During April 2020 the month of this #AtoZChallenge I will be sharing short posts on some of the 2,000+ descendants I have identified of my 3x Great-Grandmother, Elizabeth Phipps. Elizabeth Phipps 1785-1869 was a convict who was transported from England to New South Wales in 1814 per Wanstead.
One day back in October 2011 I was at home preparing dinner when I got a phone call from Mum's second cousin, Arthur Henry Beetson who was wanting help with our family tree. Neither Mum or I had ever met Arthur but we both knew of this famous Australian cousin who was better known as "Big Artie".
I was saddened that Artie passed away at the relatively young age of 66 a short time later on December 1, 2011 before I was able to send him any family history files. Arthur was the 2xGreat-Grandson of Elizabeth Phipps.
Relationship to Phipps Elizabeth
Bef 1785 - 1869
1784 - 1859
Beetson Arthur Henry is the 2 x great grandson of Phipps Elizabeth
Artie was a proud indigenous man - the first Indigenous captain of a major Australian sporting team, The Australian Rugby League team, The Kangaroos. Beetson received a Medal of the Order of Australia "in recognition of service to the sport of Rugby League"
I will not share a story of Artie's life here as it is well documented on many internet sites. You can read Artie's obituary here, http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/beetson-arthur-henry-artie-16716, on the Obituaries Australia website (note the incorrect date of death in the article title - it should be 1945-2011).
Please take a look at The ARTIE Academy,https://www.artie.net.au/about/, a charity set up in Artie's memory.
I love to connect with cousins and fellow researchers. Should you find any errors in my post or have additional information please contact me.
What an interesting life, cut short.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your ATo Z posts
Interesting and very sad your cousin died before you could share with him.
ReplyDeletehttps://findingeliza.com/
Nice post. Love that there is an ARTIE Academy in his memory.
ReplyDeleteAn impressive cousin. It is terrific that he is remembered positively with the ARTIE academy - what a great acronym.
ReplyDeleteThat’s a very impressive connection Jill. Artie Beetson was An Aussie legend.
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