Dog attack victim Thalia Standley takes new hope from fellow amputee Jack Newton

Those four words meant the world to Thalia’s parents Randall and Sally.

It has been four months and nine operations since eight-year-old Thalia had part of her right arm bitten off by an Alaskan malamute underneath a fence while playing with a friend in Valentine.

Six weeks ago Mr Newton and his wife Jackie wrote to Thalia hoping to provide some encouragement in her road to recovery.

Mr Newton famously lost his right arm in 1983 at the height of his professional golf career when it was caught in a spinning propeller of a Cessna aeroplane at Sydney Airport.

The accident almost killed him but Mr Newton recovered and built a successful business and media career and became a highly-skilled one-handed golfer.

The entire Standley family were guests of the annual Jack Newton Celebrity Classic on Monday night in its new home at the Crowne Plaza.

“Thalia didn’t know who Jack was and said, ‘He’s exactly like me,’ and she took comfort in that,” Mrs Standley said.

“It’s inspirational and you can see that it gives her a little bit of hope to know that one day it will all be OK.”

Mrs Standley said the annual charity event for junior golf and diabetes gave the entire family a break from regular medical appointments.

Mr Newton said he was touched by Thalia’s story and felt compelled to write to her.

“I’m a big fan of encouragement from family, friends and anyone she’s close to,” Mr Newton said.

“It’s a better way to go than sympathy.

“You need to be on the positive side of things rather than the negative and she seems to have already overcome that barrier and she’s very determined to do things her own way.”

A benefit for Thalia is being held at Belmont 16 Footers on February 27 to help raise money for her ongoing medical costs and a prosthesis. For more information visit reachingthalia.com.au.

The Jack Newton Celebrity Classic golf tournament kicks off on Tuesday.