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Don Graham VK6HK 1933-2012 (1)
This post includes my part of the eulogy for Dad spoken at his funeral today (formatted for speech rather than text). There are others to come, and many tributes from friends and colleagues to be recorded here. It was a good service, with about 120 attending and many more apologies. It was standing room only at the chapel.
The nature of ham radio being what it is, many who would have liked to have been there live too far away to travel, but we have their words. Dad was thoroughly loved, liked, and respected. We were so very lucky to have him for the time we did, cut short though it was.
Dad achieved some astonishing things in radio in his lifetime; he was a true pioneer in both the science and technology of radio signal propagation, and it's been quite an education to be reminded of his achievements. You'll be hearing more about them in coming weeks. Apologies in advance for technical errors or vagueness when I tell these stories - I have lost the one person who could have explained them all in better detail. Not that these stories will be lost - Dad left an enormous legacy in records and articles, and in helping and training many fellow hams over the years. Some of his field survey work from the 70's is still used by government today. The facts are well documented for those who need the numbers; my wish is more to embrace the scope and impact of his work.
It's not just radio where Dad made an impression. He was a damn good father and husband too. Before all this started just a few months ago I was already planning a post dedicated to identifying how much of my personality and habits could be directly attributed to Dad, our relationship, and my observations of his relationships with others. That post will come. I'll also be posting some of the wonderful old photos we put together as a slideshow: Dad was quite dishy back in the day, and Mum was frankly gorgeous. Still is, I might add.
There were three eulogies at the funeral today. My sister Judith spoke mainly about the major milestones in Dad's life; his best friend of 60 years Wally spoke of their history and adventures together in radio; and I spoke mostly about the kind of person he was.
Eulogy for Don Graham
as delivered by his daughter Stephanie Bateman-Graham, 19 January 2012
Don Graham was my father, my Daddy, and my friend.
He gave us life, love, home, security, and freedom,
and was the best possible role model for what a man should be.
He found simple pleasures in life:
he loved prawns, and fruit cake, and cashews;
home, the beach, his family;
ham radio (of course); and more prawns.
He showed us wonders:
He tuned his radio gear to the very sounds of deep space.
Long before the Internet he gave us the BBC World Service, Radio Moscow, and voices from all around the world.
He captured radio chatter from the Vietnam War and the space shuttle, all from one little shack in the suburbs.
He had a great sense of fun:
We played a hundred tiny games, and shared a thousand private jokes.
Together we watched Yes Minister, Star Trek, and the weather forecast;
anything with David Attenborough, and a good selection of car crashes and explosions.
He was never keen on crowds, so family trips to the beach would involve a long trek up the coast to his favourite spot of near-deserted shore.
The sand was soft and deep for a small child, so I used to walk in his footsteps. He of course turned this into a game, and stretched his leggy frame into the longest strides imaginable.
His mind was sharp and precise.
He had real talents for design, build, and repair.
He communicated his knowledge with quiet enthusiasm, and on request would patiently and cleverly explain the workings of just about anything.
It never felt like teaching, but we learned so very much.
He never stopped learning, and growing, and contributing.
He embraced computer programming, Amateur television, packet radio, the Internet, and the very latest in digital technologies.
Dad was kind, intelligent, thoughtful, and quietly funny, and we will never stop stretching to walk in his footsteps.
We love you Dad.
88's from all your girls.
(88 is radio code for "love and kisses")
The nature of ham radio being what it is, many who would have liked to have been there live too far away to travel, but we have their words. Dad was thoroughly loved, liked, and respected. We were so very lucky to have him for the time we did, cut short though it was.
Dad achieved some astonishing things in radio in his lifetime; he was a true pioneer in both the science and technology of radio signal propagation, and it's been quite an education to be reminded of his achievements. You'll be hearing more about them in coming weeks. Apologies in advance for technical errors or vagueness when I tell these stories - I have lost the one person who could have explained them all in better detail. Not that these stories will be lost - Dad left an enormous legacy in records and articles, and in helping and training many fellow hams over the years. Some of his field survey work from the 70's is still used by government today. The facts are well documented for those who need the numbers; my wish is more to embrace the scope and impact of his work.
It's not just radio where Dad made an impression. He was a damn good father and husband too. Before all this started just a few months ago I was already planning a post dedicated to identifying how much of my personality and habits could be directly attributed to Dad, our relationship, and my observations of his relationships with others. That post will come. I'll also be posting some of the wonderful old photos we put together as a slideshow: Dad was quite dishy back in the day, and Mum was frankly gorgeous. Still is, I might add.
There were three eulogies at the funeral today. My sister Judith spoke mainly about the major milestones in Dad's life; his best friend of 60 years Wally spoke of their history and adventures together in radio; and I spoke mostly about the kind of person he was.
Eulogy for Don Graham
as delivered by his daughter Stephanie Bateman-Graham, 19 January 2012
Don Graham was my father, my Daddy, and my friend.
He gave us life, love, home, security, and freedom,
and was the best possible role model for what a man should be.
He found simple pleasures in life:
he loved prawns, and fruit cake, and cashews;
home, the beach, his family;
ham radio (of course); and more prawns.
He showed us wonders:
He tuned his radio gear to the very sounds of deep space.
Long before the Internet he gave us the BBC World Service, Radio Moscow, and voices from all around the world.
He captured radio chatter from the Vietnam War and the space shuttle, all from one little shack in the suburbs.
He had a great sense of fun:
We played a hundred tiny games, and shared a thousand private jokes.
Together we watched Yes Minister, Star Trek, and the weather forecast;
anything with David Attenborough, and a good selection of car crashes and explosions.
He was never keen on crowds, so family trips to the beach would involve a long trek up the coast to his favourite spot of near-deserted shore.
The sand was soft and deep for a small child, so I used to walk in his footsteps. He of course turned this into a game, and stretched his leggy frame into the longest strides imaginable.
His mind was sharp and precise.
He had real talents for design, build, and repair.
He communicated his knowledge with quiet enthusiasm, and on request would patiently and cleverly explain the workings of just about anything.
It never felt like teaching, but we learned so very much.
He never stopped learning, and growing, and contributing.
He embraced computer programming, Amateur television, packet radio, the Internet, and the very latest in digital technologies.
Dad was kind, intelligent, thoughtful, and quietly funny, and we will never stop stretching to walk in his footsteps.
We love you Dad.
88's from all your girls.
(88 is radio code for "love and kisses")