Marjorie Jackson-Nelson AC CVO MBE DStJ, former Governor of South Australia from 2001 – 2007, was the supreme female sprinter of the early 1950s winning the Olympic sprint double in 1952. At the Commonwealth Games, she won seven sprint gold medals, she also held six individual world records and every Australian state and national title she contested from 1950 to 1954.

Later in her career Marjorie became the first female manager of a multi-disciplined team for her role in managing the Australian team at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. She also assisted the team at the 1996 Olympic Games and the 1998 Commonwealth Games. She was a board member for the Sydney Organising Committee for the 2000 Summer Olympics and one of the eight-flag bearers of the Olympic Flag at the opening ceremony. For her role, a road was named after her at the Sydney Olympic Park, beside the Sydney Superdome.

In 2006, Marjorie 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. Other accolades include being awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1953 as part of the Coronation Honours in recognition for her contribution to women’s athletics. In 1985, she was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. In 2001, she was appointed Governor of South Australia and was also awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), followed by the Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 2002 during Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to South Australia. Additionally, Marjorie was honoured with the Olympic Order in 2008, the highest distinction awarded by the International Olympic Commitee. 

In 2023 Marjorie was announced as the naming right patron of the inaugural Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Centre for Women’s Sport, on receiving this honour Marjorie said, “I am delighted to have the first of such a project in Australia named after me. All women have the opportunity to be part of this exciting development no matter their background or culture and there is a breadth of opportunities from community to elite levels.”