Mark and his family from Parental guidance
TV

Who is Mark from Parental Guidance’s famous father Arthur Beetson?

Team Parenting's grandfather is one of sporting's biggest legends.

TV
WRITTEN BY Danica Baker / Edited BY Anita Anabel
13 June 2023 , 3 minutes to read

Mark – who makes up one-half of ‘Team Parenting’ on Parental Guidance – has a deep-rooted history with sport; his father was NRL legend Arthur Beetson.

Arthur’s grandchildren Matthew (16) Billy (11) Ella (8) Brooklyn (6) Bobbi (4) Baylee (3) all appear on the popular reality show alongside their parents Mark and Leanne.

Mark and Leanne with their family. Nine.

Parental Guidance sees twelve sets of parents enter an experiment and openly display their parenting styles, which are judged by both the hosts and their fellow co-stars.

Throughout the season, the parents undertake challenges and have their approach to parenting reviewed, reacted to, and discussed on the Parents’ Lounge, which ultimately leads to a vote for Australia’s best style.

Mark and Leanne focus their parenting style on being coaches, utilising repetition, instilling respect and discipline and encouraging teamwork. They allow their oldest son to be “captain” and sports play a huge role in the family’s routine, keeping the kids active and engaged.

Who is Arthur Beetson?

Arthur Beetson was one of the most legendary faces of NRL. He captained the inaugural State of Origin match in 1980 and was the first Indigenous Australian to captain Australia in any sport.

Arthur Beetson playing NRL. NRL.com

Arthur played NRL from 1964 until 1981, and after he hung up his jersey he went on to become part of the ABC’s commentary team in 1991 for their Saturday Afternoon League telecasts. He also coached the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks for the 1992 and 1993 seasons.

After Arthur passed away in 2011 from a heart attack, his son Mark set up the Arthur Beetson Foundation which honours Indigenous Australians who make outstanding contributions to Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people through Rugby League.

Shortly after his death, The Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh ordered a bronze statue of Arthur to be erected at Lang Park.

The Arthur Beetson statue at Lang Park.

What NRL awards did Arthur Beetson win?

  • 1975 NSW Sports Star of the Year.
  • Named in Australian rugby league’s 100 greatest players.
  • Named as prop forward in the Australian rugby league team of the century.
  • Named as prop forward in Queensland rugby league team of the Century.
  • Named as prop forward in Indigenous Australian rugby league team of the century.
  • First Aborigine to captain the Australian Test team (vs France for the 2nd France vs Australia Test on the 1973 Kangaroo tour).

Parental Guidance airs Monday and Tuesday at 7.30pm on 9 and 9Now.

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