It is the story of a farmer born in a tiny mud brick cottage in a tiny Victorian town, who went on to be one of the most well-known and well respected people in world sport.

The Bendigo man has helped hundreds of sports men and women get a start, and they have never forgotten him for itself: Linford Christie, Serena Williams, Boris Becker, Moses Kiptanui and the entire South African and Indian cricket teams.

The Australian list is 10-times as long: Merv Hughes, Herb Elliott, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Mark Taylor, Jason Dunstall, Tony Lockett, Sharelle McMahon, Mal Meninga, Cliff Young, Paul Trimboli, Larry Sengstock, Russell Marks, Neil Roberts, Shane Healy, Alan Jeans ……. The list goes on and on.

His name is John Forbes and his life story is being published for the first time. 

Forbesy: The John Forbes Story is available now and will be launched at the Kangaroo Flat Sports Club on Thursday at 7.30pm.

Cricketers Merv Hughes, Darren Berry and Tony Dodemaide, basketball legends Ray Borner and Wayne Carroll, football personalities David Parkin, Ian Cover and Andrew Startin, netball legend Sharelle McMahon, kickboxer Stan ‘The Man’ Longinidis and broadcaster David Mann will help launch the book.

Hughes was one of the first stars to put his hand up to speak at the launch.

“We first met in the early 80s when I was contracted to Puma. We got to know each other very well and he has always been very supportive of me,” Hughes said.

“He is a very funny man and has done a lot for a lot of people. He has also done a fantastic job over the years of raising awareness and money for a lot of organisations and charities.

“To help out Forbsey and the Blue Ribbon Foundation is an honour.”

Forbes was born in Mitiamo in 1941 and moved to Bendigo in 1979.

A love for all kinds of local sport resulted in him hosting athletics legend Herb Elliott in his Barkley Terrace home before a function. 

Elliott liked what he saw in John, and few years later offered him a job as national promotions manager with Puma Australia.

From there, his association with national and international sporting legends began. 

John’s country-boy charm, people-before-profit attitude and ability to spot talent made him a success. 

His willingness to stick with young sportspeople to help them reach their goals was something they treasured.

Former 3AW general manager, and fellow Bendigo boy, Shane Healy is in little doubt why people were drawn to John.

“John Forbes may well be the most generous person I’ve ever known,” Healy writes in the book’s foreword.

“Forbesy forged some magnificent friendships with high profile people who all warmed to his humble personality and his incredible ability to have a laugh and make people feel good.”

The book was a labour of love for authorMartin Ruffell, who pushed Forbes to make it happen.

“I put it to John that if no one else had written his story, maybe I could get it down,” he said.

“I later found out John had already put pen to paper and had 42,000 words compiled, but it was only his early life.

“For most people, the real story of John’s life starts when he began at Puma. While his contribution to local sport was legendary, it was his contribution to national and international sport that would secure his legendary status.”

Forbesy: The John Forbes Story is available at Dymocks Bendigo or the Forbesy facebook page for $25. 

All profits from the book will go to the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation, an organisation Forbes has tirelessly raised money for over the years and the Rotary Club of Bendigo Sandhurst for local and international projects.