Colin Thiele
Encyclopedia
Colin Milton Thiele, AC
(16 November 1920 – 5 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.
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 served with the Australian Army
and RAAF
attaining the rank of corporal
during World War II and later taught in high schools and colleges.
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
.
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 Shared Library at the Golden Grove
Campus is also 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 after him.
The Secondary House Thiele at Matthew Flinders Anglican College
is named in his honour.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(16 November 1920 – 5 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
Blue Fin
Blue Fin is a 1978 family movie that stars Hardy Krüger, Greg Rowe and Elspeth Ballantyne. It is based on an Australian novel written by Colin Thiele and published in 1969.-Plot:...
, the Sun on the Stubble
Sun on the Stubble
Sun on the Stubble is a book written by Colin Thiele, published in 1961.It was adapted as a TV miniseries in 1996.-Miniseries cast:*Christian Kohlund - Marcus Gunther*Jamie Croft - Bruno Gunther*Sophie Heathcote - Lottie Gunther...
series, and February Dragon.
Biography
Thiele was born in EudundaEudunda, South Australia
Eudunda is a rural town in South Australia, roughly 103 kilometres northeast of Adelaide, established in 1870 after settlers began moving into the area in the 1860s...
in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
to a Barossa German
Barossa German
Barossa German refers to a dialect of German, which was once common in South Australia. The prominent South Australian writer, Colin Thiele , whose grandparents were German immigrants, referred to "Barossa Deutsch" as: "that quaintly inbred and hybrid language evolved from a century of linguistic...
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
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, graduating in 1941. He served with the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
and RAAF
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
attaining the rank of corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
during World War II and later taught in high schools and colleges.
Thiele wrote more than 100 books, which often described life in rural Australia, particularly the Eudunda, Barossa Valley
Barossa Valley
The Barossa Valley is a major wine-producing region and tourist destination of South Australia, located 60 km northeast of Adelaide. It is the valley formed by the North Para River, and the Barossa Valley Way is the main road through the valley, connecting the main towns on the valley floor of...
, and Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
/Coorong regions of South Australia. Several of his books have been made into films or television series, including Sun on the Stubble
Sun on the Stubble
Sun on the Stubble is a book written by Colin Thiele, published in 1961.It was adapted as a TV miniseries in 1996.-Miniseries cast:*Christian Kohlund - Marcus Gunther*Jamie Croft - Bruno Gunther*Sophie Heathcote - Lottie Gunther...
, The Fire in the Stone, Blue Fin
Blue Fin
Blue Fin is a 1978 family movie that stars Hardy Krüger, Greg Rowe and Elspeth Ballantyne. It is based on an Australian novel written by Colin Thiele and published in 1969.-Plot:...
and Storm Boy
Storm Boy (film)
Storm Boy is a 1976 Australian film based on a children's book, by Colin Thiele, about a boy and his pelican.Storm Boy likes to wander alone along the fierce deserted coast of South Australia's Coorong. He and his father live a reclusive life among the dunes that face out into the Southern Ocean...
.
In 1977 he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, 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
Dayboro, Queensland
Dayboro is a town in the Moreton Bay Region, approximately 46 km north-northwest of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia.To the north of Dayboro lies the D'Aguilar Range and the mountain township of Mount Mee. Other nearby towns include Petrie and Samford. The land surrounding...
, 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
Steve Irwin
Stephen Robert "Steve" Irwin , nicknamed "The Crocodile Hunter", was an Australian television personality, wildlife expert, and conservationist. Irwin achieved worldwide fame from the television series The Crocodile Hunter, an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series which he co-hosted...
.
Legacy
Can I Call You Colin, an authorised biography by Stephany Evans Steggall, was published in March 2004.The Thiele Library at the Magill
Magill, South Australia
Magill is a suburb of Adelaide in the City of Burnside and the City of Campbelltown.-History:Magill is a suburb located approximately 7 km from the Adelaide CBD in the eastern suburbs. Magill was first established as the Makgill Estate, owned by two Scots, Robert Cock and William Ferguson,...
campus of the University of South Australia
University of South Australia
The University of South Australia is a public university in the Australian state of South Australia. It was formed in 1991 with the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology and Colleges of Advanced Education. It is the largest university in South Australia, with more than 36,000...
was named after him many years before his death.
The Senior Student Shared Library at the Golden Grove
Golden Grove, South Australia
Golden Grove is an outer north-eastern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia and is within the City of Tea Tree Gully local government area. It is adjacent to Wynn Vale, Surrey Downs, Greenwith, Yatala Vale, Fairview Park, and Salisbury East.- History :...
Campus is also 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 after him.
The Secondary House Thiele at Matthew Flinders Anglican College
Matthew Flinders Anglican College
Matthew Flinders Anglican College is an independent, co-educational day school located on Queensland's Sunshine Coast in Buderim, approximately north of Brisbane. It has grown from an enrolment of 160 students in its foundation year, 1990, to over 1200 today. It includes a Primary School and a...
is named in his honour.
External links
- University of South Australia. Colin Thiele Research Collection
- Colin Thiele's Home Page