[1] Johnston's senior rowing was with the Melbourne University Boat Club.

[2] Johnston was selected in Victorian state representative lightweight fours to race the Penrith Cup at the Australian Rowing Championships for six consecutive years from 1970 to 1975.

Those crews won the interstate championship on five consecutive occasions from 1971 to 1975 with Johnston as stroke.

[3] Johnston was selected for Australian representative honours in a lightweight coxless four for the 1974 World Rowing Championships in Lucerne.

[4] That crew with Johnston at stroke won Australia's first gold medal at a FISA World Rowing Championship.