The Writer in Television History - Division 4

Division 4 (1969-1975)

Screen cap from opening credits

On 11 March 1969, Detective Frank Banner lost his pregnant wife Joy after she was terrorised into early labour by the antagonists of 'The Soldiers', episode one of Division 4. Thus began a series that from its inception had a grittier, harder, more shell-shocked protagonist than its predecessor, Homicide.

In 2013, Dr Catriona Mills undertook a research fellowship with the AFI Research Collection at RMIT to bring their collection of early Crawford Productions scripts together with AustLit. The result was records for 318 episodes of Crawfords radio and television dramas, including 57 episodes of Division 4.

What follows is a collection of resources relating to Division 4.

Division 4 in the Popular Press

A collection of articles drawn from contemporary newspapers and magazines.

'By Trial and Error, You Get a Winner'

In the 30 April 1969 issue of the Australian Women's Weekly, Nan Musgrove reviewed Crawford Productions' new series, Division 4, concluding that

The new series is not substantially different in concept from Crawford's production 'Homicide' (and the cops in it apparently borrow the 'Homicide' hats, always worn a size too small), but it is a better, glossier production.

Read the full piece (via Trove Australia) below.

Musgrove, Nan. 'By Trial and Error, You Get a Winner', Australian Women's Weekly, 30 April 1969, p.15.

Australia's Top TV Cops

A light actors-are-friends-off-the-set-too piece, this one includes glamorous full-colour images of the cast.

Read the full article (via Trove) at the link below.

Source:

'Australia's Top TV Cops', Australian Women's Weekly, 17 May 1972, p.45.

'Division 4' Packs in the Action

This article includes full-colour images of the cast. Read the full article (via Trove) at the link below.

Source:

'"Division 4" Packs in the Action', ~Australian Women's Weekly, 19 May 1972, p.13.

Love Match for Frank Banner

Frank Banner's role as stoic but stricken widower was in many ways the emotional thread that ran through Division 4–at least until he married again and left the show.

Read the entire article (via Trove) at the link below.

Source:

Julie Kusko, 'Love Match for Frank Banner', Australian Women's Weekly, 26 September 1973, p.15.

Women and Policing in Division 4

Despite its grittiness, Division 4 did market its female characters as glamorous and appealing, especially its guest stars.

Women of Division 4

From The Canberra Times, 16 June 1969, p.11.

Available via Trove Australia.

Sandy Gore Guest Stars

'Sandy Gore who plays the part of Marie in the next episode of Division 4 'Big Brother' to be seen on CTC at 8.30pm tonight. ... '

[No title], Canberra Times, 18 August 1969, p.1 [television supplement].

Division 4 in the Advertising Columns

Advertisements for Division 4 took a number of forms over the years.

Below is a selection of the changing advertisements that appeared in the columns of the Canberra Times over the course of the program (via Trove Australia).