Arthur Beetson

Arthur Beetson, known as Artie, was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach, born on 21 January 1945 and died on 1 December 2011, whose main position was prop. He represented Australia, New South Wales and Queensland between 1964 and 1981, became the first Indigenous Australian to captain Australia in any sport, and is frequently cited as the best post-war forward in Australian rugby league history. He also coached for decades, from the 1970s to the 1990s, taking charge of Australia, Queensland, Eastern Suburbs, Redcliffe Dolphins and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. He was awarded the OAM, and the Arthur Beetson Foundation and the Arthur Beetson Medal are named in his honour.