Thrift was born in Tasmania, an island off the southern coast of Australia. She grew up in a musical family and was active in the Collinsville Seventh-day Adventist church. As a voice and piano student at Australian Missionary College, now Avondale College, she was a member of the Symphonic Choir during the years it was conducted by George Greer.

While at AMC, she met Alan George Thrift, also an accomplished singer and pianist. Following their graduations with A.Mus.A. diplomas, they married in February 1951 and then taught piano at the college on a part-time basis and sang in Greer's choir while Alan completed another year of music training.

When Alan returned to lead the music program in 1957 following additional education and experience, Yvonne also assisted in the program, teaching piano and voice for nearly forty years. In 1976, the Avondale College yearbook, Jacaranda, was dedicated to them. They were praised for their ministry through music, leadership, friendliness, and untiring devotion.

In 1991, she started and then directed and toured with the Avondale Memorial Church Choir. Her husband, Alan, assumed leadership of the choir when she died in 1996. The Thrifts have two children, Karen and Michael.

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