EDWARDS, John Burton

EDWARDS,

John Burton

15 Mar 1931

01 Aug 2026

Respected Psychologist,

Church Leader,

friend and counsellor

John Burton Edwards was born in Caulfield, Melbourne in 1931, during the depression years. His family moved to Canberra in 1936, where he had a happy childhood with parents who, in his own words, were both “gentle and strong, happy and humourous, independent, patient and wise”.

John came from a line of public servants. His grandfather, William Burton Edwards, was the Commonwealth Public Service Commissioner until 1923, and his father a director with the Department of Customs and Excise. John accepted a public service cadetship, while also studying at Canberra University, where he was President of the university SRC. In 1954 John was awarded the prestigious Robin Tillyard Memorial Medal given to the university student whose academic achievement personal qualities and contributions to university life were outstanding.

In 1954 John joined the Presbyterian Church, and, following a call he felt to the ministry, he then completed a Bachelor of Divinity, at Ormond College Melbourne. An early interest in the ecumenical movement saw him become a fellow of the World Council of Churches in 1955, and later hold an executive role. He married Valerie Townshend in 1955.

John was ordained a minister in 1960 , worked in parishes in Melbourne and was offered a scholarship to undertake a PhD at Glasgow University in 1962, so his young family moved to Scotland, then to England, where John and Val worked for the Centre for Group Studies run by sociologist Richard Hauser and former concert pianist, Hepzibah Menuhin.

On the family's return to Australia, John formed an ecumenical team parish in South Melbourne. In 1968 John was appointed Commissioner of the Presbyterian Church in SA. He continued working with the World Council of Churches and was instrumental in forming the Uniting Church in SA.. He was elected Moderator of the Church for an unprecedented 4 terms.

John never lost his interest in Psychology. In 1974 both he and Val trained in clinical psychotherapy in California and Australia and began a private practice.

They ran training sessions in Transactional Analysis and psychoanalytical theory. John taught and supervised psychologists, psychiatrists, educators, and nurses and had private patients. He was President of the Institute of Private Practising Psychologists. Finally, he combined his love of psychology with his ministry, working as a chaplain for the Mental Health Services. In 1977 John was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal for his contributions to the community.

Val died in 2006 after more than 50 years of happy marriage. In 2009 John married Gabriella Steiner-Lee. John’s loving, patient long-term care of both wives was selfless and inspirational. John joined the Society of Friends, a liberal Quaker group, and was a long-term volunteer with the Friends of Belair National Park and active in the Probus Club, and Radio Club, communicating with people all over the world.

Always savvy with technology, John loved studying sociology, human evolution, philosophy and theology, and was a prolific writer. He was optimistic, creative, playful, kind and compassionate. A curious and deep thinker, and great conversationalist. He died with peace and dignity, grateful for his rich life and all who had influenced his professional and personal life.

He is survived by his daughters Margaret and Kay.