Yvonne Nicholls

Yvonne Isabel Nicholls, Miles (20 February 1914 – 31 January 2009), was an Australian activist, author, civil libertarian, public speaker and teacher.

Her notable accomplishments include heading a unit that photographed and catalogued science documents in Australia House during World War II, discovering a species of ant endemic to the Otway Ranges (Monomorian yvonnii), contributing to the 1967 referendum campaign to enable the federal government to make laws benefiting Aboriginal Australians, securing the patronage of the Thai Government for a former PEN English-language school in Bangkok, and amassing research through visits to more than 15 countries to develop her popular lecture entitled The Fascinating History of Sex.

Early life and World War II Born in Melbourne in 1914, Nicholls attended Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne, and completed a Bachelor of Arts with majors in history and economics at The University of Melbourne in 1936. During their time at Australia House, Nicholls recruited and trained a team of 20 women to operate a unit that catalogued, photographed, and sent negatives of secret war documents to Australia by air courier. In 1952 Nicholls' published a pamphlet, Not Slaves, Not Citizens: Condition of the Australian Aborigines in the Northern Territory, that called for stronger measures to protect Aborigines on reserves, whose way of life had been threatened by rocket tests in outback areas; full citizenship for Aborigines living in 'European' communities, including the right to vote and own property; the abolition of payment in kind for Aborigines on outback stations; and new laws providing Aborigines with protection from racial discrimination.

Pakistan, Thailand and Switzerland It was during the couple's time in Pakistan in 1959 that Nicholls' interactions with local women of different social classes elicited her interest in the sexual customs of other cultures and traditions.

The couple lived in Geneva from 1970 until 1977, where Nicholls published a work entitled Emergence of proposals for recompensing developing countries for maintaining environmental quality for the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

Later years After 1977, Nicholls returned to Australia, where she taught at several schools and the Council for Adult Education.

Her extensive experience and interests, combined with her public speaking skills, resulted in her frequent appearances on television, radio and as a guest speaker at events.

Yvonne Nicholls died in Melbourne after a stroke at the age of 94.