Red Lipstick Intelligence

Australia’s achievements in intelligence during WWII, especially in the Pacific, have long been undervalued on the world stage. We have evidence to demonstrate that Australia “punched above our weight”, important for our national narrative and identity.

We also intend to readdress the gender balance in Australian WW2 history by telling these unknown and largely secret stories of women who by necessity, reversed gender stereotypes, misogynistic workplaces, social behaviour and political policies, whose actions and early feminism helped to pave the way for their daughter and granddaughters for more equality in the workplace and home.

We also believe it is important to celebrate, revere and record the stories and wisdoms of our society’s elders – who are still largely forgotten in place of the reverence for youth culture. We must tell their stories especially as veterans of war as a legacy to the next generations and as part of our collective history before they are lost.

In 2025, the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII provides a momentous opportunity to program Red Lipstick Intelligence as event television, aligning with strong media interest and public discussion about the end of the WWII and what it means now to contemporary audiences especially at a time when current international tensions are at an all-time high. There’s also never been a more culturally significant time to reflect on the contribution of women in wartime who reversed gender stereotypes. Their trailblazing created the precedents and fertile ground for future generations of women to find their voice and place in the world. As a result, defence forces, signals intelligence and technology around the world now employ—and value—women in an array of roles that were once considered ‘only for men’. Red Lipstick Intelligence highlights the untold history of these women and brings their story full circle with the celebration of their achievements and impact on women today.

With this female focused WW2 story, we hope to encourage and empower women to recognise their intelligence and abilities, especially in fields that are traditionally male dominated.
With these first-hand accounts direct from female WW2 veterans, we hope to provide a means to humanise the horror, impact and experience of war, and to provide a deeper understanding for those who fought to defend the enemy against the threat of extremism. This is extremely important in contemporary times given current heightened international tensions that ominously feel not unlike pre WW2. We also hope to recognise the legacy of the ageing population whose wisdom we need within society and is being lost, unlike many other cultures (especially indigenous) that revere their elders.

Alli Sinclair has written a best-selling historical fiction novel called The Codebreakers inspired by the real-life female codebreakers in Brisbane during WWII. The background research for this novel was the inspiration for this series and Alli’s contacts made through that process facilitated the strong relationships with veterans, their families, and defence and historical organisations that are the foundation of this documentary. We have a relationship with the Australian Signals Directorate and the first female Director General Rachel Noble who is very supportive. We have met with the Australian War Memorial and intend to partner with them. We have met with historians at Bletchley Park, U.K. which influenced our perspective of Australia within the U.K.-U.S. intelligence relationship. We have built a network of ex- and current military professionals and experts, and also have many contacts of family members holding archives of the wartime experiences.

This documentary asks audiences to reassess their views on history as it is largely told from a male perspective, and to seek more female-led stories to ensure they have a more balanced view of history. This is especially important in the education sector as Alli has found through her meetings with state educational institutions who have expressed their desire for more books and documentaries celebrating women in history. It also serves as a reminder that women – when given the chance – are capable of achieving great things and for the women of today to take advantage of the opportunities they have today out of respect for the trailblazing women who worked so hard for equality.

We also ask audiences to speak with older generations to preserve history and ensure their legacies live on. We highlight the importance of establishing connections with older generations and to remember that they, too, were young with hopes and dreams.