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Alan & Sue with Bill Campbell (my father) celebrating his 90th birthday. Bill & Alan's father are cousins, so Alan & I are 2nd cousins. Such a great day together.
Whilst I have the privilege of being married to Alan's niece Helen I only had the pleasure of meeting him twice because of oceans between the UK and Australia. The first occasion was in the summer of 2012 when Alan, Sue, Barbara and John came to the UK for Peter McCarthy's 70 birthday and we had a great few days all together at the White Hart pub in Bouth, southern Englush Lake District, a great pub that will forever hold special memories. I remember vividly how we connected as a family and how Alan wanted to spend quality time with Pete. Helen and I remember commenting that if fate had allowed us to grow up together in the country Alan and Sue wouldn't have just been our Uncle and Aunt but also our friends given our ages. Regrettably the second and last time we met Alan was in February 2013 when he came back to the UK for Peter's funeral. I know Helen was overwhelmed by this gesture and was typical of the generous, kind hearted man Alan was. Again during this sad time for us the bonds with Alan and Australia. The winter of 2013 was one of the coldest in recent memory but Alan coped admirably with the freezing temperatures, and integrated so easily into our lives, including watching Ben and Tom play football and coming to the Reebok Stadium to watch Bolton Wanderers Football Club. Helen and I are also so grateful for the kindness and hospitality extended by Alan and Sue to Ben when he came over to Australia for the Ashes in 2017/18. As Berny McCarthy has said, Alan really was a very kind and generous man and we will miss him so much. Reading all the tributes to Alan it is remarkable but not really surprising how often those two words, kind and generous, crop up. Erin Bicknall also makes a great point in her tribute to her uncle, that it was Alan who did so much to re-establish and cement the McCarthy family bonds between Australia, Canada and the UK for which Helen and I will be eternally thankful. It is heartbreaking, heartbreaking, that Alan has been taken from us so prematurely. We can only extend all our love to Sue, Brendan, Glenn, Stuart, Ashlie, the girls and extended family at this most awful of times. Alan, Helen, Berny, Ben and Tom xxxx
The most incredible, inspiring, open-minded uncle, friend, supporter and human being. I felt every inch of Alan's unwavering love and affection for his whole family. He made me feel like I could achieve anything in life. I'll never forget the time I called him from work about a patient who was breaking the law. He was out of the police force by this stage but his honest, non-judgemental, social empowerment-focussed reply solved the issue for both me and the patient. I can't imagine how many people he has helped across his years of community work, both formal and informal. I also thank Alan for the way he reconnected our family across 3 continents and many of years of separation. We now have bonds that will never be broken because of Alan. His knowledge and interest in the history of our family is also something I thank him dearly for. Alan's loss is absolutely immense. The only solace is when I think about how much he loved Sue, his boys, daughter in law and grandkids as well as his family and friends. We all felt his love and we'll continue to feel it now and forever. This is a photo from our wedding and it reflects, perfectly, his and Sue's love. xxx Erin & Tom
Alan and I met at Uni and we hit it off right away. A gentle giant with a great sense of humour. Alan could combine his academic and sporting interests and it was always obvious that he was going to love his family dearly. You will be sadly missed mate. Cheers Paul H
I meet Alan 7 years ago when I started working at Doveton College in Education Support. Quickly we formed a work friendship enjoying a chat in the staff room or in the school yard. Over those years Alan and I would dress up as Santa and Chief Elf Joe. The joy on our kids and some of the adult faces said it all, when they saw Santa coming into the class room. Santas (Alans) message was the same acceptance, kindness, and love to all no matter where you were from. Alan I will miss our special day and your friendly kind smile. Sleep peacefully Joe xx
We met Alan when Sue & I started working at PAFS just before she & Alan got married 35 years ago. We loved our dinners & catch ups. Usually involved Alan & Sue running late or booking around Alan's cricket commitments.....always time for a serious chat, advice or a laugh, usually at Alan's expense & always listening, but he is just a wonderful human who we'll miss. His love for Sue was immeasurable as was his love & guidance for his boys. It's a testament to how he lived his life that even in his passing he was still helping people. Sue......we can't imagine how life will be without your bear but know you are surrounded by so much love & support & Alan will always be in our hearts.
It’s always difficult to say goodbye. Alan McCarthy and I were class mates at Marianist College in Frankston in the 70’s. Memories inevitably fade over time -I don’t remember when we met, or how we became aware of each other – none of that matters. I do remember that he was hopeless at maths, whilst I hated English – so we helped each other especially through ‘HSC’ as it was then. We were both keen students of history (WWII) and politics and many a night were spent playing games (anybody remember the “Escape from Colditz” board game) and drinking Kaiser Stuhl or Mateus Rose (yes, I can hear the groaning). Thankfully both our tastes in games and wine improved over the years. I know that over 40 years, Alan was a constant in my life and that of my family. He was a man of the highest level of honesty and integrity, devoted to Susie, his boys and granddaughters of whom he was intensely proud of. Vale Alan McCarthy. I shall miss you more than I can express in these mere words. Harry Georgalas and family
Though I only had the pleasure of meeting Alan once, it was immediately apparent what a gentle, beautiful and truly loving man he was. Only a truly special man could have raised such a wonderful, kind and compassionate family, and I only wish I could have known Alan better. All my love xxx
I first met Sue and Alan when I was in high school when I would often go over to help with Brendan and Glenn when they were babies. Over the years I spent a lot of time at their house, which was almost like a second home to me as they welcomed me into their family like I was a part of their family. I would often babysit Brendan and Glenn and went along on family outings with them. I loved spending time at the McCarthy house which was always full of love and warmth. As I grew up and was in my later years in high school, I still remember going to the McCarthy house on a regular basis and I would often ask for Alan’s assistance with my Legal Studies assignments. He was always more than happy to help, and I could see the love and ridiculous knowledge that he had on the subject of law. He loved to share his knowledge as he was to help. Alan offered to take me into the law courts in Melbourne during my school holidays and I was privileged to sit in a court during a real case. There were many times that I sought help from Sue and Alan over the years and they were both always there for me, without questions. Growing up, Alan was one of the people that I knew I could turn to and ask for assistance. He would always be there to help, never judged or questioned, but was there. I knew I could rely on him when I needed help or just to chew over something that didn’t seem quite right. Things just won’t be the same ever and I am truly saddened by the sudden departure that he has had from this life. His generosity, kindness, selfless and pragmatic approach to life was admired by so many. He will never be forgotten and will leave a massive hole for so many people, not to mention his amazing wife and gorgeous family.
L Campbell
L Campbell
Alan & Michael at my Dad's 90th, Bill Campbell. RIP sweet Alan. Gone but never forgotten. xoxoxo
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