Born in the Vaal Triangle, Edward’s family moved to Pretoria while he was still little, opening up the doors to a whole new world. One of those doors was athletics, and Edward laughs as he says that he was ‘more than just decent’ at it. “Athletics became a particular passion, and not just a passing phase,” he says, “and I discovered I had a genuine talent for it.”
That talent led to Potchefstroom University, where Edward studied biokinetics on a scholarship. “Back then, biokinetics wasn’t what it is today,” he explains. “There weren’t many opportunities, and it was under the guidance of my anatomy professor that I ended up applying for medicine at the University of the Free State.” The decision set him on a completely different path, and called for a bit of a makeover. “The long-haired hippie
look had to go,” Edward grins. “Out came the jacket and tie, which might explain why I absolutely refuse to wear ties now.”
After graduating with his BSc, Edward landed his houseman year in Nelspruit, working at Rob Ferreira Hospital. “It was hard,” he admits, “but I loved it. We worked as a team, we supported each other, and I had some brilliant mentors, older colleagues and houseman friends who really shaped the doctor I became.”
When the time came to choose a speciality, he turned to something that, perhaps unexpectedly, aligned with his love of nature. “I’ve always had this thing for birds and plants,” he says, “I can remember the weirdest names and tell the difference between things that look almost exactly the same. As it turns out, that’s pretty handy in dermatology.”
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Edward describes his field as diverse and unpredictable. “You see patients from all walks of life, every age, every background. No two days are ever the same, everyone brings their own stories, their own drama. That’s what keeps it interesting. And in case you’re wondering, no, it’s not exactly like Dr Pimple Popper.”
Edward met his wife, Ruchelle, during his university days. “She was a couple
of years ahead of me in medical school, and she still reminds me that I owe a lot of what I know to her,” he chuckles. “We actually share the same birthday and year … though I’m a few hours older.”
The couple’s daughters, Jessica (23) and Kristen (20), are both still at university. “Jess is doing her Master’s in Plant Physiology at Tuks. She’s still running athletics and cross-country. In her spare time, not that there’s much of it, she models, spending ‘just a little too much’ time in Cape Town,” says Edward. “Kristen, in her second year of a BSc, is navigating the reality of university life, namely, that professors don’t necessarily care if you pass or fail. But she’s learning, thriving, diving (literally, she has ten logged scuba dives already), and is very much finding her feet.”
Edward admits that the family life, work life equation is a bit of a juggling act. “Balancing everything has never been easy, but I’ve been lucky. My wife and daughters are sporty, too, so a lot of our family time has been on the sidelines of sports fields. I think most dads will agree, we don’t always get it right, but as long as we keep trying, keep showing up, then we’re doing okay.”
As a family, the Berrys have been lucky enough to travel extensively. Rarely visiting the same place twice, each destination holds its own fond memories, many of which are captured in Edward’s breathtakingly beautiful black and white photographs. “They remind me that there is life beyond these four walls. Sometimes you forget that, you get caught up in the everyday. They are an important reminder, a glimpse, into the world out there,” Edward says. “If I ever had to retire overseas, I’d probably choose Spain. I loved the countryside, the food, the laid-back vibe. But honestly? South Africa is still the best,” he adds.
Childhood visits to the park left a lasting impression on the laid-back doctor, and Nelspruit, with its proximity to the Kruger, was never a coincidence. “I came to the Kruger as a kid, and it made a huge impression on me. I knew I wanted to stay close to that. Now, we live on a small farm just outside Nelspruit, surrounded by the things I love – birds, plants and peace. I feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.” A keen birder, Edward says that for him, birding is more than a hobby, it’s a mission. He’s seen everything from the elusive shoebill in Central Africa to shimmering hummingbirds in Brazil. “My goal is to see every bird species in South Africa. Just to start,” he grins. His extensive rare plant collection is just as impressive. “Euphorbias, aloes, cycads – I’ve got a whole bunch. The goal is to create self-sustaining colonies that are not only commercially viable, but that we can actually plant back into nature. If I can help get them off the extinction lists, that would be amazing.”
Fitness is non-negotiable. Recently, Edward completed a Half Ironman in Mossel Bay and is always chasing the next challenge, whether it’s running, cycling or swimming. “I still want to be faster than last year,” he says. “Always improving, always pushing.” He doesn’t really believe in role models, though he deeply admires people who dedicate themselves fully to their field. Sir David Attenborough, he says, would be the ideal dinner guest. “And I would love to watch Olaf from Frozen have a conversation with King Julian from Madagascar.” (Wouldn’t we all?)
At the heart of it all is a simple but powerful drive, and that is to make a difference. “You can’t be everything to everyone,” Edward says. “But you can be kind. Big change starts with small things, and kindness is something you can practice every day.”
