Daily Mail
· collected 2026-09-16 · by Aidan Wondracz, Ashley Knickel
Yvonne Whear, a 73-year-old grandmother who disappeared from her rented hobby farm in Dungay, NSW, on February 19, has had her gold Ford Escape wagon found in the Rous River nearly seven months later. The discovery was made possible by volunteers and police teams using specialized equipment. While the car shows minimal damage, authorities have not ruled out foul play, as Yvonne's family believes she did not leave voluntarily given her mental health status before vanishing.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event.
A car belonging to a missing grandmother of 15 has been found in a river, nearly seven months after she mysteriously disappeared.
asserted
she → belong → river
Yvonne Whear, 73, vanished without a trace from her rented hobby farm in Dungay, north-eastern NSW, on February 19.
asserted
Whear → vanish → February
Her family revealed on Tuesday night her gold Ford Escape wagon was pulled from the Rous River on Dulguigan Road on Saturday.
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wagon → reveal → Saturday
The car, which had minimal damage, was found by two searches using a kayak and fish finder.
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which → have → kayak
'Our family is deeply grateful to Cam from Sun State Search, our dedicated team of volunteers, NSW Water Police, the specialist police dive team, Tweed Heads Police, and the local recovery services who assisted with the operation,' the family said in a social media post.
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family → assist → post
'Finding Yvonne's car is a significant development in the search for answers.
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Finding → find → answers
The vehicle remains under forensic investigation.
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vehicle → remain → investigation
'
Ms Whear had left a TAFE course in Murwillumbah and stopped at a service station on her way to her hobby farm on the day she vanished.
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she → leave → day
Her boots, shirt and hat were later located at the property but there has been no trace of the grandmother since, despite extensive search efforts.
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boots → locate → efforts
Yvonne Whear, 73, vanished without a trace from her rented hobby farm in Dungay, north-eastern NSW , on February 19
Phone records showed her phone was active until about 4.45pm on February 19 and her device last pinged east of Dungay at 10.10am the following day.
NSW Police are yet to rule out foul play.
asserted
Police → vanish → play
Ms Whear’s family believe she may have come to harm, insisting she showed no signs of depression, mental illness or dementia before her disappearance.
uncertain
she → believe → disappearance
'We don't believe she had any ordinary reasons to leave the property that evening,' daughter Gillian Hallac said in August.
'I believe that she may have been taken from the property, and that her vehicle has been deliberately concealed.
uncertain
vehicle → believe → property
'That is my belief, as her daughter, based on what I know about the circumstances in which she disappeared.'
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she → base → which
Ms Whear had a close relationship with her family and loved ones, who've spent the last seven months wondering what happened.
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what → have → months
Her family revealed on Tuesday night her gold Ford Escape wagon was pulled from the Rous River on Dulguigan Road on Saturday
She has also missed the recent birth of her first great-grandchild.
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She → reveal → grandchild
'I miss her advice, her voice, her presence.
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I → miss → advice
It's the everyday moments that hurt the most - the ones we never thought we'd lose,' Ms Hallac said.
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Hallac → hurt → ?
'We just need to know where she is and what has happened so our family can finally breathe again.
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family → need → ?
Our family is doing everything we can to cope, but the uncertainty is overwhelming.'
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uncertainty → do → everything
Ms Hallac said the support 'from the community has meant so much' and that she hoped 'someone out there holds the piece of information that will bring mum home'.
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that → say → mum
'Someone out there knows something.
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Someone → know → something
Even the smallest detail could help bring Mum home, and we're begging people to share what they know,' she said.
uncertain
she → help → what
'Our family, especially her grandchildren - need answers.'
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family → need → answers
Detective Acting Inspector Chris Elliott also confirmed 'investigators have not identified any evidence to suggest Yvonne intended to voluntarily disappear'.
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Yvonne → confirm → evidence
Ms Whear had left a TAFE course in Murwillumbah and stopped at a service station on her way to her hobby farm on the day she vanished
'
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she → leave → day
The investigation remains open.
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investigation → remain → ?
Detectives continue to examine all available information, and at this stage we are keeping an open mind as to what may have happened,' he said.
uncertain
he → continue → mind
'While this remains a missing person investigation, we are pursuing every opportunity and assessing all information received from the public.
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we → remain → public
'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.'
uncertain
detail → see → investigation
Missing Persons Registry's Detective Inspector Paul Fenwick added: 'Yvonne's disappearance has had a profound impact on her family and the wider community, and finding answers for them remains a priority.
'
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finding → add → them
Every lead is assessed, every piece of information is followed up, and we continue to appeal for public assistance.
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we → assess → assistance
'Someone in the community knows something that could help us.
uncertain
that → know → us
Even the smallest detail - something you may not think is important - could be the key to locating Yvonne.
uncertain
you → think → Yvonne
'Now is the time to come forward.'
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time → come → ?
Ms Whear is described as Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, about 154cm tall, medium to solid build, with long grey/brown hair.
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Whear → describe → hair
She is known to frequent the Murwillumbah and Dungay areas.
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She → know → areas
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Anyone → urge → 000
The Aporia
