Thistle Yolette Harris

Thistle Yolette Harris (29 July 1902 – 5 July 1990), was born as Yolette Thistle Harris, but mostly known as Thistle Stead, was an Australian botanist, educator, author and conservationist.

Biography She was one of three daughters born to Charles Thomas Harris and Illma Richardson Harris (née Rokes). She was educated at SCECGS Redlands, Cremorne, where she was taught by the English teacher, Constance Le Plastrier (1864–1938), who was a member of the Naturalists Society of New South Wales and co-author of Botany for Australian Students (1916), and helped foster Harris' interest in native plants. Harris died in 1990 at a nursing home in Summer Hill, New South Wales. After several years as a science teacher in secondary schools, she became a lecturer in science education at Sydney Teachers' College (1938–61). Harris later featured her efforts to revegetate the mine-workings at the Central Mine of the Sulphide Corporation in her book Australian Plants for the Garden (1953). Harris also lectured on Biological Science at University of Sydney and on Botany at Sydney Technical College.

According to John Walter, her interest in Australian plants was also developed when she met Albert Morris (1886-1939) while she taught at the school in Broken Hill between 1929 and 1930. By marrying Stead she became the second stepmother to the Australian novelist and short-story writer, Christina Stead. Stead was twenty-five years older than Harris and died six years after their marriage. She was instrumental in facilitating the publication of the Society's journal Australian Wild Life, which was issued intermittently from 1934. Her book, Gardening with Australian Plants, Shrubs (1977), describes over 100 genera covering 600 species. In 1965 she donated the property to the National Trust of Australia (NSW) and it is managed by the Foundation. With financial assistance from the Gould League of New South Wales, a building was erected on the property in 1971 to act as a Field Studies Centre and in 1973, a teacher from the Education Department was appointed to be a full-time education officer.

Oral history Harris was interviewed twice during her lifetime, once in 1972 by Hazel de Berg, and another in 1987 by Catherine Johnson. Both interviews relate to her early life, conservation career, personal life, and travel. The recordings can be found at the National Library of Australia.

Publications Books authored by Harris include: 1939 – Wildflowers of Australia, illustrated by Adam Forster. Angus & Robertson: Sydney. (With several later editions). 1945 – Nature Problems. A book of nature study for young Australians. Brooks & Co: Sydney. 1953 – Australian Plants for the Garden. A handbook on the cultivation of Australian trees, shrubs, other flowering plants, and ferns. Angus & Robertson: Sydney. 1956 – Naturecraft in Australia; a guide for the nature-lover, the bushwalker, the student, and the teacher. Angus & Robertson: Sydney. 1962 – Eastern Australian Wildflowers. Angus & Robertson Limited. 1966 – Around Australia Program - Australian Plant Life. Nelson Doubleday. 1970 – Alpine Plants of Australia Including Subalpine and Montane Plants. Angus & Robertson: Sydney. 1976 – The Ellis Stones Garden Book: Australian Landscape Gardening. Nelson: Melbourne. (With Ellis Stones). 1977 – Gardening With Australian Plants: Shrubs. Nelson: Melbourne. 1979 – Gardening With Australian Plants: Small Plants and Climbers. Nelson: Melbourne. 1980 – Gardening With Australian Plants: Trees. Nelson: Melbourne.