In his final days, Border country music broadcaster, promoter and manager Keith Melbourne told his family he was thankful for his “blessed life”.
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The 90-year-old died on Friday afternoon at his Thurgoona aged care facility, following a battle with dementia.
Mr Melbourne was most well known for more than 30 years of presenting country music programs on Albury-Wodonga community radio station 2REM 107.3FM.
He also travelled around Australia and the US managing country artists.
Granddaughter Lana Hanssens, who lives in Wodonga, said her “Pa” would have liked to be remembered as a strong family man, as well as for the music.
“Obviously we’re very saddened about his passing,” she said.
“We’re very proud that he lived such as a blessed life.”
Ms Hanssens spent seven years working with Mr Melbourne to put together his biography, From Yackandandah Nights To City Lights, released ahead of his 90th birthday last year.
“It was quite important to capture those stories,” she said.
“He had a really interesting life.”
Mr Melbourne was heavily involved in the career of country music artist Ray Kernaghan in the 1970s, but one of his biggest achievements was launching the Dead Ringer Band featuring siblings Nash and Kasey Chambers.
He and wife Betty had seven children: Gary, Graeme, Warren, Daryl, Bruce (dec), Anthony and Leanne.
Graeme Melbourne said even when living in the city, his father called Yackandandah home and loved to tell the family stories of their history.
“He always had the bush at heart and, when time permitted, he would drive us up to camp at various parts of Yackandandah,” he said.
It was in his days as a young man, sitting around the living room with his family, that Mr Melbourne discovered the radio.
Speaking to The Border Mail last year, he said he was amazed how the radio could transmit sounds and his career began from there.
"Probably the greatest thrill I've got out of country music is meeting the people I've wanted to meet," Mr Melbourne said.
The funeral will be held at the Catholic Presbyteries church in North Albury on Thursday from 10am, followed by a burial next to his late wife at Yackandandah Cemetary and a wake at Yackandandah Hotel.
Copies of his biography will be available.
Ms Hanssens encouraged Mr Melbourne’s old listeners to attend.
“We plan on making it a celebration,” she said.
