Swans Ambassador Paul Johnstone, who sadly passed away last week after a long off season battling cancer, epitomised the fighting spirit of the Sydney Swans.
Known as 'PJ' to all his friends, his membership began in the late 80’s when he was the voice over for the ground announcements and, from that humble beginning, he built a gang of footy-goers known as the SCG-ers - which he lovingly dubbed the Sydney Converts and Groupies. In the early 1990s fellow Ambassador Wayne Rowley and his agency Hyperbole were engaged to assist in a rebranding of the club. He engaged PJ to become the voice of all radio and television advertising and corporate promotions, all of which were done pro bono.
PJ followed the Swans through thick and thin, went to every Grand Final (and enjoyed endless ticketing conniptions in the process!), was a proud Swans Ambassador, ran a tipping comp for his mates, and for years wrote a special weekly compulsory read round-up about the match called 'PJs Point' - replete with his wonderful sense of humour - always signing off with his trademark line "C'mon footy in general." And significantly, he has long owned the licence plate “Swans.” If that’s not a statement of where your loyalties lie, then nothing is.
PJ was a musician (a drummer of some note) and an actor (appearing in Mad Max).
Two weeks before we lost him, now wheelchair bound, his greatest concern at lunch with Wayne was how he would be able to get to his longstanding members seats and where he could store his wheelchair. Wayne was in discussions with the club about this when we lost PJ.
When it came to the Sydney Swans, he was the truest of true believers. Surprising given that he was a Kiwi who had no background of AFL when he arrived. He discovered the Swans and the rest, as they say, is history.
To suggest that he will be missed by all is an understatement. Yes, his handprint outside the ground is testament to his loyal membership. But it is his positivity, kindness, and strength of character that will live on forever.
Our condolences to his family, in particular his sons Jordan and Jackson, and his huge gang of friends.
