Beetson has also spent many years as a recruitment officer for both Eastern Suburbs and Queensland. The accolades continued with an Australian Sports Medal and then a Centenary Medal and as time wore on, Beetson came to be recognised as Australias best ever forward. Arthur's Mother Marie was Kabi Kabi and his Father Bill was Waradjuri from NSW. Messenger, Brown, Burge, Provan, Meninga announced as Immortals. [25] Rugby league commentator Ray Hadley also criticised the decision after an attempted compromise with an offer put forward to have Beetson honoured with a statue instead of a grandstand. Beetson's first job was as a postie cycling around Roma delivering mail which kept him fit to play football. He was married in 1974 and working as the purchasing officer for the Eastern Suburbs Club settled down in Denistone with his wife and four year old son, Scott. The Roma-born Beetson, who steered the Maroons to victory in the first State of Origin match in 1980, died of a heart attack on the Gold Coast last December, aged 66. He was captain-coach of Redcliffe in 1981 and that season was appointed coach of the Queensland State of Origin side, taking them to repeated series victories over New South Wales from 1981 to 1984 . "He was proud to be indigenous, proud to be a Queenslander and proud to be Australian," said Coote. His statue stands with those of fellow Maroons greats Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer at the northern end of the stadium precinct. Inglis to lead "He was ahead of his time and an awesome grandfather. "He was 35 years old and at the back end of a great career and he led all the way. Beetsons mother was a member of the Stolen Generations and had grown up on the Cherbourg Mission before moving to Buderim and then Roma, where Beetson was born. [28] Mark Beetson also thanked The Daily Telegraph and its readers for lobbying for the change.[28]. A passionate player, Beetson was sent off 12 times during his career, battled on and off with weight issues and racked up an impressive list of injuries, however both on and off the field he was adored by the fans and made news wherever he went. Despite his playing time being curtailed by injury, he was chosen from the reserves to captain Queensland in the first State of Origin match, played against New South Wales in 1980. Beetson farewelled at Brisbane service After the 1970 NSWRFL season Beetson left Balmain to join the Eastern Suburbs club where he would stay from 1971 to 1978. Lewis returned to Sydney after the spat with Brisbane Broncos and joined the team Gold Coast Seagulls in 1991. "One of rugby league's most well respected and liked characters, Artie will always hold a special place in the hearts of everyone associated with the Roosters. He continued to coach through the 1990s for the Cronulla Sharks as well as enjoying some stints in commentary and as a recruitment officer for the Eastern Suburbs and Queensland. The legacy of rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson lives on through his grandson Jack Beetson, a towering prop who toured New Zealand last month with the Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. In February 2008, Beetson was named in a list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (19082007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia. Interviews and feature reports from NITV. father: Jim Lewis. "He leaves a mighty footprint on rugby league that will guarantee he is remembered not just now, but forever.". He played in 29 Tests for the Kangaroos, and was their captain at the 1975 and 1977 World Cups becoming the first indigenous Australian to captain his country in any sport. The ARTIE Academy operates with an innovative, high expectation, consistent and positive mindset. He was quickly signed to Balmain in the National Rugby League where he established himself as formidable on the field. Beetson became the first Indigenous Australian to captain Australia in any sport[6] and is frequently cited as the best post-war forward in Australian rugby league history. Family, friends and former team-mates have farewelled rugby league great Arthur Beetson at a service north of Brisbane. Birth: x xxx xxxx xxxxxxxxx Lancashire, England: Marriage: The program continues to operate in schools around Queensland. The Arthur Beetson Medal is not necessarily awarded annually but only when appropriate to a person and the time to do so. Thu 1 Dec 2011 08.22 EST Arthur Beetson, one of the genuine greats of the Australian game who was also a hugely popular and significant Aboriginal sporting figure, Beetson joined the Parramatta Eels in 1979. Arthur Beetson jersey artwork The teams in the annual Indigenous All Stars rugby league match compete for the Arthur Beetson Trophy. This Easts team would go down as one of the greatest club sides in rugby league history. He represented Australia, New South Wales and Queensland all between 1964 and 1981. He was the NSW Rugby League player of the year in 1976, and the Rugby League Week player of the year for 1974. WebARTHUR Beetsons son has slammed the New South Wales Rugby League as pathetic for claiming his father as a True Blue. After stepping down as Queensland coach following the 1990 State of Origin series loss to NSW, Beetson became part of the ABC's commentary team in 1991 for their Saturday Afternoon League telecasts alongside chief caller, former Western Suburbs winger Warren Boland, as well as his former Eastern Suburbs and Parramatta teammate John Peard and Canterbury-Bankstown media liaison Debbie Spillane, both of whom worked on the sidelines.