45 years presenting the Latin American program on radio 2XX FM

45 Years presenting the Latin American program on radio 2XX FM

This year marks the 45th anniversary of Coneccion Latino Americana program on 2XXFM in Canberra. The Latino program began in late June 1976 with Victor Marillanca as coordinator/presenter and was the first Spanish radio program in the ACT.

Presenter Victor Marillanca arrived in Australia in 1975 as a political refugee. He immediately began working to help others escape political repression and human rights abuses in Chile. In addition to producing the weekly Wednesday Latino program in Spanish, from 1979 to 1990, Victor produced a program in English called Free Chile that covered the struggles of Chileans for freedom and justice. In addition since 1995 presents a program of Latin dance music every Saturday night.

For thousands of Spanish-speaking people, the program provides important news and information on topics such as immigration, social security, refugee programs, local health services, public housing and current policy.

In the many years that Victor has presented the Latino program, politicians, academics, diplomats and freedom fighters have had time to broadcast on the program with the words of people who do not speak Spanish translated for listeners.

This anniversary makes him the longest-serving Latin American volunteer community broadcaster in Australia.