THE Port Adelaide Football Club advises that a public memorial service will be held in honour of John McCarthy at Alberton Oval from 10.30am on Thursday 20 September 2012.

The service will be conducted to coincide with John’s funeral mass in his home community of Sorrento, Victoria, and is expected to include a live video feed of those proceedings.

Members of the public are invited to gather at Alberton Oval at 10.15am this Thursday to join in the memorial service at 10.30am and observe the Sorrento service on a large TV screen from 11am.

Port Adelaide Football Club chaplain Brandon Chaplin will lead the local memorial service which will be conducted on Alberton Oval in front of the Robert B. Quinn Grandstand which will be available for public seating. There will be additional seating on the oval together with standing room.

Port Adelaide Football Club chief executive officer Keith Thomas said the Alberton service would enable the club, its supporters and the wider public to honour John’s life while also observing the service in Sorrento.

“John had a remarkable impact at Port Adelaide in his first season with us and that extended from within the club to our members, supporters and the broader football public,” Mr Thomas said.

“We know that all of those people are deeply saddened by the John’s passing so it is fitting that we can invite the public to a club memorial and also provide a connection with the service in Sorrento for those who wish to observe it.”

All arrangements for the Alberton service have been put in place in consultation with John’s family, including the video feed from Sorrento which is being planned with the valued support of AFL broadcast partner Channel 7.

Port Adelaide Football Club officials will be represented at the Alberton public memorial, but it is anticipated that Mr Thomas, president Brett Duncanson, players and most football department staff will attend the Funeral Mass in Sorrento.

There will be limited catering at the Alberton service, with proceeds supporting a charity to be nominated by John’s family.

JOHN McCARTHY PUBLIC MEMORIAL SERVICE
Port Adelaide Football Club
Alberton Oval - Queen Street, Alberton
Thursday 20 September 2012
Please arrive by 10.15am
10.30am Port Adelaide Football Club Memorial Service
11.00am Video feed of Funeral Service from Sorrento, Victoria