This year marks the 47th anniversary of Victor Marillanca presenting 2XX FM’s Latino program ‘Coneccion Latino Americana’, making Victor the longest serving volunteer presenting a Latin American program in Australian Community Radio.
‘Coneccion Latino Americana’ began as the first Spanish language program in the nation’s capital and was officially launched on 24 June 1976 by the then Australian Commissioner for Community Relations and former Immigration Minister, the late Hon Al Grassby AM.
For thousands of Spanish-speaking people, the program has been an important source of news and information over the years covering topics from immigration and social security to refugee programs, local health services, public housing and current policy.
Victor Marillanca arrived in Australia in 1975 as a political refugee. He immediately began working to help others escape political repression and human rights abuse in Chile. As well as producing the weekly Latino program in Spanish, from 1979 to 1990, Victor produced a program in English called ‘Free Chile’ on the struggles of Chileans for freedom and justice.
Victor is currently the President of 2XX and the multicultural representative on the 2XX Board of Directors. Over the years, he has held the roles of Vice President, Secretary, President of the National Ethnic Multicultural Broadcasters Council (NEMBC), President of Community Ethnic Broadcasters Association of ACT Inc and Chair of the 2XX Ethnic Standing Committee at 2XX FM. Victor is also a registered radio trainer and who has trained many of the ethnic broadcasters at 2XXFM.
Congratulations Victor on a remarkable milestone!