The disappearance of Yvonne Whear, a 73-year-old grandmother from Murwillumbah, NSW, has left her family in agonizing limbo. Her daughter, Gillian Hallac, believes that some people in the tight-knit community aren't talking, and she is pleading for anyone with information to come forward.
Yvonne Whear's Last Known Movements
On 19 February, Whear attended her art class at Tafe in Murwillumbah. She left at 3pm, and by 3:15pm she was captured on CCTV at a Shell service station on Tweed Valley Way, buying orange juice and adding $50 credit to her phone. This was the last transaction on her bank account.
At 3:22pm, another camera recorded her driving along Queensland Road, heading toward her home in Dungay. Phone records show she watched art tutorials on YouTube at 4:24pm and checked her voicemail at 4:48pm. Then, she vanished.
A Witness Sighted Her Car, But No Confirmation
At 8:30pm, a witness reported seeing Whear's gold Ford Escape wagon parked in the dark with no lights on Dungay Creek Road, less than a kilometer from her home. However, there is no video confirmation. Her family notes that Whear was uncomfortable driving at night, making this sighting even more puzzling.
Her phone pinged a tower near her home at 10:10am the next morning, and then went silent. Despite extensive searches by police and volunteers, no trace of Whear has been found.

The Pain of Ambiguous Loss
For Hallac, the lack of closure is devastating. "It's like I was talking to her and then she was gone," she says. This type of disappearance creates what psychologists call ambiguous loss—a grief without a definitive end, leaving families in a state of shock and perpetual hope.
Whear, a retired aged-care worker, has four children, 15 grandchildren, and many animals. She had just started art classes, a lifelong dream. Her family describes her as a lifelong learner, always taking courses and acquiring new skills.
Community Silence and the Appeal for Information
Hallac has plastered posters of her mother across Murwillumbah, but she feels that some residents know more than they are sharing. Small towns often harbor secrets, and the family is urging anyone with even the smallest detail to contact Crime Stoppers.
Police have not ruled out foul play, but they are treating the case as a missing persons investigation. The terrain around Dungay includes dense rainforest and cattle country, complicating search efforts.
Key Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Yvonne Whear |
| Age | 73 |
| Last Seen | 19 February, 3:22pm on Queensland Road, Murwillumbah |
| Vehicle | Gold Ford Escape wagon |
| Last Phone Activity | YouTube at 4:24pm, voicemail at 4:48pm |
| Witness Sighting | 8:30pm on Dungay Creek Road |
How You Can Help
If you have any information about Yvonne Whear's disappearance, please contact Murwillumbah Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Even the smallest detail could be crucial.
- Share the missing person poster on social media
- Check your dashcam or CCTV footage from the area on 19 February
- Report any sightings of a gold Ford Escape wagon
- Contact Crime Stoppers anonymously if you prefer
FAQ
What happened to Yvonne Whear?
Why does her daughter believe people aren't talking?
How can I report information about Yvonne Whear?
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