than religion, more than any other political movement or anything, sport does engage more people throughout the world, and we certainly recognise our role within that space.”
Newton said his role took on even greater meaning following the birth of his daughter Hope in 2013.
“ I think everyone in this world has got someone in their life, a girl or woman in their life that they love and want to thrive in the world that we live in,” he said.
“ I’ ve got a number of them in my life but particularly my daughter- she’ s only a child, but I want to be able to try and make it a safer place. By engaging boys and men in that gender equality conversation, hopefully, we’ re going to have some advocates out there for equality and respectful relationships.
“ I’ m not afraid to say that in a lot of ways I am a feminist. I think a lot of people use the word in the wrong way now as opposed to what it was meant for.
“ Feminism’ s about being an advocate for equality and making sure women are considered just as equal as men, it’ s not anything to be afraid or ashamed of- everyone would have a girl or a woman in their life that they want to thrive in this world and that’ s what I want.”
This has also been a driving force behind Newton’ s involvement with the Australian Childhood Foundation, a charity that works to support and protect vulnerable children and families, with the belief that all children have the right to a happy and safe childhood.
But Newton’ s not the only one in his family who is passionate about charitable work.
His famous golfing father Jack has spent the past 38 years putting on what has become the longest running celebrity proam golf tournament in Australia – the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic.
Rebranded simply as The Jack this year, the event has played host to some of the biggest names in Australian sport, politics, stage and screen. It’ s been contested by some of the country’ s best professional and brightest up-and-coming golfers and more importantly, raised more than $ 6 million for diabetes research and awareness, as well as the development of junior golf through the Jack Newton Junior Golf program.
Newton said he is so proud of the work his father has been involved with off the golf course, as well as the promising career he had on it before his professional playing future was cut short following an accident in 1983 which claimed his right arm and right eye. Both sides of his golfing career were cited as reasons behind his inclusion in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in October this year.
“ I’ m more proud of my father in how he is recognised for not only what he’ s done as a golfer but also what he’ s contributed to golf and Australian sport and so many lives,” Newton said.
“ I think to me it’ s more special than just someone who was a good athlete.
“ There’ s a difference between being good sportsmen and your contribution to sport because you have a choice to make and not everyone makes a choice to be a good contributor.”
Newton hopes his own contributions to The Jack now and in the future will help the pro-am continue the charitable legacy his father has so successfully built up during the past three decades.
Now in its 38th year, the event will be held at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley and the adjoining Hunter Valley Golf Club on December 19-21. Here 54 professional golfers, 54 celebrities, 54 amateurs and 54 sponsors’ representatives gather together for three days of golf, good times and charitable goodwill.
Newton said the event had endured the test of time based on its spirit of“ family, togetherness, and charity.”
“ That’ s what the tournament’ s been able to provide to many people,” he said.
“ It’ s provided so many with some lifelong memories, but it’ s also been able to give so many an opportunity to build some of the most trusted and loved relationships and friendships through the tournament and that’ s why it’ s been able to be so sustainable.
“ It’ s much more than a tournament, it’ s a feeling you get when you walk in there, and you see people, whether it be for
Clint( right) with father Jack Newton( left), Mother Jackie
( second left), and partner Carly.
the first time or people that you’ ve seen since the tournament’ s inception, you just get a good feeling inside, and that’ s the important part of the event.
“ I think that’ s why so many people like to participate in it and we’ re definitely committed to trying to ensure that continues.”
Helping Newton with this vision will be a committee of longterm supporters of both the event and his father, as well as Newton’ s long-term partner and soon to be bride, Carly.“ It’ s great that Carly’ s also involved in the event,” he said.“ It’ s something that she’ s passionate about because she’ s so close to my family and it’ s something that we want to continue to drive together.”
Of course, this year’ s pro-am isn’ t the only big event they’ re involved in organising at the moment, with the pair preparing to marry at a special ceremony in Newcastle during January next year, with a reception to follow at Newcastle Town Hall.
“ That’ s going to be amazing at the start of January to actually say that I’ m married and that someone sees enough in me to commit to spending the rest of their life with me,” Newton said.
“ I suppose one of the things that Carly, myself and our daughter are probably looking forward to the most is just the opportunity that weddings provide in bringing everyone together.
“ In today’ s world everyone’ s so busy, you need these big events to get people to commit to being able to get together. I’ m only planning on doing it once, so I’ m making sure there are enough people there to enjoy it!
“ It’ ll be great, and I’ m incredibly lucky to have had Carly come into my life the way she did, and I know how fantastic she is as a mother and a partner and a best friend.” ■
For more information on The Jack, sponsorship opportunities or the chance to jump in and swing a club with the best of them, visit www. jacknewtongroup. com
We’ re looking for talented Lake Mac athletes aged 12-15 years, plus coaches, in the fields of athletics, sailing, swimming, basketball and soccer to participate in the 2017 International Children’ s Games in Kaunas, Lithuania.
Applications close 19 December 2016. Visit hunteracademy. org. au for more information.
14 | www. intouchmagazine. com. au