Australian Dictionary of Biography

Cedric Lindsay Johnson, no date

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Cedric Lindsay Johnson (1927–2000), public servant, ombudsman, and community leader, was born on 21 February 1927 at Ipswich, Queensland, son of Queensland-born parents Warril James Alexander Johnson, fireman, and his wife Eva, née Heit. From a young age Cedric had an excellent singing voice; later, as a tenor, he was to win numerous championships in eisteddfods and become a popular concert performer throughout the State. He attended Ipswich Central Boys’ State School (1934–39) and Ipswich Grammar School (1940–42) but left after passing the junior public examination, believing he would help the national effort in World War II by engaging in employment. Beginning as a junior clerk with the Main Roads Commission in 1942, he was accepted the following year as a cadet in the Queensland Police Service. His hopes of appointment as a probationary constable in 1946 were dashed when his eyesight was assessed to be below the required standard.

In 1947 Johnson returned to the Main Roads Commission (Department of Main Roads from 1951). On 21 April 1951 at the Central Baptist Church, Ipswich, he married Margaret Ramsey Dick, a clerk. His career gained a significant boost in 1957 when he was made private secretary to (Sir) Kenneth Morris, the deputy premier and minister for labour and industry. Five years later he was promoted to assistant under-secretary in the department. When welfare services became a ministerial responsibility in 1972, he was appointed as under-secretary and permanent head of the new Department of Tourism, Sport and Welfare Services (Community and Welfare Services 1974, Welfare 1977, and Welfare Services 1980). He quickly gained the respect of leaders of non-government charitable and social-service organisations, who recognised his genuine concern for the needy and disadvantaged. His steadfast Baptist faith and philosophy of a second chance for offenders led him to focus particularly on youth, and on prison reform and the rehabilitation of former inmates.

Throughout his career, Johnson remained strictly apolitical, earning the goodwill of politicians in all parties. This approach helped to ensure the bipartisan support required for his appointment, on 31 July 1981, as parliamentary commissioner for administrative investigations: Queensland’s ombudsman, responsible to parliament for inquiring into complaints from citizens about actions or inaction by government departments, statutory bodies, and local authorities. His predecessors, Sir David Longland and Sir David Muir, had established the office as a secure part of the governance of the State. On his appointment Johnson was quick to set the personal tone and style he would adopt. In his first annual report he quoted words from the song ‘If I Can Help Somebody,’ which he often sang:

If I can help somebody as I pass along;
If I can cheer somebody with a word or song;
If I can show somebody he is travelling wrong;
Then my living shall not be in vain.
(PCAIQ 1981–82,1) 

Longland and Muir had embraced two key practices that Johnson strengthened: visits throughout Queensland to hear grievances, crucial in such a decentralised State; and personal liaison with heads of government bodies to engender a spirit of cooperation rather than confrontation in his investigation of allegations against their agencies. At a time when senior officials did not publicly criticise the government, he included none-too-subtle references in his annual reports to the strain on his effectiveness caused by lack of financial and human resources. He often lamented the scant interest members of parliament showed in the problems he encountered.

Johnson maintained stringent oversight of all correspondence emanating from the office, especially replies to complainants. He was a stickler for correct grammar and appropriate tone, and instituted staff training to this effect. Although he was a staunch supporter of social workers, he considered that they were often so absorbed in helping their clients that they wrote reports and letters lacking the focus and strength of argument necessary to ensure follow-up action. He instigated weekly prayer meetings in the office for those who wished to attend, one prominent colleague remarking: ‘He lived all of his values’ (Forster 2022). Twice reappointed, he retired on 31 July 1990. He had been admitted as a fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (1981) despite his lack of academic qualifications.

In 1978 Johnson had begun his dedicated commitment to the Queensland Police-Citizens’ Youth Welfare Association as vice-president of the organisation and chairman of its board of directors, offices he would retain until his death. He held leadership positions in more than a dozen citizen, youth, rehabilitation, and community bodies, both government and non-government. These included the community advisory committees of the Brisbane Women’s and Sir David Longford Correctional centres (chairman); the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Trust for Young Australians (chairman, Queensland committee 1988–2000); the Blue Nursing Service (board member, Brisbane central); and the Scout Association of Australia (vice-president, Queensland branch 1991–99).

Johnson was appointed AM in 1993 and was made Queenslander of the Year in 1997. He used the latter occasion to express his grave fears for the future, telling journalists that people were unwilling to become volunteers because they ‘have lost the sense of community and aren’t caring for their neighbour anymore’ (Thomas and Dorries 1997, 1). For him, the ‘plight of youth and the failure of many people to care or understand’ was a particular source of disquiet (Thomas and Dorries 1997, 1). These concerns had also surfaced in his later years as ombudsman, during which he reported disturbing trends towards a dysfunctional society.

For most of his adult life, Johnson lived in the Brisbane suburb of Graceville. He was a tall, well-built man, known for his ‘quiet nature and smiling face’ (HCSAAQ Book of Memories). Besides music, he enjoyed gardening and tennis. He died on 10 February 2000 in the Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, and was buried in Mount Gravatt lawn cemetery. His wife, and their daughter, Denise, and son, Graeme, survived him. A tribute hailed him as ‘a mentor, inspiration and role model for countless people’ (QP-CYCYWA 1999–2000, 3).