He said he proposed the memorials to acknowledge their service in the immediate communities, rather than the larger towns they are traditionally noted in.
“I think they should be honoured in the communities where they lived, worked, farmed and worshipped,” Mr Sutton said.
“In the days past ... many did not leave their communities. The commitment many made was substantial leaving for overseas.”
Although he now lives in Melbourne, Mr Sutton has family connections to Numurkah, Katamatite, and Nathalia, but grew up in Yarroweyah and still has family living there.
He also is a keen historian and member of a number of historical and preservation societies around Victoria, but is especially enthusiastic about local history.
Mr Sutton said in the course of his historical research, settlers in the area pre-1947 had not been acknowledged in their own communities.
“At Yarroweyah the newer soldier settlers had a memorial, but there was nothing commemorating the service of those who lived in the community before,” he said.
“To me it was an issue of fairness and equity. I acknowledge the sacrifices and services of the soldier settlers.”
He said the memorial at Bearii is planned to include a stone with a plaque on it and is designed to fit in with the local landscape.
Mr Sutton said the memorial at Yarroweyah would be similar to the existing soldier settler memorial, but would have a different look and be located elsewhere to differentiate it.
“I hope that the names, the stories and the service is remembered.They are not just names. They were young people, with hopes and dreams, love and ambitions,” he said.
Mr Sutton has already contacted Moira Shire Council to begin the grants and approvals process, as well as Cobram-Barooga RSL and the Saluting Their Service commemorative grants program to help support the planned memorials.
“It is a herculean effort,” he said.
Moira Shire CEO Clare Keenan said such memorials are primarily the responsibility of Veterans Affairs and local RSL sub-branches.
“We look at any request or application for a new memorial as we would do with any other planning or building application,” she said.
“Council provides the land upon which they sit and we do routine ground maintenance and basic cleaning at those sites.
“The first step in the project proposal process is to submit your fully scoped idea for infrastructure works, projects, programs or events via our website.”
Mr Sutton said the memorials are an important reminder to the community.
“Memorials should remind us of the tragic cost of war. We should learn the cost of conflict. As time passes, the numbers of veterans, their families and those who saw war diminish.
“We utter the words ‘Lest We Forget’ as a warning.”
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