By Dongyun Kwon
Nine people across the Outer East are on the Victoria Police’s and Australian Federal Police’s missing persons lists.
The first week of August is the National Missing Persons Week (NMPW) and it took place from 28 July to 3 August this year.
It serves as a reminder to all Australians that anyone can experience the anguish and hurt of a missing loved one.
About 50,000 missing persons reports are made to police every year, and about 2500 people remain missing long-term.
Australian Federal Police Commander Forensics Joanne Cameron said this year’s NMPW theme shined a spotlight on the commitment of police across all states and territories to follow every lead.
“The Always Searching campaign is an important reminder to members of the public to report any information to the police because no matter how small the detail may be, it could be the missing piece of the puzzle that brings peace to the family of a missing person,” Commander Cameron said.
“With the important ongoing conversation and public focus on combating violence against women, the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre has chosen these cases to remind the public that the police are committed to following every lead to bring justice for the families of missing loved ones.
“Police from around Australia work tirelessly to resolve these cases and find missing people. I encourage anyone who may have information about a missing person to share it via Crime Stoppers, either on their website www.crimestoppers.com.au or by calling 1800 333 000. This can be anonymous.”
Leave A Light On is a community organisation which raises awareness of all long-term missing persons in Australia.
Leave A Light On co-founder and Mount Evelyn resident Suzie Ratcliffe said it is important to keep the missing persons in the public eye.
“Someone may have information and no matter how significant they feel, it may be the crucial piece of evidence or information that the police need to be able to tie all the other information they have together to be able to either locate a missing person or to at least bring justice for their family,” she said.
“Each and every single missing person in Australia is important, no matter their age, race, religion and ethnicity.”
Warren Gerrard Meyer is a 180cm tall Canadian who was born in 1950.
Warren Meyer went bushwalking at 7.45am on 23 March 2008.
He was to meet up with his wife and friends for lunch at the RACV club in Healesville but did not arrive.
Warren was wearing shorts, a light top and his walking boots.
He also took a backpack containing a map of the area, a handheld GPS, a mobile telephone, some water and confectionery.
Warren’s white Subaru Forester was found parked at Dom Dom Saddle car park in Yarra Ranges, a 15-minute drive north of Healesville.
Tej Chitnis was last seen on Wednesday 27 April 2016 at approximately 10am leaving his Burwood East address in his silver 2005 VW Golf Hatchback, Victorian rego TTF 517.
He usually drives to the Blackburn Railway station, parks his car in a nearby street and catches public transport to the university.
Tej’s vehicle was last seen travelling east on the Maroondah Highway, Healesville near the intersection of Green Street on 27 April at about 11.34am.
Tej failed to return home at 4pm as usual and did not attend his father’s birthday dinner that night.
His VW Golf has also not been located.
Tej was last seen wearing a t-shirt, jeans and black Adidas runners, and is described as 170 to 175cm tall, of Indian appearance (he was born in Australia to Indian parents) with short black hair.
Suzanne Lawrance left a 21st birthday party at the Healesville Memorial Hall on 7 February 1987 and was last seen in the vicinity of Queens Park walking to her Campbell Road home.
The 16-year-old was wearing a white party dress at the time.
Over the past three decades, a significant investigation into Suzanne’s disappearance has been conducted and police continue to treat the matter as suspicious.
Many people have been spoken to by police as part of this investigation, however, no one has been charged, and sadly Suzanne has not been located.
Siriyakorn ‘Bung’ Siriboon, was last seen on Thursday 2 June 2011 at approximately 8.25am.
Siriyakorn left her family home in Elsie Street, Boronia to walk to school.
She was dressed in her school uniform, wearing her dark blue zip-front school jacket and carrying a backpack.
She was seen by a neighbour a short time later in Elsie Street, walking towards Albert Avenue.
She did not arrive at school that day and failed to return home.
Siriyakorn has not been seen or heard from since.
Her disappearance is out of character, there are grave concerns for her welfare.
On 22 August 2003, Joanne Deason left a note for her boyfriend stating she was going to school and would be home in the evening.
Joanne failed to return home.
Police inquiries show that Joanne did not arrive at school.
She was living with depression at the time of her disappearance.
She was last seen in Gembrook.
She is 160cm tall with light brown hair and hazel eyes and is now 52.
Cherie Westell, who was born in 1984, with brown hair and hazed eyes at 167cm tall, didn’t return home on Tuesday 12 December 2000.
She had a dentist appointment at 12pm at Knox Dental Group, in Wantirna South, and left the surgery at around 12.30pm.
At 1.58pm, Cherie telephoned her Mooroolbark home from a public telephone box situated on the corner of Selkirk Avenue and Wantirna Road, Wantirna about 5km from the dentist.
Cherie was attempting to make her way home but has not been seen or heard from since.
Richard Hadwick was 21-years-old at the time he disappeared.
He was last seen at his home in Belgrave South by his parents on Saturday 19 May 1990.
Richard arrived at his house at approximately 12.30am in a taxi.
The taxi waited in the driveway while he changed his clothes.
He then told his mother he was going to Fosters Disco in Dandenong and left in the taxi.
Richard had little money on him at the time and took no extra clothing or belongings.
He has not been seen since.
He has a small group of friends and worked at Bayswater Joinery, but has not been to work since.
Richard was bailed to attend Dandenong Magistrates Court on burglary charges on 24 May 1990 and reports indicate was afraid he could be sent to prison.
Richard is now 55.
He has blonde hair and blue eyes at 182cm tall.
At about 8.50am on 4 September 2000, Linda Grimstone dropped her two children off at Croydon Hills Primary and did not return to pick them up.
Police enquiries have revealed that Linda purchased petrol at the Wesburn petrol station at approximately 9.45am and was last seen at around 3.50pm that same day in the car park of Powers Lookout 270km North East of Melbourne.
Police cannot explain her reason for attending Powers Lookout but her vehicle was located at 10am the next day in bushland nearby.
Linda is 168cm tall with brown hair and blue eyes and is now 66.
John Forster was last seen by his wife and their two sons at 10am on Saturday 7 October 2017, at their residence in Diamond Creek.
His wife had left the house with their two sons and on her return home, John and their vehicle a 1998 green Subaru Forester wagon, Victorian registration OSV092 were gone.
John’s wallet and phone were left at home.
This wasn’t unusual for John to do, as he often went for a run or walk leaving these items at home.
That night, John’s vehicle was located at the Sugarloaf Reservoir in Christmas Hills, the vehicle was parked near the water intake tower look out.
John has light brown hair and grey eyes at 175cm tall and is now 65.
Ms Ratcliffe said having a missing loved one in a family or as a friend is a lot different than when someone passes away.
“You have a sense of closure when someone passes away, and you’ve got the opportunity to say goodbye,” she said.
“You know where they are buried or where their ashes are scattered, whereas the missing persons’ family or friends don’t have that form of resolution.
“There are always unanswered questions, so it’s a constant battle of not knowing.”
Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of these missing persons is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at crimestoppersvic.com.au
