Vale Dud Beattie

27 April 1934-19 April 2016

A rugby league legend of the 1950s and 60s, Dud was an Australian international and Queensland representative prop forward who played in Ipswich, Queensland for the Railways Club. Beattie was selected to make his international debut for Australia in 1959. He went on the 1959-60 Kangaroo tour, represented Australia at the 1960 World Cup and went on the 1961 tour of New Zealand.

Beattie’s last international was played during the 1962 Great Britain tour of Australia where he appeared in all three Tests. During the third Test, he dislocated his shoulder and played on knowing there were no substitutes allowed. When he eventually needed to leave the field, he provoked Derek Turner into a fight causing the referee to send both men off (and the opposing numbers to remain even). Australia went on to snatch an 18-17 victory.

He retired with thirteen Test caps and three World Cup appearances, later working as a selector during the 1980s for the Australian national team and for the Ipswich Jets on the coaching and administration staff.

Dudley was a very active member of the Men of League and was made an Men of League Honouree in 2009 along with his cheeky Ipswich teammates Noel Kelly and Gary Parcell. He will be greatly missed by everyone in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast.

Dud’s funeral and wake will be held on Thursday 21 April at 3.30pm at Gregson and Weight, 5 Gregson Place, Caloundra.