Australia: A Look Inside

It's a big country, and this generously long tape covers a lot of ground, including an overview of Sydney and Melbourne and a look at the American-influenced design of Canberra. Seeing real "devils" in Tasmania is a treat, and what's an Aussie video without some koalas and some "roos?" We ride the "Tea and Sugar Train" along the world's longest stretch of straight rails and visit Kalgoorlie, a dusty gold mining town with connections to the young Herbert Hoover. To prove that Australia is more than desert, there is a tour of wetlands in the Kakadu National Park, and a trip to a lush Queensland rainforest. Especially nice is the discussion of Aboriginal art, illustrated both on traditional outdoor stone paintings and at an artists' cooperative. After visiting the Great Barrier Reef, we drop in at outback sheep stations and learn about the "school of the air," the radio school service to remote rural families. The tape is filled with good historical, cultural, and environmental information, and while it lacks the slick production values of Rand McNally's Australia, this solid, comprehensive title is recommended for most collections. Aud: J, H, C, P. (R. Reagan)