Thistle Yolette Harris

Through her teaching and writing, she did a great deal to popularize knowledge about Australian flora, to encourage domestic gardeners to include native plants in their gardens and to persuade a wider audience of the need for conservation measures. She published twelve books about Australian plants and teaching nature studies between 1938 and 1980, and contributed widely to scientific journals and reference books including The Australian Naturalist, Australian Wild Life, Australian Encyclopaedia and Science Wonders of Australia. She was also editor, at various times, of New Horizons in Education, Australian Wildlife and Wildlife Research News.

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Dr Shirley Jeffrey

Dr Jeffrey was a Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO’s marine biochemistry unit between 1971 and 1977. From 1977 to 1981, she was a Senior Principal Research Scientist at the CSIRO Division of Fisheries and Oceanography and then Acting Chief of the CSIRO Division of Fisheries Research (1981-84). In 1991, she became a Chief Research Scientist.

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Olga Sansom

Olga Sansom’s contribution to natural science had been recognised by the Southland branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1960 when it made her a life member. The Southland Museum and Art Gallery similarly honoured her in 1966. In 1973 her achievements gained international attention when she was included in the first edition of The world who’s who of women. Her services to New Zealand were acknowledged in 1979 when she received the Queen’s Service Medal.

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