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28 100 MOST INFLUENTIALFREDERICKJOHNSTONThe year 1945 was a watershed period in WApolitics and Fred Johnston played a key rolein it.At the time, the 35-year-old was managingdirector of the family small goods company,WO Johnston and Sons — which had begun asa Barrack Street butcher’s shop in the mid1920s.1945 was the year the Liberal Party cameto WA and Johnston was not just a foundingmember, he took a leading role in garneringsupport from local businesses during theState Election campaign in 1947. Two yearsafter the WA division of the party was born,the State had its first Liberal government(albeit in coalition with the Country andDemocratic Party).He had two stints as the party’s president,was a driving force behind the governmentsof David Brand and Charles Court, andhelped the party defeat John Tonkin’sgovernment in the 1970s.The family business was declaredinsolvent in 1964 and Johnston took oncompany directorships alongside his activeinvolvement in myriad community groups.Retailing forces: FrederickJohnston, centre, withAlfred Sandover, right.ALFREDSANDOVERSince 1921, the fairest and best AustralianRules football player in WA has beenpresented with the Sandover medal.It was named for its benefactor, AlfredSandover — a department store retailer,hardware merchant, noted philanthropistand football fanatic. While his decisionnearly a century ago to donate a trophy tohis beloved sport might be the reason theSandover name endures in WA, it certainlydoes not represent the sum of the man’sachievements.He moved to Perth from Adelaide in 1884to work in his brother’s hardware andpharmacy business and helped grow thecompany rapidly.In 1923 he acquired the Perth branch ofthe retailer that West Australians wouldcome to know as Harris Scarfe. Sandover wasmade chairman of the new company, aposition he would hold until he retired in1957 at the age of 90. He died a year later.Sandover had been in high demand fromvarious associations and gave his time to theChamber of Commerce, the WA ShippingAssociation, the UWA Senate and the Councilfor Church of England Schools.He donated half of his three hectareClaremont property, Knutsford, to establishChrist Church Grammar School.Political aspirations: Frederick Johnston, left, was one of five people vying to be Perth Lordmayor interviewed at TVW studios by Bruce Buchanan.Friday, November 29, 2013