Anniversary of Bundaberg man Paul Stevenson’s disappearance marked

It’s been 12 years since “great family man” Paul Stevenson vanished from a Bundaberg roadside and his loved ones have made fresh pleas for anyone who can solve the mystery to come forward.

Nikki Stevenson's father Paul Stevenson went missing in 2012 and over the years the family has continued to raise awareness about Paul Stevenson and the other families who are going through difficult times dealing with missing family members.Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail

It has been 12 years since the disappearance of “great family man” Paul Stevenson and his loved ones have renewed calls for anyone with information to solve the mystery to come forward.

The 47-year-old fitter and turner was last seen at a Bundaberg service station in the early hours of March 11, 2012 fuelling up his 1978 Honda CB750 motorcycle, which was captured on CCTV footage.

Despite an AGL rescue chopper spotting the bike down an embankment on Gin Gin-Mt Perry Road days later, mystery has continued to surround the case of the missing man.

The bike as well as the helmet and saddle bags appeared to have been hidden while his wallet, phone, sunglasses and binoculars were missing.

In 2012, Acting Superintendent Kev Gutteridge said the case was a “total mystery” and spoke on the circumstances of Mr Stevenson's disappearance.

Paul Stevenson was last seen in Bundaberg, fuelling up his motorcycle on March 11, 2012.

“I haven’t encountered anything of this nature in 25 years with the exception of the Mick Isles (a police officer who disappeared in north Queensland three years ago) case,” he said.

“There’s no forensic evidence to support that the bike had been crashed and that’s part of the mystery.

“Certainly a crash in that location would have resulted in significant injuries to a person and also much more damage to that machine.”

As the years have passed, there has still been no definitive explanation for what happened on that fateful morning, but the family has not lost hope despite a coroner issuing a death certificate in 2022.

In June 2023, a potential witness to the disappearance spoke about the regret he had in assisting the police investigation.

SEARCH CONTINUES: Family of the missing motorcyclist, Paul Stevenson, gather near the spot where the motorcycle was found along the Gin Gin Mount Perry road. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail

The man, who did not want to be named, contacted police and said he had seen a man walking down the road in the hours after Stevenson went missing.

Since talking to the police, the man said he regretted coming forward and had received anonymous phone calls from a person saying “I know it was you”.

He further claimed his life had been threatened as a result of speaking to police, and said people had blamed him for Mr Stevenson’s disappearance, despite police saying there was no evidence to support this.

Over the years Mr Stevenson’s wife, Julie, has shared her own thoughts on what she believes happened to her husband just days after they celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary.

Paul Stevenson with his daughter Nikki prior to his disappearance.

“Foul play is my answer,” Mrs Stevenson said.

“I do believe … that’s what’s happened to him. I’ve always had that gut feeling from the time I was up at Wonbah when they were searching.

“I do believe somebody there, some person or persons know what’s happened to him and knows where he is.”

On March 11, a Facebook page dedicated to finding Paul Stevenson shared an annual, heartbreaking post chronicling the march of time since his disappearance.

“It only feels like yesterday that we were in a tornado of you not being here,” it said.

“Back then we had so much hope, we thought it would be behind us after a few hours, worst case a couple of days.”

The post shared the changes the family has experienced without the support of their husband, father and friend.

Family and friends of Paul Stevenson have not given up hope on seeing their loved on return to their lives.

“Tom, your son was 17. He is now 29 this year with a gorgeous fiance and two beautiful children,” the post said.

“Nikki, your daughter was 19, pregnant and ready to have your first grandchild.

“You were so excited for this next chapter of grandchildren to fill our family. Now she is married with four beautiful children.

“Your mates want their mate back.”

Those behind the Facebook page made an impassioned plea to anyone with information regarding Mr Stevenson’s and his disappearance to come forward.

“The pain is indescribable because there is no ending, no answers,” the post said.

“Just questions and scenarios praying that they aren’t true.”

“Please if you know anything, crimestoppers is anonymous and you could honestly change a families (sic) life by reporting what you know.”

“At the end of the day someone out there knows something.”

Paul Stevenson was last seen wearing a black leather riding jacket, blue Wrangler jeans, brown boots and a black full face helmet.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.