FILM AUSTRALIA COLLECTION

Title Details

Bill Roycroft

In this interview and in life, gold medal Olympic equestrian Bill Roycroft displays all the qualities of the traditional bush hero - endurance, courage and laconic humour.
Series : Australian Biography Series 7 | Year : 1999 | Total Duration : 26 Minutes | Producer : Robin Hughes
Director : Robin Hughes |
Interview Bill Roycroft , 1999, talking about attitude towards equestrians. Archival colour footage Bill Roycroft on horse jumping over fence. Super. Horse past camera.
Access No. 132164 | 31 secs | Various | Australia | © Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade | Colour |
Archival footage men carrying milk cans / churns and loading onto back of truck.
Access No. 132165 | 8 secs | 1920s | Australia | © National Film and Sound Archive | B&W |
Archival b&w footage farmer working horse-drawn plough, 1940s. Interview Bill Roycroft talking about his father being a farmer, 1999.
Access No. 132166 | 13 secs | 1940s | Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Archival footage farmer walking through field scattering seed.
Access No. 132167 | 8 secs | 1930s | Australia | © National Film and Sound Archive | B&W |
Still b&w photograph country scene with man on horseback on road. Detail photo man on horse. Interview Bill Roycroft talking about his father being a kind man, 1999.
Access No. 132168 | 19 secs | Various | Australia | © State Library of Victoria | Colour |
Still b&w photograph large Roycroft family group gathered outside weatherboard house in garden. Detail photo pan across family members. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about riding to school with siblings and time he broke his arm.
Access No. 132169 | 51 secs | Various | VIC, Australia | © Roycroft Family | Colour |
Archival b&w footage two children cantering on ponies out of farm gate and across field, 1940s. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about mother being thoughtful and good looking.
Access No. 132170 | 34 secs | 1940s | Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Still b&w detail of photograph of Roycroft family standing outside weatherboard house. Zoom to Bill Roycroft's parents. Interview Bill Roycroft , 1999, talking about parents' splitting up when his mother left for a brother of his father.
Access No. 132171 | 19 secs | Various | VIC, Australia | © Roycroft Family | Colour |
Still b&w photograph Bill Roycroft as a schoolboy in blazer. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about trapping rabbits.
Access No. 132172 | 20 secs | Various | VIC, Australia | © William Lovelock | Colour |
Archival b&w footage vs drovers on horseback rounding up sheep, 1940s. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about breaking in horses.
Access No. 132173 | 35 secs | 1940s | Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Still b&w photograph Bill Roycroft as young man in riding gear / jodhpurs holding saddle. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about getting by as young man. B&W photo Bill as young man standing with his girlfriend, Mavis outside house. Interview Bill about meeting girls.
Access No. 132174 | 31 secs | Various | VIC, Australia | © Bill Roycroft | Colour |
Archival b&w footage country dance, people entering dance hall, couples dancing. Interview Bill Roycroft talking about meeting girls at dances. Archival b&w footage overhead shot couples dancing on floorboards. Interview Bill , 1999, about asking girls to dance.
Access No. 132175 | 1 min 4 secs | Various | Australia | © Cinesound Movietone Productions | Colour |
Still b&w photograph Bill Roycroft's wife Mavis as young woman in riding gear holding on to horse. B&W photo Bill and Mavis. B&W photo Bill and Mavis in riding gear with two horses. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about Mavis. B&W photo Mavis with horse. B&W photo Bill with arm around Mavis.
Access No. 132176 | 25 secs | Various | VIC, Australia | © Bill Roycroft | Colour |
Archival b&w footage vs shearers at work in shearing shed, 1940s. Workers spread fleece on wool sorting table. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about work as a shearer with two Irishmen and discussing signing up for WWII.
Access No. 132177 | 33 secs | 1940s | Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Still b&w photograph Bill Roycroft standing in army uniform, WWII. B&W photo Bill in uniform, smiling. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about fighting war in New Guinea and dead soldiers' bodies being eaten by green ants.
Access No. 132178 | 1 min 20 secs | 1940s | Australia | © Bill Roycroft | Colour |
Still b&w photograph shirtless Australian soldiers manning artillery guns in New Guinea, WWII.
Access No. 132179 | 10 secs | 1940s | Papua New Guinea | © Australian War Memorial | B&W |
Still b&w photograph shirtless Bill Roycroft with dog tag around neck, New Guinea WWII. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about senseless fighting in New Guinea, and blaming Blamey. B&W photo Bill and army mates posing on front of army vehicle / car. B&W photo Mavis Roycroft holding baby. B&W photo Bill and Mavis on wedding day, Bill in army uniform holding hat and Mavis in wedding gown. B&W photo Bill holding baby. Interview Bill about becoming a soldier settler.
Access No. 132180 | 40 secs | Various | Papua New Guinea; Australia | © Bill Roycroft | Colour |
Still b&w photograph Bill Roycroft in singlet and slouch hat squatting down beside pony lying in grass. B&W photo Bill and wife Mavis, Bill holding baby Barry. Interview Bill Roycroft , 1999, talking about applying for soldier settlement on a dairy property. B&W photo weatherboard house. B&W photo Bill and son Barry by tractor, goat on tractor bonnet. B&W photo three Roycroft children sitting on lawn in front of house.
Access No. 132181 | 39 secs | Various | VIC, Australia | © Bill Roycroft | Colour |
Still b&w photograph Bill Roycroft taking jump with horse over hedge. B&W photo Mavis Roycroft on horseback in paddock. Interview Bill Roycroft , 1999, talking about getting horses. B&W photo Roycroft boys on horses in paddock with Bill watching on. B&W photo Roycroft boy on horseback in front of house.
Access No. 132182 | 30 secs | Various | VIC, Australia | © Bill Roycroft | Colour |
Archival colour footage Bill Roycroft riding horse in paddock. MS riding. WS taking jump. Interview Bill Roycroft talking about riding ability, 1999.
Access No. 132183 | 31 secs | 1990s | Australia | © Shell Australia | Colour |
Still b&w photograph Bill Roycroft showjumping, on horse taking jump over fence / jump, at 1960 Olympic Games. Detail photo CU Bill on horse.
Access No. 132184 | 10 secs | 1960s | Rome, Italy | © Keith Stevens | B&W |
Still b&w photograph polo match. Zoom to Bill Roycroft about to take a swing. Interview Bill Roycroft talking about being too old for Olympic Games, 1999.
Access No. 132185 | 41 secs | 1960s | Australia | © Bill Roycroft | Colour |
Still b&w photograph pan from man presenting cup / trophy to Bill Roycroft and shaking hands. Bill smiling broadly. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about not being able to afford horses prior to 1960 Olympic Games.
Access No. 132186 | 27 secs | 1960s | Australia | © Keith Stevens | Colour |
Still b&w photograph pan from horse handler with horse in stall on ship to Bill Roycroft watching on. B&W photo horse in stall on ship. B&W photo Australian Olympic equestrian team on horses,1960. Detail photo CU Bill Roycroft. Interview Bill Roycroft , 1999, talking about being blasŽ but there was excitement going to the Rome Olympics.
Access No. 132187 | 33 secs | 1960s | Australia | © Bill Roycroft | Colour |
Archival colour footage 1960, vs Rome street scenes, mopeds/ scooters, traffic policeman, romantic couple sitting on moped / scooter, line of international flags waving in breeze at Olympic venue, equestrian site, (shaky camera work), equestrian event in progress. Interview Bill Roycroft , 1999, talking about three day event. Archival colour footage various shots dressage, onlookers. Interview Bill. Archival colour footage equestrian event, rider falls, vs successful jumps, vs showjumping event. Interview Bill. Archival footage pan equestrian event site, Italian officers, horse jump over concrete pipes.
Access No. 132188 | 1 min 38 secs | 1960s | Rome, Italy; VIC, Australia | © Pamela Vestey | Colour |
Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about his horse negotiating and jump made of concrete pipes at the Rome Olympics. Still b&w photograph Bill Roycroft making jump over pipes with horse's leg stuck. Detail photo horse's leg and Bill on horse. B&W photo horse running off without rider. B&W photo people attending to injured Bill Roycroft. Interview Bill about his injuries from fall.
Access No. 132189 | 57 secs | Various | VIC, Australia; Rome, Italy | © Keith Stevens | Colour |
Archival colour footage LS, VS Bill Roycroft taking jumps in equestrian event at Rome Olympics, 1960 having been injured from a previous fall. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about competing in the event while injured. Archival colour footage crowd on lawn of equestrian venue, WS helicopter for transporting injured Roycroft. Interview Bill about how small the helicopter was.
Access No. 132190 | 58 secs | 1960s | Rome, Italy; VIC, Australia | © Pamela Vestey | Colour |
Still b&w photograph Brian Kroger on horseback. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about equestrian injuries at 1960 Rome Olympics.
Access No. 132191 | 16 secs | 1960s | VIC, Australia | © Bill Roycroft | Colour |
Archival colour footage various scenics of Rome, Italy, 1960, group of nuns in black on street. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about wanting to leave hospital. Archival colour footage Olympic equestrian ring / course / stadium. VS people on course, equestrian walking across grass. Interview Bill. VS equestrian competitors and officials on course. Interview Bill about being worried about remembering the course. Archival colour footage vs Bill Roycroft riding the course. Interview Bill. Archival footage WS Bill jumping stone wall / fence and riding on.
Access No. 132192 | 1 min 13 secs | 1960s | Rome, Italy | © Pamela Vestey | Colour |
Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about not believing that his horse knew of his injuries and took him through the event on his own. Archival b&w footage Bill Roycroft riding in equestrian event and taking jumps.
Access No. 132193 | 37 secs | Various | Australia | © ABC Television | Colour |
Newspaper headline ÒRoycroft Injured Clinches Olympic Gold MedalÓ. Newspaper headline ÒHero of Rome Gold Medal Win HomeÓ and photograph of Bill Roycroft.
Access No. 132194 | 11 secs | 1960s | Australia | © Bill Roycroft | B&W |
Archival b&w footage Bill Roycroft with wife Mavis and three sons on ship's deck, VS, shaking hands with man on deck, 1960s. Interview Bill Roycroft , 1999, talking about his return to Australia after Rome Olympics and being greeted as a hero, to his surprise.
Access No. 132195 | 23 secs | 1960s | Australia | © ABC Television | Colour |
Still b&w photograph Bill Roycroft in riding gear with young Japanese Olympic official.
Access No. 132196 | 6 secs | 1960s | Tokyo, Japan | © Bill Roycroft | B&W |
Archival b&w footage closing ceremony 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, athletes marching, crowd waving, sign for next games in Mexico City.
Access No. 132197 | 12 secs | 1960s | Tokyo, Japan | © Film World | B&W |
Still b&w photograph Bill Roycroft on horseback at equestrian venue. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about the rain and cold weather during the 1968 Mexico Olympics. B&W photo Bill competing on horse during event. Interview Bill about incident when his hands were too cold to do up his fly just prior to competing in a cross-country event. Still colour photograph equestrian teams on Olympic podium, zoom to Australian team on 3rd step for bronze medal.
Access No. 132198 | 1 min 24 secs | Various | Mexico; Australia | © Bill Roycroft | Colour |
Still colour photograph Bill Roycroft competing in dressage event. Detail photo Bill in red jacket / blazer on horse. B&W photo Bill on horse in water during event, zoom to MS. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about disappointment with his mistake at Munich Olympics. B&W photo Bill competing on horse. B&W photo Bill competing on horse. Interview Bill about wishing his team had reprimanded him. Colour photo Australian Olympic equestrian team, zoom to Bill. Interview Bill.
Access No. 132199 | 1 min 36 secs | Various | Munich, Germany; VIC, Australia | © Bill Roycroft | Colour |
Archival colour footage Bill Roycroft competing in equestrian event, taking water jump, equestrian team on podium, CU Bill being awarded medal, officials shaking team members' hands. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about his boys' success with horses.
Access No. 132200 | 27 secs | Various | Montreal, Canada; VIC, Australia | © Shell Australia | Colour |
Still b&w photograph one of Bill Roycroft's sons on horseback. B&W photo Bill and son with horses. B&W photo Bill and sons in stables with horse. Zoom to Bill and son. Interview Bill Roycroft, 1999, talking about his boys staying out of trouble. B&W photo one of Bill's sons riding horse. B&W photo Bill and three sons together at fence. B&W photo Bill on horse competing. B&W photo Bill on horse.
Access No. 132201 | 51 secs | Various | Australia | © Bill Roycroft | Colour |
Four b&w still photographs Bill Roycroft on horse having just taken jump, tree in B/G. B&W photo CU horse jumping with Bill leaning forward, pan from below jump. B&W photo horse in mid air during jump. B&W photo Bill leaning forward on horse. B&W photo Bill taking jump with spectators watching on. Interview Bill Roycroft talking about how he would like to go back and change his past errors, being proud of being married to his wife Mavis. Footage of Mavis Roycroft gardening. Interview Bill about importance of trying to be a good bloke.
Access No. 132202 | 2 mins | Various | VIC, Australia | © Bill Roycroft | Colour |