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.
