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'Colin Milton Thiele' 'AC' (16 November 1920 – 4 September 2006) was an Australian author and educator. He was renowned for his award-winning children's fiction, most notably for the novel ''Storm Boy''.

Contents

Biography

References

See also

External links

Biography

''See List of works by Colin Thiele for full listing of his works.''
Thiele was born in Eudunda in South Australia. He was educated at several country schools including Kapunda High School before studying at the University of Adelaide, graduating from the university in 1941. He served with the Australian Army^[1] and RAAF attaining the rank of corporal^[2] 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 Coorong region of coastal South Australia. Several of his books have been made into movies 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 highest level of the award) for his services to literature and education.
Thiele had suffered from severe arthritis since 1955 ^[3] 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) renuion organised by Cheryal Wittwer. He then returned back to Queensland.
''Can I Call You Colin'', an authorised biography by Stephany Evans Steggall was released in March 2004.
On 4 September, 2006, Thiele died from heart failure in a Brisbane hospital aged 85.^[4]
He was survived by his wife, Rhonda, two children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The Thiele Library at the Magill campus of the University of South Australia is named after him, an honour which predates his death by many years.

References

1. WW2 Nominal Roll - Army
2. WW2 Nominal Roll - RAAF
3. Colin Thiele Obituary Nicholas Tucker
4. Colin Thiele dies after illness Chris Brice

See also

★ List of works by Colin Thiele

External links

★

★ University of South Australia. Colin Thiele Research Collection

★ Colin Thiele's Home Page

★ Storm Boy author dies at 85 Verity Edwards and Michelle Wiese Bockmann

★ 'Storm Boy' author Thiele dies