Sports Star honour for Mitiamo icon

A NEW award to honour Mitiamo icon John Forbes OAM will be presented at the Bendigo Sports Star of the Year awards in February.

The John Forbes Award for a coach/manager will honour a man who did so much for sport across central Victoria and around the country.

Chair of the Sports Star of the Year committee Michael McKern said the award would go to a coach or manager who had given outstanding service to a sporting club, association or organisation.

“This award honours the great John Forbes – a true legend of his time, and huge advocate for sport and his local community,” Mr McKern said.

Best known as Forbesy, his enthusiasm and wisdom had been highly valued on the Sports Star committee since November, 2006, until his untimely death on a farm at Mitiamo in March.

“John was a long-time supporter of Bendigo Sports Star, so the committee unanimously agreed to create an award in his honour,” said Mr McKern.

A highlight of the Sports Star awards presentation in 2019 was John Forbes and Dr Wally McGregor being named joint recipients of the Faith Leech Achievement Award.

He was an award recipient, but John and wife Faye also contributed to the 500 Club from which funds are given to Sports Star scholarship recipients.

The John and Faye Forbes partnership lasted almost 55 years.

Through his work as national promotions manager of Puma, Forbesy struck friendships with many famous athletes from many sports as he played a key role in assisting them make their way from playing for a small country or metro club to representing Australia.

Away from sport, Mr Forbes was chairman of the Blue Ribbon Foundation when it formed in 1988 and spent 22 years in the role.

On his return to Mitiamo he was a regular at Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League matches for many years and did plenty to help the Mitiamo Superoos.

The John Forbes medal is presented to best and fairest in the league’s reserves football competition and the Mitiamo ground was named John Forbes Oval in 2017.

Rochester’s Sports Museum based at the old Rochester Railway Station is home to a superb collection of sports memorabilia John Forbes built over many years.

To nominate for the John Forbes coach/manager award, go to the Bendigo Sports Star of the Year webpage at bendigosportsstar.com and follow the links.