The recent announcement that the annual Arthur Beetson Murri Rugby League Carnival will be held at the Redcliffe Dolphins this year is a great result for the local community and will further cement Redcliffe as a large event destination.
The Murri Rugby League carnival is an indigenous rugby league tournament named after the late, great Arthur Beetson. Having been staged in the city of Ipswich for the past two years, the carnival will now be held on the traditional lands of the Beetson family and at the club where a young Arthur first rose to rugby league prominence.
The event will be a wonderful boost for the local region, with Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland noting the benefits that hosting such an event will provide as well as the significance of the Beetson connection to the community.
“What better way to recognise the great Arthur Beetson than to host an all-Indigenous rugby league event here in Redcliffe to showcase Queensland’s finest Indigenous rugby league players and the future stars of the game,” said Mayor Sutherland.
“Artie’s contribution on and off the field will not be forgotten and we are grateful to the Redcliffe Dolphins President Bob Jones and the Board for getting behind this event that will bring thousands of visitors to our region from all over the state.”
Big Artie’s family were delighted with the announcement.
“It will be wonderful to have the carnival on my own family’s traditional country, not to mention the place where my father first came to prominence as a footballer and was laid to rest after his passing in 2011,” said Arthur’s son, Brad.
The carnival will run from Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th September and will involve more than 50 teams competing. The top performers will then be chosen in sides for men, women, under 16’s and under 15’s will to represent Qld at future events. The men’s team will play the NZ Maoris before touring Fiji, the women’s team will also play the Maoris and the under 15’s will tour PNG.
“This annual carnival honours Queensland rugby league greats, both male and female, past and present, and allows the next generation of talent to take to the field,” said State Minister for Recreation and Sport Steve Dickson.
“Events such as this (also) help us to encourage more Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders to get involved in physical activity.”
Apart from the obvious economic benefits of hosting such an event, the Murri Carnival will also allow for further contribution to many public and preventative health programs for Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders.
“People from all over the state travel to participate in this event and all players and officials are required to undertake a Health Check at their local Aboriginal Medical Service, with players competing in the under 15 competition also required to maintain 90% attendance at school,” said Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council Chairperson Elizabeth Adams.
Cooke and Hutchinson would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Beetson family, the MBRC, the Redcliffe Dolphins and everyone else involved in the effort to bring such an important and enjoyable event to our local region. It will be a fantastic advertisement for our region that will no doubt continue, and build upon, our reputation as a family friendly, cultural, entertaining and welcoming environment.
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