Roger Johnston Explained

Roger Johnston
Constituency Mp:Hotham
Parliament:Australian
Predecessor:Don Chipp
Successor:Lewis Kent
Term Start:10 December 1977
Term End:18 October 1980
Birth Name:James Roger Johnston
Birth Date:1930 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Nationality:Australian
Party:Liberal Party of Australia
Occupation:Businessperson[1]
Profession:Civil engineer

James Roger Johnston (18 June 1930 – 24 June 2020) was an Australian politician. He contested the Division of Melbourne Ports in 1975, but lost to the incumbent Labor member Frank Crean. Following this, Johnston successfully sought Liberal preselection for Hotham, competing against nine other members.[2] In 1977, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Hotham. He was a member of the Parliamentary Yacht Club, along with Phillip Lynch, Alan Cadman and Marshall Baillieu.[3] In 1979, Johnston was part of a delegation of Australian parliamentarians sent to Port Moresby to learn about resources development.[4] He was defeated in 1980.[5] [6] He attempted to gain preselection for the 1982 Flinders by-election.[7]

Johnston is a great-grandson of David Syme, and his ashes are interred in David Syme's tomb situated in Boroondara Cemetery in Kew, Victoria. It is my understanding that Mr. Johnston's ashes are not interred in the Syme mausoleum: upon opening of the crypt, it was found to be flooded with groundwater and the ashes were placed elsewhere.

Notes and References

  1. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110882464 "Hotham's new man"
  2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110864999 "Engineer replaces Chipp"
  3. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110925531 "Righting the sailing tale"
  4. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/250622932 "Aust MPs on tour"
  5. Web site: Carr. Adam. Australian Election Archive. Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. 2008. 2008-06-15.
  6. Web site: Members of the House of Representatives since 1901. 30 October 2011.
  7. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116477208 "Lynch announces resignation PM decides on Flinders by-election"