THE Port Adelaide Football Club will use the Anzac Appeal Round to honour one of its own, awarding life membership to three-time premiership player Christopher Johnston, who died while serving in the army during World War II.
Christopher Isaac ‘Kruger’ Johnston played 123 SANFL games for Port Adelaide from 1934-1942, booting 33 goals while playing mostly off the half back flank or in the centre.
Incredibly durable, the vice-captain didn’t miss a game during his time at the club, and was named the best on ground in reports of the 1939 premiership decider, being described as “dogged”, “efficient” and “literally impassable”.
‘Kruger’ was also a member of the 1936 and 1937 premiership sides, being named among the best in each of the premiership deciders.
He enlisted in the Australian Army in 1942, serving as a Private in the 2/16th Infantry Battalion in New Guinea but sadly, at the age of 28, illness claimed his life in December 1943 and he was buried in the Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby.
While usually players are required to serve ten years to qualify for Life Membership of the Port Adelaide Football Club, given his war service and death cut short his football career, Port Adelaide’s Life Membership and Awards Committee recommended last year that Johnston should be posthumously recognised with the honour, a recommendation that has been unanimously accepted.
“Our club has a deep and authentic connection with the Australian Defence Forces, including through over 150 past players and officials who served our country in war since 1915. Sadly 14 of them never returned,” said Port Adelaide Chief Executive Officer Matthew Richardson.
“One of these heroes was Christopher Johnston. Christopher made his League debut for Port Adelaide in 1934, playing 123 games across eight seasons to 1942, including three premierships.
“Whilst his service did not meet the minimum criteria for Life Membership, on reviewing his records the Club’s Life Membership and Awards Committee recommended to the Board that his service in WWII be considered given he would most likely have reached this milestone had he returned from service.
“We are pleased that his service to our club and indeed the ultimate sacrifice for his country can be recognized in this year’s Anzac Appeal Round game with the award of posthumous Life Membership to his family.
“This is another powerful example of the importance and significance of this round for our club.”
The Life Membership honour will be accepted at a special presentation before Saturday’s Anzac Appeal Round game against West Coast by Mr Johnston’s daughter Lorraine Riches – a lifelong Port Adelaide supporter who rarely misses a trip to Alberton to watch the Magpies in the SANFL and gets to Adelaide Oval for every Power game.
For Mrs Riches, the recognition came as a surprise.
“I never thought it would happen,” she explained. “We all knew how good he was as a player but there was no hint it might happen, so it is quite overwhelming.
“Especially coming up to Anzac Day, it is more important to us that he is receiving his life membership of the club that was so dear to him on this occasion.
“I was only seven months old when he passed but mum and a lot of his friends certainly told me all about him and how good he was as a player and person, and that he would never be forgotten.
As well as Mrs Riches, her husband, son and daughter, Christopher Johnston’s only surviving sibling Brian Johnston will be on hand for the presentation by Chairman David Koch before the first bounce.
Brian’s son Chris Johnston, named in honour of his older brother will kick the ceremonial first goal of the game.
It’s also a special moment for the younger Chris Johnston, a promising junior footballer who represented Port Adelaide’s under 17 and under 19 sides and a long-time volunteer in the SANFL program.
Chris, now 55, is currently the interchange steward for Port Adelaide’s SANFL side and acts as an assistant to team manager John Settre.
“Mum has always told me about (uncle Christopher’s) story and how he had played 100 games for the club. I saw his name on the number 11 locker so on the odd occasion I got a game I always tried to use that locker,” Chris said.
“It’s really a special time around Anzac Day for our family and it feels appropriate that he in honoured this week.”
On Saturday, Port Adelaide’s players will wear a special commemorative Anzac guernsey featuring a design drawing inspiration from the Lone Pine monument at Alberton Oval.
The tree – planted in 2015 and a descendant of the original Lone Pine on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey - commemorates the men and women of the Port Adelaide district who paid the supreme sacrifice in World War I.
The club will auction the player-worn guernseys after the game with all proceeds going to support the important work of the RSL in South Australia.
Saturday’s game gets underway at 1:15pm but patrons are advised to arrive early to take in the pre-game commemorative ceremony.
Tickets are still available for the match, with a family pass in the Eastern Stand available for just $50 by entering the code FAMILY50.
