2LT Local News

LITHGOW, Central West, NSW, Australia – The Marjorie Jackson statue at the Cook Street Plaza in Lithgow is to get a new base, complete with new information panels.

“Council has heard the observations by the community regarding the reinstallation of the plaques and signage on to the Marjorie Jackson statue in Cook Street Plaza,” Mayor Ray Thompson said Thursday. “Council understands the importance of this icon to the local community and how important it is for Lithgow’s pride and heritage to be clearly illustrated through such signage.”

“For this reason, Council has arranged for the previous signage to be installed to the base of Marjorie in combination with a new, custom-made sign and pedestal,” the mayor said. “This installation has occurred in order to ensure that the significance of the statue remains forefront both in terms of the statue’s prominence as well as the availability of relevant, accompanying information.”

“Once the designs have been completed, in the coming weeks eleven removable planters and 2 custom bin surrounds will be ordered for installation within Cook Street Plaza. This process has been expedited to ensure delivery, installation and planting during the spring growing season.”

The statue was designated in 1999 and was unveiled in 2000, as a tribute to one of Australia’s finest athletes, Marjorie Jackson who won two Olympic Gold Medals, and 7 Commonwealth Games Gold Medals, and broke six individual world records. She was known the world over as “the Lithgow flash,” as she had grown up in the town.