Night-time Optometrist and Actor’s Critic

As featured in Have-A-Go News July 2012 (p.45 http://www.haveagonews.com.au/paper/07-2012/244_JULY_2012-digital.pdf) By Frank Smith GORDON Johnston runs an optometrist business on Curtin University campus, reviews plays for Actor’s Equity and regularly appears on Graham Maybury’s Nightline show on 6PR. “My interest in theatre started at school where I learnt to control the lighting for school plays. My first job was as a TV cameraman for the BBC. “I enjoyed working with lighting and cameras in the TV studio for four to five years.” Gordon has been an Actors’ Equity judge for four years and does reviews for the amateur theatre at www.theatre.asn.au on the web. “That is the website to go to if you are interested in auditioning,” he said. “I’m no longer a judge: you do a three to four year stint. I would review professional acting including performance and lighting and also reviews amateur productions. I do it because I enjoy it and I enjoy theatre.” After he left the BBC he studied to become an optometrist and moved to Perth in 1987 where he set up a business in the WAIT Guild Commercial Centre. “I wanted to call the business ‘WAIT and See’, but when WAIT became a University, ‘Curtin and See’ doesn’t have same ring to it." During his 25 years at Curtin student numbers have quadrupled to 40,000 with more than 5,000 staff. “Students used to be on campus from 9am to 5pm, but now they can study over the Internet. And with a camera in the lecture theatre they can listen to lectures in bed. “Many have one or more part time jobs and work every day. They used to work only at weekends. Nearly one third of students are from overseas, from a huge number of countries. “They used to be only from South East Asia. “Much of my work is now with contact lenses. Students are often into contacts. There is also a much wider choice of glasses. When I first started I would keep 20-30 frames to choose from. Now I keep 1500 in stock. Style and eyewear fashion changes quickly.” Gordon appeared as Nightline Optometrist or Gordon the Optician on Graham Maybury’s Nightline show on 6PR for 14 years. “I used to answer questions about eyesight. People would ring up and ask questions over the phone. “Questions like my grandchild was hit in the eye and sees black dots or why do you see flashes of light when you are hit in the head. “Why does eyesight go off at 40? “And does smoking damage eyesight?” It does. Smoking is the major lifestyle feature involved in macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness. Other factors include a poor diet and ultraviolet light. “The risk drops off as the quality of life improves.” Gordon appeared on Nightline monthly between 10-11pm. “As I start work at 7.15am five days a week I am very tired after a show with Maybury. Gordon was also WA chairman of the Optometrists Association of Australia for 14 years and National Vicechair for three years and contact lens director for four years. “I have no plans for retirement so long as I’m healthy and happy. Kids at university keep you young."