It is with sadness that that we inform you that Alpine Radio Life Member, committee member and presenter Ian Erbacher (aka Mr P, Mr Producer, Eri) passed away on Saturday night, 3rd October 2020.

Eri was a keen bowler, member of the local gun club, member of the Men’s Shed and a long term resident of Mount Beauty.  Eri was part of the fabric of Alpine Radio. He had several terms as a committee member, was part of the station when it was first founded 17 years ago, and was installed as a life member several years ago.

Eri hosted the summer edition of

Valley Sports

on a Saturday morning with Ron Fensham, interviewing and reporting mainly on bowls, fishing and golf.  He was a lover of 60s and 70s music and country music, hosting many programs over the years, more recently

High Country

on Fridays at 12 noon.

President, Nick Brown says, “I remember how Eri helped me immensely when I first started at Alpine Radio back in 2009, as he hosted a program of 60s and 70s music immediately preceding my jazz on a Thursday evening. Ian had a lot of followers, and often racked up a lot of requests, especially in the early days.”

Ian turned up at many Outside Broadcasts as well, helping with packing and unpacking, and getting stallholders to interview.  He liked to be a bit of a prankster at OBs, often stirring up the presenter back at the studio, by taking over the mouse remotely and moving it around to the surprise and bewilderment of the poor presenter sitting in the studio.  Nick says, “It is hard to believe he is gone. He hosted

Valley Sports

(for the first summer edition this season) on Saturday morning, following which he sat with a few of us at the market in Mount Beauty while we were selling Lions Club raffle tickets, chatting away as usual.“ Vale Mr P, we will miss you.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions a private family service will be held in Wodonga, with a memorial gathering to be held at a later date.