Remembering Ned Iceton – Ten Years On
Ten years after his passing, we honour Ned Iceton’s enduring legacy in the special anniversary edition of the NED SDN newsletter. Founder of the NED Foundation, Ned’s influence continues through the lives he touched and the values he lived by – respect, curiosity, empathy, and generosity. The edition features reflections from seven people who knew him well, sharing personal stories and insights into a life of impact and purpose.
Here are brief accounts of the seven reflections:
Lynne Hosking recalls Ned and Joan Iceton’s home as a “haven” during a time of isolation — a place of kindness, encouragement, and quiet generosity. They supported her activism, her education, and her personal growth. “Their enduring legacy lives on in my heart,” she writes. One moment she treasures: watching Ned moved to tears during an SDN workshop, as he admitted, “I wish I could more often open up my heart rather than living so much in my head.”
Karla Meyer reflects on two decades of friendship with Ned, remembering him as quietly curious, thoughtful, and always exploring – even when talking about health. His meditative phrase, “Who Ned really, really is,” stayed with her, as did his gentle questioning, “Is this so?” “Ned’s thoughts, style and actions have put a stamp on me and who I became as a person,” she writes, honouring his deep influence on her life and friendships.
Julie Marsh remembers Ned as someone who brought warmth, presence, and quiet dedication to every encounter — from blissful garden visits to simply sitting beside her in hospital. “Ned accompanies me,” she writes, recalling the grey woollen skivvy she still wears in winter. She reflects on the unique spaces he helped create through SDN and the NED Foundation: “Brilliant, Ned. Well done.”
Allan Kelly remembers his one-on-one conversations with Ned as deeply refreshing: “like washing your face with cold water – very invigorating.” He honours Ned as both a gentleman and a scholar, and recalls being by his bedside, alongside his sister Laurel, the night Ned died — a final act of quiet presence at the close of a life well lived.
Jane Purkiss remembers Ned as a steady force for justice and friendship, supporting First Nations initiatives and SDN’s work in social change. She fondly recalls his playful side — “a wonderful clown at an SDN workshop” — and his deep kindness. “He called us to be the best of ourselves,” she writes. Now 88 and living in an off-grid ecovillage she helped found, she adds: “Ned would have approved!”
Barbara Hicks invites us to remember not only Ned, but also his wife Joan — “a formidable team” whose contrasting strengths enriched SDN’s work. While Ned brought big-picture vision, Joan offered depth and personal insight, often counselling participants one-on-one. Together they developed Script Analysis and helped shape a generation of social and therapeutic practitioners. “It’s possible he would not have achieved all that is now being celebrated without her,” Barbara writes, calling for Joan’s legacy to be more fully acknowledged.
Rob Richardson recalls first meeting Ned during a fierce campaign to stop a major shopping development in Armidale. Ned walked into Rob’s tiny office, perched on the heater and asked, “What are you doing about stopping Woolworths?” That question began a friendship built on shared values and activism. Years later, they reconnected at Jobs Australia, where Ned served on the board. Rob writes: “He was a well-read, worldly and wise person” — and a steadfast friend until the end.
AI assisted us in summarising these reflections.
Read the full tribute in the June 2025 newsletter, on our companion site SDN: The Social Developers' Network, and discover the lasting imprint of Ned’s life and work. The newsletter is produced regularly by our SDN Coordinator, Harry Creamer.