Editing Paul Hester (section)

== Death and commemorations ==
On 26 March 2005, aged 46, Hester died by suicide at [[Elsternwick Park]] in [[Brighton, Victoria|Brighton]], Melbourne, near his home.<ref name="theage.com.au" /> Four years earlier he had split from Mardi Sommerfeld. His two daughters, Olive and Sunday, were aged 5 and 10 at the time of his death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Music/Simple-tribute-for-Hester/2005/03/29/1111862391818.html|title=Simple tribute for Hester – Music – www.smh.com.au|website=smh.com.au|date=30 March 2005 |access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref> A few years before his death Hester's mother became ill, and died in November 2002.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} It was known to family and close friends that he had been suffering from [[Major depressive disorder|depression]] for a few years prior to his passing, and was prone to mood swings.<ref name="obituary" />

Hester was buried at [[Blackwood, Victoria|Blackwood]] in the [[Central Highlands, Victoria|Central Highlands]] region of Victoria. His life was commemorated at the 2005 [[Australian Recording Industry Association|Aria Awards]], with Neil Finn singing the staple Crowded House anthem solo "[[Better Be Home Soon]]" along<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2005-10-23/missy-cleans-up-with-five-arias/2130578?pfm=sm|title=Missy cleans up with five ARIAs – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)|newspaper=ABC News|date=23 October 2005 |access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref> with a mini-biography and footage from his life and achievements.

In October 2005, in memory of Hester and to acknowledge his long links with the area, the local Port Phillip Council agreed to name a path alongside the Elwood Canal, the Paul Hester Walk, after him.<ref>{{Cite web|date=5 October 2005|title=Hester Walk to immortalise musician|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/hester-walk-to-immortalise-musician-20051005-ge0zve.html|access-date=22 December 2020|website=The Age|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=25 October 2005|title=Section of park to be named after Crowded House drummer|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-10-25/section-of-park-to-be-named-after-crowded-house/2131482|access-date=22 December 2020|website=abc.net.au}}</ref> More recently, Hester Street in the Melbourne suburb of [[Officer, Victoria|Officer]] was named after him.

Hester's girlfriend at the time of his death was New Zealand-based singer Kashan Vincent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/singer-seeks-portion-of-hester-estate/2006/07/19/1153166454090.html|title=Singer seeks portion of Hester estate – National – theage.com.au|website=theage.com.au|date=20 July 2006 |access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref> In July 2006, Vincent sued his estate, claiming a third of his net worth.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Singer seeks portion of Hester estate|work=The Age |publisher=Fairfax Media |url= http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/singer-seeks-portion-of-hester-estate/2006/07/19/1153166454090.html|access-date=9 February 2008 | location=Melbourne, Australia| date=20 July 2006}}</ref> Vincent claimed the pair had a relationship for 32 months and, while not cohabiting, were engaged, but had called off their wedding. By May 2007, the lawsuit was resolved out of court, with Vincent receiving a payout, and Hester's two daughters named as the sole beneficiaries of their father's estate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://henzell.com/files/pdf/clippings/may03.pdf|title=Hester payout |work=The Press, Christchurch, New Zealand|date=3 May 2007|access-date=27 October 2008 }}</ref>

In 2007, a reformed Crowded House dedicated its album ''[[Time on Earth]]'' to Hester.