Colin Thiele

Colin Milton Thiele
A portrait of Colin Thiele in 1964.
Born	Colin Milton Thiele (1920-11-16)16 November 1920 Eudunda, South Australia
Died	Brisbane, Queensland
Occupation	Novelist, poet, educational writer
Nationality	Australian
Period	20th century
Genre	Children's, Australian
Subject	Australian history, Australian biographies
Notable works	Storm Boy, Blue Fin, Sun on the Stubble, February Dragon, Jodie's Journey

Colin Milton Thiele AC (/ˌtiːˈliː/; 16 November 1920 – 4 September 2006) was an Australian author and educator. He was renowned for his award-winning children's fiction, most notably the novels Storm Boy, Blue Fin, the Sun on the Stubble series, and February Dragon.

Biography

Thiele was born in Eudunda in South Australia to a Barossa German family. The young Colin only spoke German until he went to school in Julia Creek. He was educated at several country schools including Kapunda High School before studying at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1941. He later taught in high schools and colleges.(Port Lincoln) http://www.library.unisa.edu.au/about/collections/thiele/biography.aspx

Thiele enlisted in the Australian Army in December 1940, and was posted to the 18th Light Horse (Machine Gun) as a private. He transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in July 1942, serving out the remainder of the war as a corporal posted to Air Defence Headquarters, Higgins, at the tip of the Cape York Peninsula.

Thiele wrote more than 100 books, which often described life in rural Australia, particularly the Eudunda, Barossa Valley, and Murray River/Coorong regions of South Australia. Several of his books have been made into films or television series, including Sun on the Stubble, The Fire in the Stone, Blue Fin and Storm Boy.

In 1977 he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia, the second highest level of the order, for his services to literature and education.

Thiele suffered from severe arthritis from 1955 and in his later years left South Australia to settle in warmer conditions near Dayboro, Queensland.

In 1986 he returned to South Australia for a family (the Wittwer family) reunion organised by Cheryal Wittwer, after which he returned to Queensland.

On 4 September 2006 Thiele died from heart failure in a Brisbane hospital, aged 85. He was survived by his wife, Rhonda, two children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Media coverage of his death was minimal, as he had died on the same day as Australian media personality Steve Irwin.

Bibliography

Main article: List of works by Colin Thiele

Thiele's literary works ranged from the early 20th century until the very early 21st century until just prior to his death in September 2006. The primary component of Thiele's work was children's literature and educational support for teachers,other authors, primarily educating in the areas of English, Drama and Australian history.

Legacy

Can I Call You Colin, an authorised biography by Stephany Evans Steggall, was published in March 2004.

The Thiele Library at the Magill campus of the University of South Australia was named after him many years before his death.

The Senior Student Library which is shared by Golden Grove High School, Pedare Christian College and Gleeson College is named after him.

The road designated Highway B81 between the start of Highway A32 Main North Road just north of Gawler, and Morgan on the Murray River and passing through Kapunda and Eudunda, is named the Thiele Highway after him.

The Secondary House Thiele at Matthew Flinders Anglican College is named in his honour.

See also

• Barossa German
• German Australian

Awards

• 1977 Companion of the Order of Australia
• 1997 Dromkeen Medal
• 2001 Centenary Medal

External links

• Colin Thiele at the Internet Movie Database
• University of South Australia. Colin Thiele Research Collection
• Colin Thiele's Home Page