When a loved one passes, you want to remember your special person's life with a suitable monument that reflects your love. After losing a loved one, two men came up with a shining memorial of stainless steel that would help make the memory of a loved one shine forever.

With no prior experience or previous interest in cemetery and crematorium industry, mechanical engineers Allan Burman and Albert Boer started a business to manufacture and supply modern stainless steel memorials.

Allan's daughter, Nicole, was a vibrant, energetic, artistic, high achieving, talented young woman. Unfortunately, Nicole was diagnosed with a serious brain tumour in her fifth year of medical studies. She was so determined to become a doctor that she successfully completed her medical degree after brain surgery.

Many other people in similar circumstances would have given up. Nicole successfully completed her internship while battling with a life threatening disease, but passed away during her specialist training and studies.

After Nicole's death they visited her grave which was surrounded by a sea of conventional colourless black, white and grey monuments. Even though many of these stone monuments were well presented they were not Nicole's style.

During this time they met other people who had lost a loved one and, like them, were dissatisfied with the memorials currently available.

They realized that there was a need and desire on the part of loved ones for a beautiful, long lasting, stylish alternative from those traditionally available. They believed that there must be a better way for people to remember their loved ones.

Much research and development has taken place at Forever Shining with the product range expanded to include monuments, headstones, plaques, urns and personalised memorabilia. In joint discussions with their wives, Susie and Judy, they drew upon their engineering knowledge and expertise and brainstormed various possible ideas, concepts and compatible materials to produce what they believed to be low maintenance memorials that were modern, structurally sound, durable and colourful.

Allan and Albert initially designed a prototype of a full size stainless steel monument complete with patented applied laser cut inscription and motif backed by glass to produce vibrant colour.

In the case of reburial, the cemetery staff can remove the whole monument from the grave in order to prevent any damage to the monument during the digging process.

This monument was featured on the New Inventors program on ABC Television.

Since that time, much research and development has taken place and their range of products has expanded considerably to include monuments, headstones, plaques, urns and personalized memorabilia.

The mission of Forever Shining is to produce beautiful, durable and long lasting memorials that the family and friends of the departed desire. These memorials are designed to preserve the memories of their loved ones for as long as possible for their families and future generations.

Forever Shining have incorporated proven new and old materials including stainless steel, granite, crystal and glass into modern styles and designs to give a new look which meet the expectations and needs of a changing society.

The company has developed an interactive website - www.forevershining.com.au - where potential customers can design their own memorial online.

This article featured in Australian Stainless magazine - Issue 36, Winter 2006.