Michelle Kilpatrick’s son Aaron Carthy died by suicide in March 2012. Two crosses and a wooden post stand at Kessell Road as a memorial to him.

On October 31, a note was placed by Alexandrina Council saying the memorial needed to be removed in 60 days as it may be a “distraction to other road users and affect the quality of life for land holders”.

The memorials were placed on council land, however Ms Kilpatrick moved the memorial about “30 centimetres” and attached them to the fence of a private landowner - who she gained permission from.

Ms Kilpatrick said council still insists the memorials are to be removed.

“Roadside crosses remind us that life is precious, they are important, I feel they help remind us to slow down, to love those closest to us,” Ms Kilpatrick said.

“These crosses are placed where someone took their last breath, a human being who was loved and part of this world.”

In a statement to The Times, Alexandrina Council said it received notification from Department for Planning Transport and Infrastructure advising that it is commencing a program to remove all the roadside accident/fatality markers (black and red posts) from all roadsides across the state.

Following on from this, council officers reviewed roadside memorials across the region.

“Alexandrina Council is requesting all roadside memorials located within the district to be removed. Currently council has placed notifications on 17 known memorial sites across the region,” the statement said.

Out of the 17 roadside memorial sites, council has received telephone calls from relatives regarding six of the memorial sites within the district.

Ms Kilpatrick said she was very upset when she received the notice to take down the memorials. On the back of the request, a petition was established on Care2 Petitions called ‘Aaron Carthy Roadside Memorial to Stay’. A total of 236 signatures were received. 

Alexandrina Council said apart from legislation and by law provisions prohibiting such installations, roadside memorials can pose a distraction to other road users.

“Whilst some roadside memorials can be minor in size, other memorials can be very large. Roadside memorials can also cause emotional distress to other members of the public,” the council said.

Ms Kilpatrick said she thinks the reason that the memorials are a distraction to road users and impact on the quality of life for land holders is “complete hypocrisy and double standards” - especially as Aaron’s memorials are located on a dirt road.

“A quick drive around town and how many bright, stand out, in your face council election posters were there plastered along the roadside, I find these way more distracting,” she said.

“Unlike road side crosses which are usually wood, low to the ground and blend in with the environment.  There are endless signs on council roadsides for garage sales, real estate, banners, lovely painted stobie poles, for sale, business signs.

“We live with these on a everyday basis, yet a few roadside crosses are targeted as being distracting, I just can’t make sense of this.”

Alexandrina Council said after January 1, council will remove the memorials and store the items for a period of 30 days. If unclaimed, the items will be disposed of. 

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