NSW:Beetson remembered with a smile

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2011
NSW:Beetson remembered with a smile

By Adrian Warren

SYDNEY, Dec 18 AAP - The laughs flowed liberally as past and present stars and prominent
politicians celebrated the life of legendary rugby league star Arthur Beetson at the Sydney
Cricket Ground on Sunday.

The crowd of more than 1,000 people included NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell, federal sports
minister Senator Mark Arbib, members of the 1969 Balmain and 74-75 Eastern Suburbs premiership
winning teams and present day players.

"It doesn't matter what Arthur does he always draws a crowd," noted John Peard, one
of several former teammates to pay tribute to the great prop, who died on December 1.

Peard was given a standing ovation before and after his humorous tribute while former
league boss John Quayle and Keith Barnes also spoke eloquently about their former teammate.

"I think it's fair to say probably never in the history of the game has there been
such a sustained period of regret and celebration of a life of a great player, as there
has been with Arthur in the last two weeks," Quayle said.

"Great sporting achievements and records will always be broken two of Arthur's achievements
will stand forever.

"Being the first indigenous athlete to captain his country and his heroic and passionate
performance as Queensland captain in the interstate game at Lang Park in 1980.

"It provided the heartbeat of the Australian-wide success Origin has become."

Quayle also offered an apology for not heeding Beetson's entreaties to do more for
the game in country areas.

"I'm sorry Arthur you were right on many occasions, your desire to help the young country
kids from NSW and Queensland was your passion and we should have done more."

There were plenty of quips about Beetson's famous appetite.

"When (Eastern Suburbs coach) Jack Gibson was told that Arthur was losing weight he
commented "don't worry, he'll find it again'," Quayle said.

"Or he would suggest Arthur should be on a balanced diet - a pie in each hand."

Quayle said Beetson was a smart man who would knock over a crossword in a few minutes
and was a maths whiz and a talented all-round sportsman.

Barnes said Beetson's eagerness to help out a teammate often landed him in trouble.

"He flirted with the rules. This is clearly indicated in his ten appearances before
the judiciary," he said.

"He was never far from troubler, always in hand to help a teammate."

William 'Smiley' Johnstone, the chairman of the Indigenous Council, compared Beetson's
status to some of great iconic Australian landmarks.

"Artie to us blacks is Uluru and I'm sure he's the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge
to all Australians," Johnstone said.

AAP aw/was

KEYWORD: LEAGUE BEETSON NSW

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