Eric Johnston (NT Administrator)
Encyclopedia
Commodore
Eric Eugene Johnston AO, OBE, RAN
(Born in Shanghai
, China
, 29 July 1933; Died in Darwin
, 26 February 1997) was Administrator of the Northern Territory
from 1 January 1981 to 1 July 1989. Earlier he was a serving officer in the Royal Australian Navy
and commanded HMAS Perth
in action during the Vietnam War
. After Cyclone Tracy
, as Naval Officer Commanding Northern Australia, he was involved in the administration of emergency naval assistance
. He was awarded the Military OBE in 1970 and the Order of Australia.
The Eric Johnston Lectures of the Northern Territory Library were named in his honour. He gave the first Lecture in 1986.
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
Eric Eugene Johnston AO, OBE, RAN
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
(Born in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, 29 July 1933; Died in Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, 26 February 1997) was Administrator of the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
from 1 January 1981 to 1 July 1989. Earlier he was a serving officer in the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
and commanded HMAS Perth
HMAS Perth (D38)
HMAS Perth was the lead ship of the Perth class guided missile destroyers operated by the Royal Australian Navy . Built in the United States of America to a modified version of the Charles F...
in action during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. After Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone that devastated the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, 1974...
, as Naval Officer Commanding Northern Australia, he was involved in the administration of emergency naval assistance
Operation Navy Help Darwin
Operation Navy Help Darwin was a disaster relief operation initiated by the Royal Australian Navy following the destruction of Darwin, Northern Territory by Cyclone Tracy during the night of 24-25 December 1974. 13 ships, 11 aircraft, and 3,000 personnel were sent to Darwin in the largest disaster...
. He was awarded the Military OBE in 1970 and the Order of Australia.
The Eric Johnston Lectures of the Northern Territory Library were named in his honour. He gave the first Lecture in 1986.