Melbourne Cup winning jockey Robbie Dolan headlines a star-studded field teeing off in The Jack at Cypress Lakes Resort this week.
The biggest event on golf’s social calendar, The Jack Newton Celebrity Classic, attracts professionals, actors, musicians, amateurs and sportspeople to the Hunter Valley annually to raise money for charity.
And, 2024 is no different.
From 16 to 18 December, Dolan – who rode Knight’s Choice to victory at Flemington in November – will be joined by the likes of Richard Champion, Michael O’Connor, Rhys Muldoon, Glenn Munsie, Justin Melvey, Clint Newton, Wade Graham, Kieran Gilbert, Tim Gilbert, Kram, Mateo Tapia, Adam Spencer, Justin Horo, Justin Avendano, Corey Norman, Lindsay Smith, Nick Davis, Luke Marlow, Brenton Speed, Rob Palmer, Matt Moylan, Shannon Noll and more on the beautiful 18-hole course.
The Classic, better known as The Jack, is the longest-running celebrity pro-am tournament in Australia, kicking off 45 years ago.
While Newton himself grew up in Cessnock, the event originated hundreds of kilometres from his home with the inaugural edition on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in December 1979.
But, the Australian Open winner became a regular at the tournament, snaring the title in 1980.
He and his wife, Jackie, took over the running of the pro-am that had by then been re-named in his honour in 1985.
Over the years, thanks to the Newtons, the event has grown significantly in size and reputation, relocating a couple of times before Jack brought it to the Hunter in 2006.
His passing in 2022 left Jackie, his children, Clint and Kristie, and their extended family to carry on the tradition in his name.
“The Jack is a celebration of everything that is irreplaceable about our Australia,” long-time supporter John Singleton said.
“No one ever celebrated Australia better or more proudly than our Jack Newton.”
While the players take the tournament seriously over what are two hotly-contested rounds of golf, the focus remains on having plenty of fun, both on and off the course.
Many participants get into the spirit of things by indulging in fancy dress and participating in the All-Star band on the final night.
One of the additions to the event since 2018 has been Jackie’s Long Lunch.
The event takes place at Cypress Lakes on Wednesday 18 December.
Just like its namesake, it brings with it an air of beauty and sophistication, with a delicious two-course meal and an inspiring guest speaker.
In 2024, it’s Lauren Parker.
An elite triathlete, she was injured in a training accident in 2017.
Airlifted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service for specialist treatment, anyone would understand her taking a break from the sport.
But, the local built herself back up in nine months to become a medal-winning paratriathlete.
So, her strength and determination are worth hearing about first-hand.
Over the years, the Celebrity Classic, along with separate corporate Jack events, have raised millions of dollars for Jack Newton Junior Golf and various diabetes prevention and treatment charities.
Both the causes were close to Newton’s heart.
His father died from complications related to diabetes and Jack himself was diagnosed with type 2 soon after his accident.
Furthering the development of junior golfers and diversity in the sport was one of his major passions, too.
So, this event helps celebrate that diversity, pure joy and social connection which will always be his legacy.
For more community stories:
- Lachlan Carey crowned Australian Trainee of the Year
- Sleapy’s Foundation pledges $536k to build PICU ‘haven’ at John Hunter
- City of Newcastle stays one step ahead in footpath plans
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