Neighbours star Madeleine West with members of 22 Const Regt who assisted in the production of recent episodes of the TV soap. Photo by Caroline Chalker, Recruitment Communication

Glamour girls Kylie Minogue and Natalie Imbruglia may appear to have little in common with 22 Const Regt, but that has now changed.

The producers of the show which introduced the two popstars to celebrityhood, Grundy Television, filmed a series of Neighbours episodes screened recently with the help of Lt Ashley Graham, his men from Oakleigh Barracks and 1 Pet Coy.

Big Brother survivor, Blair McDonough, who plays Stuart Parker in the popular TV show, joined the Army in episodes now screening on Network Ten across Australia.

PACC was contacted by Grundy Television and reached an agreement which provided positive prime-time exposure for the Army.

This included negotiating appropriate placement of recruitment advertisements, as one of television's most popular personalities "joined up".

Lt Graham provided technical support and advice for the Neighbours' crew in ensuring that Blair wore the uniform as correctly as possible for a drama series civvy. "I'd rather be advising Kylie but my missus probably wouldn't be too happy. The Neighbours crew were a really friendly group to work with," he said.

The soldiers from 1 Pet Coy, 22 Const Regt supported Neighbours' cast as Blair did PT on recruit camp, proved his bush savvy in an Army orienteering exercise and battled bushfires with the Country Fire Service.

Blair was suitably impressed with Army's involvement and in a recent TV Week interview said, "the guys from Army have been great, a real top bunch".

By Shane Fairlie