Colin Thiele

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 Field, at the tip of the Cape York Peninsula.

Thiele was born in Eudunda in South Australia to a Barossa German family. The young Colin only spoke German until he went to school at Julia Creek. He was educated at several country schools including the Eudunda Higher Primary School, and Kapunda High School before studying at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1941. He later taught in high schools and colleges. He became principal of Wattle Park Teachers College in 1965, principal of Murray Park CAE in 1973, and director of the Wattle Park Teachers Centre until his retirement in 1980.

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

The Senior Student Library which is shared by Golden Grove High School, Pedare Christian College and Gleeson College is named after and was officially opened by him on 10 May 1989.

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

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 died on the same day as Australian media personality Steve Irwin.

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 his work was children's literature and educational support for teachers and other authors, primarily educating in the areas of English, Drama and Australian history.

Eudunda Family Heritage Gallery

Happy 98th Birthday to Colin Thiele!‼️ On this day in 1920, the renowned author, soldier and educator, Colin Milton Thiele, was born near #Eudunda! ... Tune in next week as we celebrate the most...