Three special programs were produced in addition to the two series of “Transit” shows. These were:-
Transit Special – Two Rare Tramway Survivors (1997)
A one hour special called “Two Rare Tramway Survivors” was produced in 1997. It was presented by Roberto D’Andrea, and was about his project in Calcutta, where he worked on their trams. It included interviews with passengers in both Melbourne and Calcutta, and news footage from Calcutta. “Kather Baxo”, a film on Calcutta’s trams by Maradeb Shi, was also included.
Tram Connies – The story since 1996 (2002)
Since 1996, I have shot footage of various events for Roberto D’Andrea, and since it’s formation, the “Connies Performance Troupe”. It was always intended to produce programs with the footage, but for one reason or another, we never got around to it. We had an excuse when the “Art Of Dissent” festival featured the Connies in the foyer of the Victorian Arts Centre, and wanted a short video of their work to show in the foyer. So this short 14 minute program, “Tram Connies – The Story since 1996” came into being. Showcasing the various protests and festival work the Connies group has been involved with, it starts with the links to Calcutta, progresses on to the now famous “Full Monty” protest at the Melbourne GPO, on to the current role of the Connies group, handing out swapcards at Festivals, keeping the Conducting tradition alive. For this program, both Roberto and myself sifted though countless hours of footage, trying to condense it into a 12 minute package. It was no easy task, and ran two minutes overtime as a result !
This program went to air twice, once in late 2002, the other screening in early 2003.
Trammies – Tracking Tramway Tradition (2003)
This program looks at the “Trammies” exhibition held at the Immigration Museum from Feburary to May 2003 and includes footage from the launch of the exhibition, archival footage from the Tramways Board and interviews with current and former Trammies about their life on the Trams.
We talk to Melbourne’s first female Tram Driver, Joyce Barry, pay a little visit to Calcutta’s Tramways, talk to Reg Dean about the Geelong Tramways that closed in 1956, and explore the world of the tram enthusiasts – known as “Gunzels”. Finally, we finish with a Tramway Poem from Malcolm Just.