Former colleagues have lauded the retired 2AY newsreader as an "old school radio bloke" and a "lovely man".

Currie, 82, died last Saturday at Rutherglen after having been diagnosed with dementia several years ago.

He began his career at 2AY as a 16-year-old cadet in 1949, before leaving in his early 20s and spending seven years at Queensland radio stations.

Upon returning to 2AY, Currie became a familiar voice to youngsters hosting the Chickabidees children's show.

But it was as the station's newsreader that Currie cemented his reputation and the job he most relished.

"My happiest and best times have been in the newsroom," Currie told The Border Mail in 1993 when he retired.

"The news is always changing and you get to meet so many different people – you can be talking to a gardener one minute and a politician the next."

Announcer Ray Terrill, who spent the 1980s hosting 2AY breakfast alongside Currie's newsreading, said his colleague was not always as serious as his on-air demeanour.

"Ray was a prankster," Terrill said.

"Every year the last breakfast show before Christmas Day we used to place a call to Santa Claus in the North Pole and it was Ray in the next studio with cotton wool in his mouth."

Terrill described Currie as "the loveliest man and that's the nicest thing you can say about anyone, he would never get upset and always had time for you".

Another former colleague Frank Davidson said Currie "was an old school radio bloke who loved his job and communicating with people and being the voice of the community".

Steve Block joined 2AY as a trainee in 1980 and said Currie had taught him the "traits of hard work, humility and keeping your head while everyone else is losing there’s".

Currie is survived by Lois, his wife of 58 years, children Damian and Katherine, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

His funeral was held on Thursday.