RELATED:
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
THE honours have continued to flow for central Victorian sports icon John Forbes.
On Saturday, Mitiamo Football Netball Club announced its spiritual home will now be known as John Forbes Oval.
It came less than 24 hours after more than 350 people filled the Campaspe Valley Community Centre on Friday night, to celebrate Forbesy and raise funds for a sports museum in Rochester.
Superoos president Rob Clohesy said naming the former Mitiamo Recreation Reserve after Forbes, who was born in the tiny northern Victorian town, had been a "no-brainer" for his committee once it was suggested.
The new signage was unveiled at last weekend's matches against Pyramid Hill with Forbes in attendance.
"He was tinkled pink, his mates were tinkled pink and the club were thrilled to be able to give him that honour," Clohesy said.
"For what he's done for Mitiamo, what he's done for the Loddon Valley Football League and for what he's one for football in general through his work with Puma, it was a no-brainer as fas as I was concerned.
"It should have been done years ago when you think about it."
Forbes was born in Mitiamo and moved to Bendigo in 1979.
A few years after hosting athletics legend Herb Elliott in his home before a Bendigo function, the 1960 Olympic gold medallist offered him a job as national promotions manager with Puma Australia.
It was a role that brought him into contact with literally hundreds of national and international sporting heroes, but produced huge benefits for the central Victorian community.
Clohesy said the naming honour was timed to coincide with the Forbesy’s Last Big Hurrah event in Rochester on game-eve.
