Joan Burton Paton née Cleland (1916–April 2000) was an Australian

teacher A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...

, naturalist,

environmentalist An environmentalist is a person who is concerned with and/or advocates for the protection of the environment. An environmentalist can be considered a supporter of the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that se ...

and

ornithologist Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the "methodological study and consequent knowledge of birds with all that relates to them." Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and th ...

. One of the first women to become a member of the exclusive

Adelaide Ornithologists Club The Adelaide Ornithologists' Club (AOC) was founded by Alan Lendon, a leading surgeon and prominent aviculturist, in 1960, as a breakaway group from the South Australian Ornithological Association, with John Neil McGilp as its first President. ...

, of which she was elected President 1991–1993, she also served as president of the

South Australian Ornithological Association The South Australian Ornithological Association (SAOA), also known as Birds SA, is an Australian birding organisation based in Adelaide, South Australia. The SAOA publishes a journal, the ''South Australian Ornithologist'' as well as the ''Birds ...

(1979-1982). Her father was Professor Sir

John Burton Cleland Sir John Burton Cleland CBE (22 June 1878 – 11 August 1971) was a renowned Australian naturalist, microbiologist, mycologist and ornithologist. He was Professor of Pathology at the University of Adelaide and was consulted on high-level po ...

, a notable microbiologist and pathologist who strongly encouraged her early interest in natural history.

Early life and education

Joan Burton Paton was born in Sydney, New South Wales, the daughter of

(1878–1971) and his wife, Dora Isabel Paton (1880–1955). She had three sisters, Dr Margaret Burton Cleland, Elizabeth Robson Cleland and Barbara Burton Cleland; and a brother, William Paton 'Bill' Cleland, who became a surgeon. The father encouraged his children's interest in science. Joan Paton was educated at the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...

, where she majored in

organic chemistry Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds and organic materials, i.e., matter in its various forms that contain carbon atoms.Clayden, J.; ...

and

biochemistry Biochemistry or biological chemistry is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. A sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology, biochemistry may be divided into three fields: structural biology, enzymology and ...

. In 1951 she married Erskine Norman Paton (1922–1985), son of Adolph Ernest Paton and Ida Marie Poynton. Their son is Prof David Cleland Paton.

Career

In 1967 Paton became a lecturer on ornithology in South Australia's

Workers' Educational Association The Workers' Educational Association (WEA), founded in 1903, is the UK's largest voluntary sector provider of adult education and one of Britain's biggest charities. The WEA is a democratic and voluntary adult education movement. It delivers lea ...

. Among those she inspired to work in ornithology and environmental conservation was Margaret Cameron, who became the President of the

Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (RAOU), now part of BirdLife Australia, was Australia's largest non-government, non-profit, bird conservation organisation. It was founded in 1901 to promote the study and bird conservation, conservati ...

(RAOU). Paton was active in the RAOU, as well as in the

(SAOA), of which she was elected Vice-President 1974–1979, and President 1979–1982. She was one of the first women to become a member of the exclusive

, of which she was elected president (1991-1993).

Legacy and honours

*1990, she was made an Honorary Member of the SAOA. *1996, she was made an Honorary Member of the Adelaide Ornithologists Club. *In 1996, Paton was made a Member in the General Division of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

for services to ornithology, education and the environment.Anon. (1996). Congratulations: Joan Paton, AM. ''Flightlines'' 17: 3.

References

External References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Paton, Joan Australian ornithologists Women ornithologists 1916 births 2000 deaths 20th-century Australian zoologists Members of the Order of Australia