Our dearest Tone, passed yesterday (Sunday August 17th) in Darwin Hospital, from a blood cancer and had recently turned 75 on June 24th.

Great harmony singer, and musician (melodian, guitar), folk collector/researcher/presenter, dog lover, and humorist of note, he was a sought-after member of unaccompanied singing groups (like No Strings Attached, Chameleon e.g.) and bands (like Bilge Ratz e.g. and esp partnered with the late Peter Bate). In fact, you could say that Tony "went down singing" as he last sang at the 53rd Top Half Folk Festival's celebration of Peter's life, at Mt Bundy station on 4th August. So, a good way to go.

This news, though perhaps ‘not entirely unexpected’ is still very very sad, particularly in the Australian Folk Community.
Tone (originally from NSW – Sydney I think – and an aircraft mechanic by trade??) was a celebrated and popular folk performer and I think of him as being one of the Trio of Top End Troubadors :
Paul Lawler (d.2014) / Peter Bate (d.2025) / Tony Suttor (d.2025)
: all gone now, but who were always to be heard and found wherever Singing was likely (well, they usually started most of it!!)
My Beloved Paul knew him from the Sydney folk scene (The Maitland & Morpeth e.g.) from the late 60s-early 70s, but I think Tone arrived in Darwin around 1982.

Sorry, I’m having trouble thinking straight at present. I'm really over the amount of Obit threads I have instigated here on the Cat. …..sigh…..

Sad condolences to the Top End Folk Community, but esp to lovely Jenny Armour (an extremely talented quilter), who has been Tone's perfect and dedicated companion since the early 80s.


VALE, TONY.