Fred Newton (politician)

Newton was born in Maryborough to Francis and Ada Laura Newton (née Davey). Due to family financial pressures Harold and his sister Ada were made wards of the state and sent to an orphanage in Nudgee, Brisbane for three years. As state wards were deemed to owe a debt to the state Newton was sent work on a dairy farm in Pittsworth. This farm was eventually sold and he was relocated to a farm in Maryvale. When he turned 18 he returned to his family in Maryborough.[1]

In 1946, Newton was working in a bacon factory when due to a strike he left his job and became a builder's labourer. This led to a long association with the Building Workers' Industrial Union and he served the role of state organiser from 1953 till 1960.[1]

Newton won the newly created seat of Belmont in 1960 and remained as its member till his defeat at the 1974 state election. He was Deputy Leader of the Opposition for 5 months from July 1974 and a member of the Parliamentary Labor Party Executive from 1966 to 1974.[1]

Newton was married to Ada Gwendoline Holzapfel and together they had seven children. After politics he was a real estate salesman and then became a general assistant at the Queensland State Library Board. Known as "Fearless Fred", Newton died in 1990.[1]