Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Air Corps, Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire is a former Governor of South Australia and a former Australian athlete.
Background
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-Koen 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.
Education
She finished her sporting career with two Olympic and seven Commonwealth Games Gold Medals, six individual world records and every Australian State and National title she contested from 1950–1954.
Career
Having more strong runners in the team, the Australian 4 × 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. Later in 1952, Jackson lowered the 100 m 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 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 the Sydney Olympic Park, beside the Sydney Superdome (now Allphones Arena).
Membership
1953: Member of the Order of the British Empire (Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the Coronation for her service to women"s athletics.