Joan Burton Paton (1916 – April 2000) was a South Australian teacher, naturalist, environmentalist and ornithologist. Her father was Professor Sir John Cleland, a notable microbiologist and pathologist who strongly encouraged her early interest in natural history.
She was educated at the University of Adelaide where she majored in organic chemistry and biochemistry. In 1967 she became a lecturer on ornithology in South Australia’s Workers' Educational Association.[1][2] Among those she stimulated to become active in ornithology and environmental conservation was Margaret Cameron, later President of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (RAOU).[3]
Paton was active in the RAOU, as well as in the South Australian Ornithological Association (SAOA) of which she was Vice-President 1974-1979, President 1979-1982 and made an Honorary Member in 1990. She was one of the first women to become a member of the exclusive Adelaide Ornithologists Club, of which she was President 1991-1993, and made an Honorary Member in 1996.
In 1996 she was made a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia for services to ornithology, education and the environment.[4]