Born in 1953, Gregory Norman Ham was an important member of Australian rock band ‘Men at Work’. The band formed in 1978 and had hit songs such as ‘Who Can It Be Now?’ and ‘Down Under’. They won a Grammy Award for best new artist in 1983, considered by some as the most prestigious awards ceremony in the music industry. In 1994 the band was inducted into the ARIA (Australia Record Industry Association) Hall of Fame.
Ham was a talented musician who played many instruments including saxophone, piano, flute, organ and synthesizer. He passed in 2012 and his legacy, as well as his influence on the Australian music scene, is remembered through his work.
Ham’s grave shows some of the more modern options and approaches taken for memorialisation. In the past, monument construction was limited by the availability of resources such as stone and granite, as well as the time needed to craft the monument. These days, while stonemasons are not as prevalent, modern construction techniques have fewer limitations – allowing for greater personalisation and individuality.
The design here depicts a book. While quotes and simple symbols on memorials have been prevalent for some time, modern technology now allows for photos and other intricate symbols to be included. Ham’s memorial depicts instruments and other musical notations. These elements and the quote on the memorial denote Ham’s personality and life, allowing family to illustrate who he was, and remember him.
This modern ability to symbolise important aspects of a person’s life on their memorial, rather than as temporary mementos, allows for incredibly personal and permanent monuments for loved ones to visit.
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