26/08/2026
RIP Jack Newson 🖤🤍
Jack was the patron of our club, a massive supporter of boxing and rugby league in Canterbury and a very close friend of Phil’s. A few words from him below.
“My good friend Jack Newson passed away on Tuesday.
I first met Jack when we both worked at the Islington freezing works. During this time he asked Mike Pimley and me if we would train his two sons, Hemi and Linkoln, at our boxing gym. Both boys went on to box at the highest levels, and that was the beginning of a friendship with Jack that lasted many years.
Over those years, our families shared a lot together. We even spent Christmas dinner together with the Newson family, which is something I will always remember fondly.
Jack had a great love for boxing and was a tremendous supporter of the Papanui and Riverside Boxing Clubs, where we are very proud to have him as our patron.
I often called Jack “the gentleman”, and I think that summed him up very well. He was a truly kind and generous man who gave an enormous amount of his time to the people and sports he cared about.
Jack's greatest passion was Rugby League, and he was an absolute legend at the Hornby Rugby League Club. He handmade all of the weights and much of the other equipment for the club, and his commitment went far beyond that. He would be there watching every Hornby team he could, from the young kids right through to the Premiers and everything in between.
His contribution was recognised in 2018 when he was named the New Zealand Rugby League Volunteer of the Year - an honour he thoroughly deserved.
Jack enjoyed a beer and a joke, and his second home was the Hornby Working Men’s Club.
Jack was one of those people who became part of the fabric of the community around him. He gave his time generously, supported people wholeheartedly and remained a loyal friend for many, many years.
I feel very fortunate to have been able to call Jack one of my best friends.
He will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.
Rest in peace Jack”.
