A NEW award to honour Mitiamo icon John Forbes OAM will be presented at the Bendigo Sports Star of the Year awards in February.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis award honours the great John Forbes – a true legend of his time, and huge advocate for sport and his local community,\u201d Mr McKern said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn was a long-time supporter of Bendigo Sports Star, so the committee unanimously agreed to create an award in his honour,\u201d said Mr McKern.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The John and Faye Forbes partnership lasted almost 55 years.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Away from sport, Mr Forbes was chairman of the Blue Ribbon Foundation when it formed in 1988 and spent 22 years in the role.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The John Forbes medal is presented to best and fairest in the league\u2019s reserves football competition and the Mitiamo ground was named John Forbes Oval in 2017.<\/p>\n
Rochester\u2019s Sports Museum based at the old Rochester Railway Station is home to a superb collection of sports memorabilia John Forbes built over many years.<\/p>\n