Paul Barber has passed away in Melbourne from cancer.
Paul worked at 3AW for a number of years on various shifts including breakfast and drive. He also hosted drive on ABC 3LO 774.
He was Derryn Hinch’s long time producer when Hinch presented mornings on 3AW.
The former priest turned journalist, who at one stage outed himself as being gay, eventually left radio to work for the Victorian Department of Education.
In 1996 while presenting drive on 3AW Paul Barber told listeners to “boycott channel 9” over a story they were running in a current affairs show. Nine pulled $300,000 worth of advertising from 3AW and Barber was fired.
In an editorial last month on 3AW, Derryn Hinch told listeners of Barber’s illness:
Paul Barber was my producer in my early days doing the Morning program here on 3AW and formed part of the travelling trio, along with Darren James, when we brought you reports from Africa, London, New York, Beijing and even from the Great Wall of China. Also worked on the early days of the HINCH program on 7. Top bloke.
Paul Barber and Derryn Hinch on a 3AW OB circa 1980.
Sad to read of Paul's passing. I'll always associate Paul with leftover bottles of chardonnay! Every Friday evening after debriefing with his producers about the week that was, Paul would stroll into the 3AW newsroom and leave the journalist assigned to evenings (often me in the mid-1990s) the remnants of the wine he'd shared with his staff. I admired his passion and honesty and the fact that he treated all his colleagues with respect.
A genuinely lovely man and such a professional. Only the good die young. RIP Paul xx