When Prime Minister Robert Menzies left Australia in 1941 for his wartime tour, he took a 16mm camera with him. He was able to capture intimate footage of significant people and events few people would be privy to. As he famously traveled to England to take on Sir Winston Churchill over the strategic direction of the war, Menzies filmed a candid Churchill relaxing in the countryside, smoking a cigar and feeding the swans.

The Menzies Home Movie collection showcases footage the Australian Prime Minister made over more than a decade. He evocatively captured the rubble of collapsed buildings in Hyde Park during the London Blitz, gave us a glimpse into his private family life by filming his daughter Heather Henderson on tour and filmed the new Queen’s Australian visit in 1954.

It’s not just prime ministers that take home movies of friends and family, holidays and events — most of us do. Home Movie Day on 16 October is a worldwide annual celebration of amateur films. You can see the full list of home movies on ASO here.