Media Release

Queensland Missing Persons Week South East Region

‘Life is a puzzle every piece is important’ will be the theme of this year’s Missing Persons Week which will be held across Queensland from July 30.

A third of a million people in Australia feel the impact of someone becoming a missing person.

State Crime Operations Command Detective Superintendent Mike Condon said going missing was not a crime.

“We recognise adults in our society have the freedom to lead their lives as they choose within the boundaries of the law,” he said.

Every year about 30,000 people go missing in Australia, one every 18 minutes. There were more than 4,000 reports last year in Queensland alone. On average 99% of people listed as missing are located but a small number remain unaccounted for. 

Gold Coast woman, Kathlene Ursula Farrell disappeared in late 1992 and has failed to contact her family or friends since.

Ms Farrell, who was 24 when she disappeared, worked on the Gold Coast up to September 1992 before her disappearance.

She’s described as 160cm with brown eyes, light brown/blonde hair and a fair complexion.

John Arthur Hines was last seen in Coombabah on May 30, 1997.

Mr Hines will turn 40 this year and is described as 173cm with a solid build, olive complexion, shaved brown hair and brown eyes.

He was last seen in the morning on May 30, 1997 at his home before he left to go to Southport to meet friends.

Mr Hines was driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle at the time with Queensland registration number KJ287.

Andrea Frances Wharton, born August 1, 1960, was last seen leaving her Gold Coast residence to visit friends at Byron Bay in NSW on February 19, 1984.

She later contacted her family by phone and forwarded a letter a few days later indicating she was confused and was staying away for a month longer.  Ms Wharton has not contacted her family since.

Ms Wharton has an appendix scar and a scar over one eyebrow and is described as 165cm, slim build, fair complexion with fair hair and hazel eyes.

Rosemarie Elizabeth Katherine Dodd was last seen more than 20 years ago on February 19, 1983 at about 10.30pm at Kingsbridge Oval, Scrubby Creek, Kingston where she attended an open Christian Outreach Revival meeting.

On the night of her disappearance Ms Dodd was driving her green Valiant station sedan which was later located with her possessions she was carrying during the Revival meeting locked inside the vehicle.

She is described as 165cm with a medium build, fair complexion, black hair and green eyes.

Missing Persons Week aims to reduce the number of people who go missing by encouraging them, or those who know of their whereabouts, to come forward.

Missing Persons Unit Officer in Charge Detective Senior Sergeant Jim Ryan said police spoke daily to people distressed by the thought a loved one may never be seen again.

“For families not knowing what has happened to someone they love can be devastating,” Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan said.

A simple phone call to ensure you are safe is all that is required, if you do not want the inquirer to be aware of your whereabouts, we will respect that wish.”

South Eastern Region Detective Inspector Ray Platz said, “National Missing Persons Week increases the public’s awareness of issues associated with missing persons and I expect there is someone in our local community that may be able to help police piece together the puzzle of some of our missing persons.”

Anyone with information relating to a missing person should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.