League Legends and RACQ hand over car keys to Marsden High learner drivers
Years after his death and a month before the 40th anniversary of Origin kicks off, league legend Artie Beetson is still playing a role as a mentor for young indigenous students
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LEAGUE legend Artie Beetson was renowned for his deft on field skills but few knew he had beautiful handwriting as well.
It was part of an education he was proud of and his eternal wish for indigenous youth was not that they could slip a pass like he could but they could become educated, get jobs and, importantly, get a driver’s licence.
Beetson, who died in 2011, would have been a proud man today when Marsden State High was given a Holden Cruz for indigenous teens to practise driving before getting their licence.
It was part of the ARTIE Academy, rated one of league’s most successful mentoring projects, which reaches 4000 indigenous children in 37 schools with the State Government chipping in for primary school sponsorship and the Federal Government for the secondary schools.
Marsden High is the state’s third largest school with a large proportion of students from ethnic and indigenous backgrounds.
Under new state rules, learner drivers must chalk up 100 hours of driving before they are eligible to sit for their test.
Former Broncos captain and Origin star Gene Miles visited students today to present the keys of the car, supplied by the RACQ, to Marsden High principal Andrew Peach.
“This is Arthur’s legacy,’’ Miles said.
“He was all about his people — first and foremost getting an education, getting to school and staying in school and going as far as they possibly can then — with no down time — going straight into a real job.
“When we used to go on the road with him I heard him say to kids all the time … ‘How are you going at school? Are you behaving yourself? Are you good for your teacher?’
“They would want to talk about footy but he would just turn the conversation around saying ‘footy is fine but you have to get an education’.
“He was very well educated himself — I still remember his beautiful handwriting.
“There has been some great talent come through Marsden like Cam Smith and Israel Folau but we are not about identifying talent. We want kids going to school.”
Mr Peach said the car would help indigenous students, in the Former Origin Greats Artie Academy Drivers Licence Program, learn to drive so they were job ready and safe on the roads.
“The car will be a massive help with increasing the number of safe hours on the road in the lead up to students gaining a licence,” he said.
“The impact of this project across our school community will be significant, with gaining a driver’s licence sometimes a blocker to further education and employment that this partnership now removes.”
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Miles said his friend and late colleague would have been proud that with the 40th anniversary of the iconic first Origin match looming next month, his influence on indigenous culture remained as great as ever.
Marsden High student Jada Cohen said driving lessons were expensive and she didn’t have access to a reliable car so the school vehicle would allow her to chalk up the 100 hours.
“It’s so good to have the Former Origin Greats and RACQ helping us get our hours up and supporting us to get our licenses,” she said.
“It will help students get to school, or training and with the family.
“I’m just about to go for my learner’s permit so this will make a massive difference in helping me and my family.”
RACQ chief David Contarini said the club donated the car to help students be safe and responsible motorists.
“Gaining a driver’s licence is a right of passage and for many can be the gift of freedom and independence,” he said.
“Not everyone is fortunate enough however to have access to a safe, reliable car which is why we wanted to get on board with this program.
“Not only are we providing a vehicle to learn in, we’re also covering the insurance, registration and servicing costs.”
Mr Contarini said RACQ had also donated another vehicle to Beenleigh State High School this year.