'Joel left school at fourteen, beginning his career in public relations and journalism with The Daily Telegraph
(1927-1931) where he worked as a copy boy and messenger and later as a cadet reporter for the Labour Daily (1931-1937). In 1938 he acted as a publicity officer with the New South Wales government involved with Australia's celebration of King George VI's coronation, and also of Australia's 150th Anniversary celebrations. Joel initially enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 7 September 1942 at Audley, New South Wales and began training with 1 Battalion, before re-enlisting on 4 November with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN); he had already attained the rank of Lance Corporal before his transfer. Appointed Paymaster Sub-Lieutenant with the RAN Volunteer Reserve (RANVR), Joel commenced service at the shore establishment HMAS Magnetic in Townsville, Queensland, rising to the rank of Lieutenant by mid-February 1943.'
'He served in operations aboard the Australian Fairmile motor launch ML-817, which left Milne Bay on 1 September 1943, observing and co-ordinating the movement of convoys of troops and equipment from Port Moresby, Milne Bay and Morobe via Buna up the east coast of New Guinea. After a short period serving as RAN Liaison Officer on the Staff of Admiral Kincaid, Commander of the United States Seventh Fleet, in August 1944, he was transferred to the staff of General MacArthur's Headquarters, South-West Pacific Area as RAN Information Liaison Officer. His duties were outlined as 'securing for the RAN adequate representation in GHQ Communiques and to speed up their release; securing information regarding RAN operational activities for dissemination to the press; and to generally watch RAN publicity interests at GHQ. '
'Joel performed his job admirably, remaining with US Armed Forces from Hollandia through to the invasion of the Philippines. He recorded the first details of the Australian fleet involvement in the Battle of Lingayen Gulf for press release. For his work in this capacity, the Americans awarded Joel the Bronze Star. After discharge from the RAN on 17 August 1945, Joel started a public relations firm, and later entered NSW state politics. Joel was responsible for planning many large public events on behalf of the government, including royal tours, papal visits, the Bi-Centenary Celebrations (1970) and the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House (1973). Joel's book, Australian Protocol and Procedures, was published in 1982. Joel was awarded an Order of the British Empire in 1956, made a Knight Bachelor in 1971 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1974. He died in 1998.'
Source: Australian War Memorial website: http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/REL/13135 (Sighted 25 /06/2010)
State Library of New South Wales http://www.parlpapers.sl.nsw.gov.au/display.cfm?parl_id=9700
