Thistle Yolette Harris

Who was Thistle Yolette Harris?

Thistle Yolette Harris, also known as Thistle Stead, was an Australian botanist, educator, author and conservationist. She was educated at Redlands School SCECGS Redlands, Cremorne, where she was taught by Constance Le Plastrier, who was a member of the Naturalists Society of New South Wales and co-author of Botany for Australian Students, and helped foster Harris' interest in native plants. She studied botany at the University of Sydney, followed by a diploma of education.

After several years as a science teacher in secondary schools, she became a lecturer in science education at Sydney Teachers' College. In 1945 she was awarded a Master of Education degree and studied for a Diploma in Landscape Design at the University of New South Wales between 1968 and 1969. 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.

According to John Walter, her interest in Australian plants was also developed when she met Albert Morris while she taught at the school in Broken Hill between 1929 and 1930.