, Jackson came as a favourite to the Helsinki
1952 Summer Olympics
. She won both the 100 m, in a then-World-Record-equalling time of 11.5, and the 200 m, winning the first Olympic athletics titles for Australia since Edwin Flack in 1896. Having more strong runners in the team, the Australian 4 x 100 m relay team was also a favourite for the gold, but a faulty exchange meant Jackson's chances for third gold medal were gone. The Americans, anchored by Catherine Hardy
(later Lavender), won in an upset, setting a new world record time of 45.9 seconds. Later in 1952, Jackson lowered the 100m World Record time to 11.4, running this new record in a meet at Gifu, Japan on 4 October 1952.
In 1953 Jackson married Olympic cyclist Peter Nelson
. After his death from leukaemia in 1977, she launched the Peter Nelson Leukaemia Research Fellowship.
Marjorie Jackson-Nelson was one of the eight flag-bearers of the Olympic Flag at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney.
In late 2001, Marjorie Jackson-Nelson was appointed Governor of South Australia. She relinquished the office on 31 July 2007.
On 15 March 2006, Marjorie Jackson-Nelson was one of the final four runners who carried the Queen's Baton
around the MCG
stadium during the 2006 Commonwealth Games
Opening Ceremony in Melbourne.
On 6 June 2007, it was announced that a new medical facility to be built in Adelaide will be named the "Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Hospital". On 18 February 2009, Premier Mike Rann agreed to remove her name from the planned hospital.
She also has a road named in honour of her at Olympic Park in Sydney, beside the Sydney Superdome (now Acer Arena).
She is also a Dame of the Order of St John of Jerusalem
and a Freeman of the City of London
.
Biography
Marjorie Jackson was born in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, and first gained fame when she defeated reigning Olympic 100 and 200 metres champion Fanny Blankers-KoenFanny Blankers-Koen
Francina "Fanny" Elsje Blankers-Koen was a Dutch athlete, best known for winning four gold medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. She accomplished this as a 30 year old mother of two, during a time when many disregarded women's athletics...
a number of times in 1949, thus earning the nickname "the Lithgow Flash", after the New South Wales town of Lithgow
Lithgow, New South Wales
Lithgow is a city in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia and is the centre of the local political division City of Lithgow. It is located in a mountain valley named Lithgow's Valley by John Oxley in honour of William Lithgow, the first Auditor-General of New South Wales.Lithgow is...
where she lived and had grown up.
Having won four titles at the 1950 British Empire Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
, Jackson came as a favourite to the Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
. She won both the 100 m, in a then-World-Record-equalling time of 11.5, and the 200 m, winning the first Olympic athletics titles for Australia since Edwin Flack in 1896. Having more strong runners in the team, the Australian 4 x 100 m relay team was also a favourite for the gold, but a faulty exchange meant Jackson's chances for third gold medal were gone. The Americans, anchored by Catherine Hardy
Catherine Hardy
Catherine Hardy Lavender is an African-American athlete who competed mainly in the 100 meters. She won an Olympic gold medal in the 4 x 100 metres relay at the 1952 Olympic Summer Games in Helsinki, Finland...
(later Lavender), won in an upset, setting a new world record time of 45.9 seconds. Later in 1952, Jackson lowered the 100m World Record time to 11.4, running this new record in a meet at Gifu, Japan on 4 October 1952.
In 1953 Jackson married Olympic cyclist Peter Nelson
Peter Nelson (cyclist)
Peter Nelson, was an Australian olympic road and track cyclist.He was South Australian state champion in 1950 for the 15, 25 and 50 mile events, and again in 1953 for the 50 mile events. He attended the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki as part of the Australian road cycling team in the 190 km...
. After his death from leukaemia in 1977, she launched the Peter Nelson Leukaemia Research Fellowship.
Marjorie Jackson-Nelson was one of the eight flag-bearers of the Olympic Flag at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney.
In late 2001, Marjorie Jackson-Nelson was appointed Governor of South Australia. She relinquished the office on 31 July 2007.
On 15 March 2006, Marjorie Jackson-Nelson was one of the final four runners who carried the Queen's Baton
Queen's Baton Relay
The Queen's Baton Relay, similar to the Olympic Torch Relay, is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The Relay traditionally begins at Buckingham Palace in London...
around the MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
stadium during the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
Opening Ceremony in Melbourne.
On 6 June 2007, it was announced that a new medical facility to be built in Adelaide will be named the "Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Hospital". On 18 February 2009, Premier Mike Rann agreed to remove her name from the planned hospital.
She also has a road named in honour of her at Olympic Park in Sydney, beside the Sydney Superdome (now Acer Arena).
Honours
- 1953: Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)Order of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the Coronation Honours for her service to women's athletics. - 2001: Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)Order of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
upon appointment as Governor. - 2002: Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)Royal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in February 2002 during Queen Elizabeth IIElizabeth II of the United KingdomElizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
's visit to South Australia. - 2007: Olympic OrderOlympic OrderThe Olympic Order is the highest award of the Olympic Movement, created by the International Olympic Committee in May 1975 as a successor to the Olympic Certificate previously awarded. The Olympic Order originally had three grades , although the bronze grade was retired in 1984...
, the highest order bestowed by the International Olympic CommitteeInternational Olympic CommitteeThe International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
. The citation from the IOC stated that the award was made for her "having illustrated the Olympic ideal through her actions, having achieved remarkable merit in the sporting world and having rendered outstanding service to the Olympic movement through her community work and as Governor of South Australia".
She is also a Dame of the Order of St John of Jerusalem
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
and a Freeman of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
.
External links
- Biography at the Governor of South Australia website
- Peter Nelson Leukaemia Research Fellowship Fund
- sports-reference.com
Sources
- "Olympic Order for Lithgow Flash" (2007), The Canberra Times, 16 July 2007, p. 4