PLEASE NOTE: Images of Yvonne Whear are available via Hightail – https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/2SUDk8zkmS
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate missing Northern Rivers mother Yvonne Whear as part of this year’s ‘Answers Still Matter’ Missing Persons Week 2026.
Yvonne Whear, aged 73, was last seen driving along Queensland Road, Murwillumbah, on Thursday 19 February 2026.
About 3.20pm that day, her vehicle – a gold-coloured Ford Escape wagon with NSW registration EWS28P – was seen heading north on Queensland Road towards Dungay. Yvonne has not been heard from since and neither her nor her vehicle have been located.
Yvonne is described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, around 154cm tall, of a medium to solid build and with long grey/brown hair.
She is known to frequent the Murwillumbah and Dungay areas.
Significant resources have been deployed trying to locate Yvonne, including searches in Dungay and Murwillumbah, involving the use of drones and helicopters, police boats and sonar equipment, trail bikes, and police in vehicles and on foot.
Yvonnes’ daughter, Gillian Hallac, said every day that goes by brings more confusion and heartbreak.
“Our family is doing everything we can to cope, but the uncertainty is overwhelming. The support from the community has meant so much, and we just hope someone out there holds the piece of information that will bring Mum home,” Gillian said.
“I miss her advice, her voice, her presence. It’s the everyday moments that hurt the most – the ones we never thought we’d lose. We just need to know where she is and what has happened so our family can finally breathe again.
“Someone out there knows something. Even the smallest detail could help bring Mum home, and we’re begging people to share what they know. Our family, especially her grandchildren – need answers.”
Missing Persons Week is an annual national campaign to raise awareness of the issues and impacts surrounding missing persons and runs between Sunday 2 August and Saturday 8 August 2026.
This year’s ‘Answers Still Matter’ campaign highlights the unwavering commitment of investigators to uncovering the truth for families seeking closure and communities wanting clarity.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley MP said no family should have to live with the uncertainty of not knowing what happened to a loved one.
“Behind every missing person is a family waiting for answers, and police work tirelessly to bring those answers home.
“For Gillian and her family, the search for Yvonne continues. Police will do everything they can to find answers, following every lead and using every available resource to find her and bring her home.
“The NSW Government is committed to giving police the tools they need to support these searches – whether that’s drones, bikes, boats or specialist expertise.
“Missing Persons Week is a reminder of the heartbreak and uncertainty families experience when someone they love disappears. It’s also a time for the community to reflect on what they may have seen, heard or know that could help bring Yvonne home.”
Detective Inspector Paul Fenwick, Missing Persons Registry, said investigators are determined to find answers the family deserves.
“Yvonne’s disappearance has had a profound impact on her family and the wider community, and finding answers for them remains a priority. Every lead is assessed, every piece of information is followed up, and we continue to appeal for public assistance,” Det Insp Fenwick said.
“Significant resources have already been deployed from multiple agencies in the search for Yvonne. These efforts will continue as we work to establish what happened and where she may be.”
“Someone in the community knows something that could help us. Even the smallest detail – something you may not think is important – could be the key to locating Yvonne. Now is the time to come forward.”
Tweed-Byron Police District Crime Manager, Detective Acting Inspector Chris Elliott said they are committed to establishing what occurred.
“Since Yvonne’s disappearance there has been considerable speculation, but the investigation remains open. Detectives continue to examine all available information, and at this stage we are keeping an open mind as to what may have happened,” Det A/Insp Elliot said.
“Extensive searches and investigative work have been undertaken over many months, involving drones, helicopters, police boats, sonar, trail bikes and ground crews. While this remains a missing person investigation, we are pursuing every opportunity and assessing all information received from the public.”
“Investigators have not identified any evidence to suggest Yvonne intended to voluntarily disappear. Anyone who saw Yvonne, spoke with her, or noticed her vehicle around the time she went missing should contact police – even a small detail could help move this investigation forward.”
For more information on the campaign, visit: www.missingpersons.gov.au
For more information on Yvonne Whear, visit: https://www.missingpersons.gov.au/search/nsw/yvonne-whear
Anyone with information about Yvonne Whear is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
