Janet Elspeth Crawford was born on 6 January 1943 in Roseville, New South Wales. She was the daughter of Sir John Grenfell Crawford and his wife, Jessie. She studied at the Canberra Church of England Girl's Grammar School, c. 1953-1954; Presbyterian Ladies College, Pymble, NSW c. 1955-1957 and achieved her leaving certificate, Canberra High School, 1960. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Sydney University in 1965. She died on November 1978 in Canberra.