Clint Newton has paid an emotional tribute to his late father, legendary golfer Jack Newton, calling him a “giant of a man” after his death this week.
Newton, one of Australia’s most inspirational sporting icons, died at 72 due to health complications, sparking widespread mourning across the country.
He was one of Australia’s most successful golfers, before his career was tragically cut short when he was 33 after he lost his right arm following an accident involving an aeroplane propeller.
READ MORE: Storm stars desperate for Munster to stay
READ MORE: Jockey’s tribute as Warne’s horse secures first win
READ MORE: Cronulla rocked by ‘significant’ injuries
Despite the incredible ‘what if?’ presented by the accident in terms of Newton’s golf career, his son explained why he and his family refused to dwell on it in the years that followed.
“Our family has often thought about his accident, we don’t see it as a negative because you can’t dwell on the past and you’ve got to move forward, and dad was always about that,” Newton, the Rugby League Players’ Association CEO, told Nine’s Sports Sunday.
“We’re very lucky that he didn’t give up. He had an opportunity when he was walking through hell to stop and let it burn him to the ground, but he didn’t, he kept walking. We have had a great life because he didn’t give up.
“We may not have had as many times with him in the shed and as many memories if he had’ve been on tour.
“His legacy moved from what he was trying to acquire as a golfer to what he could contribute to the community and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of.”
Despite his golfing career being cut short in his prime, Newton still remained an icon in the game, playing a key role in developing juniors through the Jack Newton Foundation.
He was awarded an Order of Australia for his services to the game in 2017, and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2016.
“Dad was just uncompromising, he was courageous, he was incredibly resilient, but most of all he was authentic,” Newton said. “That’s how he was able to connect with so many people.”
“Whether it was the royal family or Bob Hawke or the local bloke at the pub, he was able to connect with them, and I think that’s what his legacy is.
“He’s probably had as many lives as a cat. I’m glad he didn’t give up in the darkness. When he had his accident he had a chance to do that and he was a daily source of inspiration for me and my sister.
“He was a giant of a man and he was my king of the jungle.”