Dr Jonathan Burdon AM
Jonathan (JB) wore many hats. He was a husband and father, grandfather and friend. He was active in private medical practice as a respiratory physician, a past Chairman of The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and the National Asthma Council Australia and was Director of Respiratory Medicine at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne from 1990-2000.
He was also a bookseller, which is not surprising given his family background. His late mother, Barbara Burdon, and his sister, Sally Burdon, have been involved in the Australian antiquarian book trade in Canberra for many decades, and another sister, Elisabeth Burdon, was formerly an antiquarian bookseller in Portland, Oregon. In 2004 JB married antiquarian bookseller, Kay Craddock. JB ran the military section of the bookshop under the banner Pilgrim Books, specialising in his particular interest in Special Forces and Covert Operations, and he had an active interest in the military section of the bookshop. He was also a past President of The Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers, and was co-founder, with Kay, of Melbourne Rare Book Week, eventually becoming Treasurer of Rare Books Melbourne Inc.
JB’s interests in the medico-legal aspects of medicine led to his appointment as President of the Medical Defence Association of Victoria (MDAV) in December 2001. In 2007, MDAV merged with a Sydney based medical indemnity insurer and he served on the new Avant Board until November 2014.
JB continued in private practice in East Melbourne, devoting a lot of his time to medico-legal assessments. He had a particular interest in occupational lung disorders, chronic airways disease and the assessment of respiratory impairment. With Dr Edward Janus, JB pioneered research in Alpa-1 antitrypsin deficiency at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne; and for twenty-five years JB devoted himself to promoting and fighting the battle for recognition of a little acknowledged condition known as Aerotoxic syndrome, for which he is internationally recognised.
As a leading respiratory physician, JB had a reputation for a caring and empathetic approach to his patients. Ironically for such a gentle and peace-loving man, his main interest outside of medicine was war — specifically relating to Special Forces and Covert Operations. However, JB’s interest in war was not in its combative and destructive aspects. Special Forces soldiers are trained to lead and be led, ephasising teamwork and the importance of individual responsibility for mission success. They invented the hearts and minds approach — forming medical clinics and helping groups/communities caught up in or close to military action. When asked whether he had a personal motto, JB answered: ‘the Special Air Service motto: Who Dares Wins. Anyone who knows me well will understand why I follow this. Unless you try, you will never achieve. It is fair to say that not every time I try/dare to do something, do I achieve my desired outcome but at least I know I have tried.’
Jonathan died of pancreatic cancer on Wednesday, 19 November, 2025.
