Marjorie Jackson AC MBE

Marjorie Jackson was born on 13 September 1931, in Coffs Harbour but grew up in Lithgow, New South Wales. She went to Coffs Harbour Primary School, Cooerwull Primary School in Lithgow and Lithgow High School.

Marjorie first showed promise in 1949 when as a seventeen-year-old 'typist' she beat the Dutch woman and Olympic champion Fanny Blankers-Koen in the 100 yard sprint. In the 1950 Empire Games in Auckland, she won four gold medals, one in every race she entered - the 100 yard, 220 yard, 440 yard relay and 660 yard relay.

Nicknamed the 'Lithgow Flash', she made history at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952 by becoming the first woman to win gold in athletics when she took out the 100 and 200 metre sprint. She had worn her hand-made kangaroo leather running spikes, which cost her a month's wages. She returned home to a heroine's welcome and was named 1952 ABC Sportsman (sic) of the Year.

Between 1952 and 1954 Marjorie held four world records: 100 yard, 220 yard, 100 metre and 200 metre. She decided to end her career with the 1954 Empire Games in Vancouver at only 22 years of age. She finished with a perfect result: three gold medals in three races - the 100 yard, 220 yard and 4x100 yard relay. She remained unbeaten in international competition.

She had married former Olympic cyclist, Peter Nelson in 1953 and planned to settle into normal life with him. They opened a sporting goods store in Adelaide and managed several retail stores over the next two decades. They had two daughters and a son together.

Following his death in 1977 she established the Peter Nelson Leukemia Research Foundation and pledged to raise $1 million for research. Research began in 1979 with $400,000 raised by 1980. In 1978, she moved out of retail to manage an almond orchard. Marjorie received numerous accolades in her life including a MBE in 1953 and being named Australian Sportstar of the Year in 1952.

She has said, "I'd rather attempt something great and fail, than succeed at less. When faced with a mountain, I will not quit. I firmly believe that our lives are a gift from God, and what we do with Life is our gift in return".