www.awnw.com.au
Issue #293 – Wednesday, 5 August, 2015
Albury Wodonga’s largest circulating newspaper
Stamping out domestic violence Saturday’s weather may have been damp, but the spirits of local women seeking to stamp out domestic violence certainly aren’t. TURN TO PAGE 6 TO SEE HOW THEY’RE LOOKING TO FIGHT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
ACROSS Australia, hundreds of families and friends wake up every day not knowing where their loved ones are. With one person being reported missing every 15 minutes, it’s a problem that affects most communities in Australia. The Border isn’t immune. As this week marks National Missing Persons Week, we take a look at the phenomena that is impacting the lives of many in our Border community and across Australia.
Among the missing By ERIN SOMERVILLE FOR many on the Border, the reality of not knowing if a loved one is safe is all too real. It can be an emotionally crippling time for those in the community waiting for answers as the hours, days, and even years tick by. The reason behind a disappearance can vary greatly. Some disappear because they don’t want to be found, while others may have suffered at the hands of domestic violence, have mental health issues, been in an accident, or on the very rare occasion have met with foul play. Whatever the reason for a disappearance, the impact can be just as painful for those family and friends left in the dark. Wodonga Detective Sergeant Graeme Simpfendorfer has seen first-hand the impact missing persons have on the local community. Wodonga alone currently has two open missing persons cases, including a 16-yearold girl who disappeared on 24 June, 2015, and a 17-year-old girl who went missing on 24 November, 2013. The girls can’t be identified for legal reasons. The local case of missing Pearcedale fisherman Garry Martella, who never resurfaced from the waters of Lake Dartmouth after his tinnie capsized in a storm in September, 2001 has recently been ruled as a non-natural death by the Coroner’s Court of Victoria. Meanwhile, missing Lavington woman Julie Beyers who disappeared in 2004 was declared legally dead eight years later following an Albury inquest. “It’s devastating to the families,” Detective Sergeant Simpfendorfer said.
Key facts from Australian Federal Police
missing is not a crime. · Going 35,000 people are reported miss· Aning estimated to police each year - that’s one person every 15 minutes.
per cent of people are located - 85 per cent · 99.5 within a week of being reported missing. one-third of missing persons go · Approximately missing more than once. two-thirds of missing persons are · Approximately under the age of 18 (i.e. around 20,000). young missing persons are located at a · Many friend’s house. abductions are rare - most people are · Stranger located safe and well.
“It’s the unknown, not knowing the how and why.” Many missing cases dealt with by police on the Border are of young people who have chosen to disappear. Police encourage those who have decided to run away to simply head to the nearest police station and let authorities know they’re okay. This must be done in person and not over the telephone for a missing persons case to be closed. It also allows police to re-direct their resources to other cases. “It’s not a crime to go missing, but obviously the stress on the family and not knowing is hard, they can reach out and give some closure that they are okay.” Detective Sergeant Simpfendorfer encourages residents to follow their instincts when concerned about a missing loved one, particularly if a disappearance is out of character, unusual, or the person is vulnerable. Residents do not have to wait 24 hours to file a missing persons report with the police. To help identify missing Australians, or learn more about missing persons, visit www.missingpersons.gov.au
A competitor in the annual Mum’s The Word Rail Jam heats things up at Hotham. 142629 Picture: MARK TSUKASOV
Ridin’ the rails
AFTER seeing a friend lose a loved one to cancer, Andy Terhell knew something could be done in the beautiful alpine environment at Hotham to help raise funds for a cure. Just five years on, Mount Hotham’s Mum’s the Word Rail Jam fund-raiser for the Cancer Council is continuing to snowball as more and more skiers and snowboarders sign up for the cause. See more on page 2.
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