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Re: Olympians turned politicians.
GH, calling an Australian State Governor a politician is somewhat misleading in that they are nothing like a US Governor. They are a vice-regal appointment ie the local representative of the Queen of Australia, otherwise known as QEII.
This means that they are above politics in the day to day headkicking sense but are part of the political process. They give royal assent to all bills passed by State parliaments and appoint ministers all pretty much a rubber stamp. They do,however, also hold "reserve powers" to sack a government amongst other things. The joy of reserve powers is that they are not actually codified and potentially have no limit other than by convention. Pretty good, huh?
Having said that, if the non-political, political position of governor is to be included, then a far better credentialled Olympian than John Landy is currently Governor of South Australian - Marjorie Jackson.
Another ex-athlete, but not Olympian, was Don Chipp the founder of the Australian Democrats, which, again, is nothing like the US version. Don was twice runner up in the Stawell Gift off a short handicap. Most runners who achieved this would have been of a standard to make Olympic teams if not for the shamateurism imposed by the IOC.
GH, calling an Australian State Governor a politician is somewhat misleading in that they are nothing like a US Governor. They are a vice-regal appointment ie the local representative of the Queen of Australia, otherwise known as QEII.
This means that they are above politics in the day to day headkicking sense but are part of the political process. They give royal assent to all bills passed by State parliaments and appoint ministers all pretty much a rubber stamp. They do,however, also hold "reserve powers" to sack a government amongst other things. The joy of reserve powers is that they are not actually codified and potentially have no limit other than by convention. Pretty good, huh?
Having said that, if the non-political, political position of governor is to be included, then a far better credentialled Olympian than John Landy is currently Governor of South Australian - Marjorie Jackson.
Another ex-athlete, but not Olympian, was Don Chipp the founder of the Australian Democrats, which, again, is nothing like the US version. Don was twice runner up in the Stawell Gift off a short handicap. Most runners who achieved this would have been of a standard to make Olympic teams if not for the shamateurism imposed by the IOC.
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