Shirley and Peter Diskon. Photo: Supplied.
Former Far South Coast radio legend Pete ‘Disko’ Diskon has passed away at home surrounded by his family after a long battle with poor health.
His widow Shirley said Pete’s radio career took him to Queensland, Tasmania and all over NSW.
He finished his professional career in the Eurobodalla at 2EC where he worked for more than a decade. He then volunteered at community radio station 2EAR in Moruya and Braidwood Community Radio station 88.9.
Pete was a Eurobodalla Shire Councillor from 2021 to 2024.
Shirley knew Pete for 40 years. He was working at the same radio station in Mudgee where Shirley worked. “I thought he had an ego as big as Sydney Harbour,” she said.
They lost touch but Pete found Shirley again through the internet.
“He told his mother he was going to marry me. I said, “What?”
During his career he interviewed many politicians and musicians.
“He has spoken to many very influential people and led a very varied life,” Shirley said.
That included reporting on traumatic events. He covered the 1996 Port Arthur massacre while working in Tasmania.
Pete ‘Disko’ Diskon at the microphone. Photo: Facebook.
Eurobodalla Shire Councillor Rob Pollock OAM has been friends with Pete for more than 20 years.
“He was incredibly approachable, incredibly caring,” Clr Pollock said. “Disko was happy to be involved in local issues that the community supported and give them publicity through interviews and mentions on the radio.”
He said Pete was genuinely interested in people’s wellbeing and the community’s health and was very supportive of any efforts to improve locals’ quality of life. “The microphone was always open.”
Pete had long expressed an interest in being a councillor, but ill health prevented him from running in 2015.
In 2019 he ran on Clr Pollock’s team as an independent and was elected.
“He ran for council with me to support me and I thoroughly enjoyed his support and friendship,” Clr Pollock said.
“As a councillor he was a very fair man, interested in listening to all the various points of view and then would make up his mind on what he thought was the best interests of the community. He was a lovely bloke.”
For the 20-odd years that Clr Pollock knew him, Pete had battled poor health but “soldiered on” regardless.
“I think it was terrific Pete was at home when he passed,” Clr Pollock said. “For the last six to eight weeks he had spent a lot of time in hospital, here and in Canberra.”
Eurobodalla Shire Mayor Mat Hatcher said everyone was in shock after hearing that Peter had passed away on 24 February.
“Pete has been in the area as Disko and is a very well-known figure,” Mayor Hatcher said. “When someone has been around for so long it is always a shock.”
He said that as a councillor, Pete was always approachable and always wanted to chat. He was also very interested in the area’s history.
Clr Pollock and Pete were both mad Richmond Tigers’ supporters. He very nearly completed a full pre-season.
“That was a big part of our conversations on the radio about how they were doing,” he said.
Pete also had a long-term involvement with the Batemans Bay Seahawks Aussie Rules Club, both as a supporter and committee member.
Cr Pollock added that Pete was deeply devoted to his wife Shirley and their family.
Shirley said Peter was such a kind and awesome gentleman.
“I love him to pieces, and I am going to miss him a lot,” Shirley said. “He had been fighting for his health so hard for two to three years, so it is good to see him out of pain as much as it hurts.
“He was the nicest guy, always keen to have a laugh,” Mayor Hatcher said. “It is amazing to see the support for him online both as a councillor and for his life on the air.”
Pete is survived by his beloved Shirley, children, grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Shirley aims to hold Pete’s funeral on Friday (27 February).
