Radio highlights

Trammit! — A time tramalogue for radio. Why does Melbourne still have trams? Why did Sydney — "the second largest network in the British Empire" — do away with trams in the 1950s? And why are cities like Los Angeles and Sydney discussing bringing them back? Trammit attempts some answers. It features personal statements, comments and audio pictures from people as they ride the rails in Tallin, Mainz, Nagasaki, Amsterdam, LA and, of course, Melbourne. The program explores the remnants of Sydney's grand tram network in the grass around Randwick racecourse and in the dank tunnels beneath Wynyard. There is also a companion web site for an interactive entry to the world of trams with graphics, text, serious and trivial links to other sites (http://www.abc.net.au/rn/trammit). ABC Radio National, Saturday, May 11, 3.30pm.

Chileans — Part of a three-episode series on the exile experience in Australia. Nearly 1 million people fled Chile after the violent US-backed coup in 1973 which brought the Pinochet dictatorship to power. Thousands landed in Australia and expected to stay only for a while. When democracy was restored six years ago, many made the painful decision to stay. ABC Radio National, Sunday, May 12, 2.05pm (repeated Thursday, May 16, 2.05pm).

From GLW issue 230