Ross Sutton

Sutton's family donated his gold medal, with two bows, a box of arrows and various pieces of archery equipment to the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC), in what is arguably the most significant piece of sporting memorabilia in the APC's collection. His medal and equipment have been on display at the National Sports Museum. In 2013, the Chief Executive of the Australian Paralympic Committee at the time, Mr Jason Hellwig, stated that "The achievements of Ross, Daphne and all of our first Paralympians are historically significant to Australia, not only because they won our first Paralympic gold medals but also because their achievements marked a turning point and positive move forward for people with a disability in this country."

In 1964, Sutton married Josephine Lavender and they adopted three children, Stuart, Yvette and Aletta. Sutton died on 22 July 2000, just months before he was due to carry the Paralympic Torch on the final day of the relay in Sydney for the 2000 Games. His son Stuart ran on his behalf.

At the 1962 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Perth, Western Australia, Sutton won a gold medal in doubles dartchery, a silver medal in Men's Team Sabre Fencing and a bronze medal in the Gentleman FITA Round and Gentleman Windsor Round.

On 20 April 1958, 21-year-old Sutton was involved in a Tiger Moth plane crash in Boorolong near Armidale whilst taking a flying lesson. The crash left him paralysed. Peter FitzSimons described the background to the crash. Sutton was in love with a young woman in the region and decided to drop a lover letter to her whilst flying. FitzSimons noted that Sutton had realised after he dropped it "that it was not sufficiently weighted and his love was 'blowin' in the wind', like a mad thing. Ross doubled the Moth back to try to catch it … and crashed." There was some delay in receiving help, eventually he was taken to Armidale and New England Hospital with little chance of surviving. He was later flown to the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney where he was treated for chest and facial injuries and a broken spine.

Ross Edward Sutton (7 January 1938 – 22 July 2000) was the first Australian Paralympic gold medallist. He represented Australia in archery at the 1960 Summer Paralympics in Rome, Italy and dartchery and fencing at the 1962 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Perth, Western Australia. Sutton also competed in table tennis at the Second National Paraplegic Games.