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Discovering Defence Public Relations Films

Jeff Wray

17 September 2014

A recent addition to the Australian War Memorials film collection available online is a number of documentaries made by/or on behalf of Defence Public Relations during the 1970s and 1980s. The films highlight new equipment, different aspects of service life, operations and training as well as civil assistance activities of the period. These subjects are combined with up-beat contemporary music (or classical music in the army’s case) to provide an exciting and dramatic atmosphere for the subject at hand.

The films not only provide a visual history of the defence force and its material from the 1970s and 1980s they also provide an example of public relations methods of the time and provide an insight into how the organisation saw itself and the image it portrayed to the wider community. Similar themes to those used in these films such as mateship, teamwork, the social life of the forces, professionalism and impressive equipment are used in contemporary recruitment videos.

Three short clips have been made to provide a sample of the films as it relates to the Army, Navy and Air Force respectively.

Please enjoy exploring, researching and, most importantly, viewing our collection.

Links to collection items used in the showreels;

Australian Army - F10219, F10281, F10269, F10305

Royal Australian Air Force - F10302, F10306, F10273, F10279, F10307

Royal Australian Navy - F10297, F10275, F10272,  F10278,  F10280

 

Author

Jeff Wray

Last updated: 30 March 2021

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