On December 7, 1956, Frank Johnson had a ringside seat at the infamous Hungary v Russia water polo bloodbath during the Melbourne Olympic Games, as a member of the Australian squad. Less than six months later he was playing at full forward for South Fremantle at the WACA ground.  Fast forward twenty years and the same Frank Johnson rolls into Sydney with crew Ben Williams and Rick Matson as winners of the private owners section of the London to Sydney car rally, finishing ninth overall in a field of ninety, which was dominated by manufacturers' teams.  “I couldn't run any more so I sat in a car,” Johnson quipped. Swimming dominated Frank Johnson's life as a youngster. A leading swimmer from an early age, he debuted in senior water polo ranks for Fremantle at the age of thirteen, and was among the best in the State for a decade, culminating in his selection in the Australian squad for the Melbourne Olympics.  Although his junior football took a backseat to swimming and water polo, his progression through the Cobbers and Temperance Leagues was promising. “I had a good mentor in Jimmy Matison, my coach in the juniors,” Johnson said. “Jimmy had played 64 games alongside Bernie Naylor in the forward line for South, and he gave me some good advice, as a budding forward myself.” It was when Frank was playing with the South Fremantle ex Scholars early in 1957 that he received a visit from a South Fremantle official. “One of the forwards was crook, I think it may have been Gero, and I was asked if I was interested in playing at full forward the following Saturday,” he recalled. A thursday night's training, and before he could get his feet back on the ground, Johnson was shaking hands with Perth custodian Brian Ashbolt. “I managed to kick four goals, so I guess it was a good day,” he recalled. “Back in those days, the WACA had sprinklers set in the ground with metal on the lids,” he went on. “They weren't the best of landing pads.” Johnson went on to become a consistent half forward for the Bulldogs, playing sixty two games, and his form was rewarded with State selection in 1962, the same year that Johnson had his only taste of finals football with South, being among the best players in a losing first semi final against West Perth.  At six foot one, Frank Johnson was an agile player who could hold his own with the aerialists and on the ground.  He could play at either end of the ground, in a key position or on a flank, was a good kick, and had a safe pair of hands.  In 1964, ex Footscray star and recently resigned South Fremantle coach, Marty McDonnell, was behind the move of Johnson to the Footscray club.  “It didn't get off to a great start,” said Frank. “I stopped off at Balladonia on the way over for a training run and did a hammy.” With the immortal Ted Whitten as playing coach, Johnson had a two year stint there before finishing his league football days back at South, before travelling with ruckman Bob Bucat to Boyanup-Capel-Dardanup for two seasons.  Frank recalled a couple of lighter moments of his league football days. “I was playing at full forward for South in a Derby at Fremantle Oval. We were kicking to the Town Hall end, and Marshy broke clear from the wing with the ball. I presented myself, and he slammed a footpass into me that hit with such force that I went arsoverhead. Looking for the ball, all I could hear was the the erupting of the grandstand, not sure if it was cheering or laughter.” “In a game against Claremont, who were at the time coached by the former South Fremantle tough fullback, Ray “lizard” Richards, there was a bit of a bumping duel going on, I jumped in to pick up the ball, noticed a Claremont guernsey out opf the corner of my eye, and next thing all I was able to see were stars. “Stupid b.......d, you just got cleaned up by Lizard,” was the unsympathetic comment from Johnny Brindley.” After his football career ended, Frank Johnson became a leading car dealer in the Fremantle area.  “I was checking out some rally cars being unloaded at Fremantle Wharf, and they looked fantastic,” he said. “I thought: “this looks like fun,” I was at a loose end, so decided then and there to give rallying a go. I had a few crashes while I was learning the ropes, but thoroughly enjoyed it.” Johnson had many local rally successes, and became a leading rally driver in this State, not only doing well in the London to Sydney event, but finishing fifth outright in the Southern Cross Rally in 1979, driving a Mazda RX3. Frank rated Norm Rogers(East Fremantle), Brian France(West Perth), Neville Beard(Perth), and Ken Bagley(Swan Districts) as his hardest opponents. “They were all good,” he added, while going along with most of the South Fremantle players we have chatted with by naming Toddy and Gero as the best he'd played with.  And what does a bloke who has been an international water polo player, State footballer, and top rally driver do in his retirement? “ I'm looking after a business that imports buses from Korea,” was the reply.  Asked about the nickname, “Rooster”, he said: “ Not sure about that, but I reckon the culprit was a bloke I played water polo with, named Barry Benthein. He remarked one day when I took my cap off that my hair looked like barbed wire, and, as it was red, I resembled a rooster.” Frank is still a keen football follower, getting to see the red and whites play as often as he can, and is a Fremantle Dockers member.  It's an achievement to be a master of two sports, but Frank “Rooster” Johnson excelled at three. As a footballer he was unlucky to play in one of his club's worst periods, so never had the chance of premiership glory, but he was one of South Fremantle's better players in the sixties.