Adjoining the Members Dining Room, this space is used by the MCC's 50-Year members.
Perhaps as well known for his modesty and sportsmanship as for his outstanding athletic ability, John Landy became a 50-year member of the MCC in 2005. He was Governor of Victoria at the time, a much-admired representative of Her Majesty whose natural common touch brought instant approachability to a role that reaches out to ever corner of the community.John was a favourite son of Australians and it was no surprise when, by now a member of the club whose mighty stadium was staging the 1956 Olympic Games, he was asked to take the athletes’ Oath of Competition at Melbourne. Fighting injury, he ran bravely in the 1500 metres event to collect Bronze behind Irishman Ron Delany. There are no prizes for guessing who was first to congratulate the exhausted winner.
In his youth Landy played in the Under-19s for Melbourne Football Club, but his sport was running and he captured the public’s imagination as he reeled off a succession of breathtaking performances.
Later in life John was an agricultural scientist with ICI and a distinguished environmentalist. He joined the Melbourne Cricket Club Committee in 1991, chairing the fledgling Marketing Sub-committee before resigning in 2000 to take up the Governorship. Few will match his contribution to sport and society.