A
s I approached Bluey Forsyth at our
first meeting, he was exactly as I had
imagined. Rubbing his hands together
and eagerly looking around - as though he was
ready for something exciting to happen. He
explains that, as a kid in the regional Victorian
town of Hamilton, his love of sport was nearly
insatiable. Whether as a competitor or
spectator, he just couldn’t get enough. No
genre was off limits. Couple with his love of a
chat, a career in sports reporting seemed to
be a natural synergy.
“Some of my earliest memories are of my
family’s sheep farm in rural Victoria, where
every week I looked forward to Saturday
afternoon, so I could listen to the sport
coverage and race calls on the radio. I used
to mimic the announcers. I drove my family
crazy with my pretend announcing.”
By explains that, at the age of 15, he had
taken on a role as sports reporter for the
Hamilton Spectator. A few years later,
he went on to gain employment as a wool
classer and buyer in the southern states.
The job kept him connected to the rural
lifestyle, and the travel afforded him the
opportunity to attend race meets and
occasionally call at country racetracks.
As our conversation went on, I noted the
procession of locals who politely interrupt
our chat to greet Bluey. He replied to each
one with enthusiasm. I started to realise
that everything I’d been told about Bluey
Forsyth was true. This was a man whose
passion and enthusiasm was almost too big
for his body. His kindness and interest in
these people couldn’t be hidden.
A trip up the east coast of Australia in the
mid-90’s led to a chance meeting with
a group of friends on Long Island in the
Whitsundays. Shortly afterwards, Bluey
joined these friends in Cairns, where he
has called home since 1996.
Upon his arrival, he immediately got
involved with TV and local radio, reporting
sport and racing. Bluey explains that this
practical work allowed him to hone his
skills while he completed his journalism
degree at JCU.
A name now synonymous with local horse
“Happiness
is infectious,
and I’m very
happy to be
infected!”
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racing events, he has also been a much
loved courtside commentator at the
Taipans and Marlins Basketball. In 2 003,
when officials looking to fill the position of
ground announcer at the Australia versus
Bangladesh Test Match, Bluey was their
first choice. This was the first International
Cricket Test Match to be held outside an
Australian capital city - this was indeed, a
big gig for Cairns.
These days, with two decades of local sports
presenting under his belt, Bluey says he
is always honoured to support many local
charities and organisations, regularly offering
his services as an MC and guest speaker for
community and corporate events.
No doubt, it is this community spirit that
saw Bluey named as the Ambassador
and MC for the 2012 Special Olympics
TransTasman Tournament, as well as the
2015 RACQ North Queensland Games and
2015 Great Barrier Reef Masters Games.
And just last month, in a testament to his
popularity and value to local sport, Bluey