Honouring Arthur Beetson: The Story Behind the 2023 Indigenous Jersey
The Sydney Roosters’ 2023 Indigenous Jersey pays tribute to Arthur Beetson’s journey as an Aboriginal man and a rugby league legend.
Designed by his niece Bianca Beetson, the Jersey represents the “full circle” of the Immortal’s life, from growing up in Roma, Queensland and playing for the Dolphins before making the trip to Sydney to join the Roosters and everything in-between.
After previously designing a jersey for the Club to represent her uncle in 2016, Bianca says this year’s Indigenous Round jersey incorporates new symbols that reflect Artie’s life and legacy.
“I wanted to create an image that again told his story and talked about his life and what happened in-between, from hello to goodbye,” she said.
In the bottom left corner are the words Wunya (hello in Kabi Kabi) and Yanhanhadhu (goodbye in Wiradjuri) on red and white boomerangs, representing Artie’s life from start to finish.
A dolphin symbol sits beside the boomerangs, to highlight his journey from Redcliffe to Sydney. While the corner also features stars and spirit orbs to represent ancestors and demonstrate that Artie’s legend lives on.
“The boomerangs are used to discuss the journey and full cycle of his life, the travelling he did and the fact that his legend still lives on to this day,” Bianca said.
“The impact he has made not only for football but for the community as well.”
A portrait of Arthur Beetson made up of the words Immortal, Legend, Rooster, Aboriginal, Kabi Kabi, Wiradjuri, Captain, 11 and #615 features on the right side of the jersey, to highlight the impact the forward had on everyone who met him. Surrounding the portrait is a squiggly line, to represent the waters at Redcliffe.
“The use of his image in text is very much about telling his story through the use of portraiture. The words around him are only a few of many that describe who he was and the ever-lasting legacy he has left.”
Above the portrait are 11 rooster tracks, a symbol and number that pays homage to Artie’s time at the Club and the position he made his own.
“First and foremost, he’s an Aboriginal man, second he’s a rugby league legend and he’s a football player,” she said.
“It’s all about acknowledging he’s still here, he’s with us as an ancestor and is still connected to us, he’s gone but not forgotten.”
Bianca has also included Artie’s totems in the design. The goanna tracks under the boomerangs in the bottom left corner symbolise the Wiradjuri mob, while the Bunya Pine Tree connects to the Kabi Kabi mob.
Community always came first for my uncle.
Bianca Beetson Niece of Rugby League Immortal Arthur Beetson
“I remember when he first passed away, the number of people that had these beautiful community stories about Arthur was amazing," Bianca said.
“He was someone who would give his left arm to help people, and to me, I think that’s what was essential when I was constructing the jersey artwork.”
The Sydney Roosters will wear the Artie Beetson Jersey when they play the St. George Illawarra Dragons in Indigenous Round on Friday May 19. The Jersey will also be worn in Round 24, when the Club hosts the Dolphins at Allianz Stadium for the very first time.
Grab your Artie Beetson Jersey from the Roosters Shop at Allianz Stadium, or the Roosters Club Store in Bondi Junction, today! More stock will be available online shortly.
