From Barossa netball star to Opposition Leader: The rise of Ashton Hurn
A young mother who many people may not have heard of before this week is now the leader of the opposition. So who is Ashton Hurn?
She’s the new Leader of the Opposition and the figurehead of the South Australian Liberal Party, but many voters may find themselves asking, ‘who’s Ashton Hurn?’.
Ms Hurn was born in Ashford in January 1991, and grew up in Angaston in the Barossa Valley, an area her family has inhabited since 1846.
She was educated at Angaston Primary School, and according to Principal Lynda Fitzpatrick-Brown is still involved in the school.
“As a former pupil, she has continued to have a supportive and engaged relationship with our school and community,” Ms Fitzpatrick-Brown said.
“Here at Angaston Primary School we value the importance of kindness, safety and hard work, for ourselves and each other, at school and within the wider community – these are qualities which will no doubt help her now and in the future.”
She attended Nuriootpa High School, and became intensely involved in sport.
As a teen, Ms Hurn followed in her family’s sporting footsteps to become a champion netballer, first playing for the Angaston Panthers before joining the South Australian Sports Institute and playing in under 15s and under 17s state teams.
During her time at the Panthers, Ms Hurn won two premierships in SubJunior 1 and Senior 4 in 2003 and 2004, and began playing Senior 1s, the highest level in that Barossa Light and Gawler Netball Association, at just 14.
“As well as a great player, Ashton is an excellent club person,” club president Jaymee Klose said.
“She’s often out at games, she’s come and talked to Junior players about resilience and motivation, she regularly presents awards.
“But what makes Ashton that little bit extra special, is she does that for us, at ANC; but she’s also a regular for other BLGNA clubs; and other sports teams and community groups throughout the Barossa.”
Ms Hurn juggled her netball duties at SASI with studying a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in politics at the University of Adelaide, boarding at St Marks College.
She joins a handful of Liberal leaders who studied at the university, including John Olsen, Dean Brown and Rob Kerin.
Ms Hurn left SASI in January 2011 to work as an adviser to Steven Marshall, serving in that role until becoming Senator Anne Ruston’s media adviser in 2015.
In December 2016 she became a strategy adviser to then Leader of the House Christopher Pyne.
It was through her political career that she met husband Adam Howard, the pair working in Christopher Pyne’s office before starting a relationship.
Ms Hurn and Mr Howard married on her family’s Angaston property in December 2021, in a bespoke ceremony designed by Adelaide’s Hygge Studio, which included crystal chandeliers and a custom statue.
In 2018 she returned to Mr Marshall’s office, rising to be media and communications director, before leaving the role to run for Schubert at the 2022 election.
The Hurn-Howard family has grown since her time in parliament began, welcoming son Rupert in May 2024.
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Originally published as From Barossa netball star to Opposition Leader: The rise of Ashton Hurn
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