Queensland State of Origin great Gene Miles was expecting to meet Arthur Beetson at a Gold Coast theme park when he heard the news.

As part of a program named in his honour, ARTIE - Achieving Results Through Indigenous Education - Beetson was to help give 400 indigenous children the chance to celebrate what they had achieved during the course.

"He said he'd see me around 10 to help out flipping the burgers and obviously polishing a few off," Miles said with a chuckle.

"Instead I got the message of his passing. I'm totally shattered."

Beetson, 66, died on Thursday after suffering a massive heart attack riding his bicycle on the Gold Coast but his legacy as a rugby league great and role model for the indigenous community will live on.