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.
