Jeremiah Rivers: Family members say others are prioritised over their search

“If he weren’t indigenous, every man and his dog would be out there searching ”: Family members say they have been left to scour rural Queensland themselves every day for answers on the 27-year-old’s mysterious disappearance.

The desperate family of missing man Jeremiah Rivers said they refuse to leave Noccundra until the 27-year-old is found, fearing their beloved son will be forgotten about if they are not there to fight for him.

Mr Rivers’ aunt Brenda Garstone said six family members have driven through rural Queensland from sunrise to sunset every day, searching for the missing man in a single car.

“We’re feeling hopeless and helpless, but we’re not giving up,” Ms Garstone said.

“The family don’t want to leave here because we don’t want this case to be dropped. That’s our biggest fear.

“If the family pack up and go home, he will have no voice over here. So we will not leave until we get to the bottom of where he is.”

David Rivers, Dean Purdie (Jeremiah’s Dad), Basil Althouse, James Rivers, Paul Harrington, Digby Rivers and Tennessee Rivers (left to right).

She said Mr Rivers treated everybody with kindness and respect, regardless of who they were or where they were from.

She said she believed the same was not being done for him, claiming resources and manpower were prioritised to other missing people, while they searched by day and slept in swags on the floor of a local hall at night.

Ms Garstone said while her family was calling daily to try to access a helicopter or plane to assist in their search, the Australian Defence Force was called in to help find a missing man in Mackay.

Jeremiah Rivers was last seen near Wippo Creek, about 20km south of Noccundra, on October 18.

The ground search for Mr Rivers was called off on October 25 and briefly resumed on October 30.

“(The search) was rushed. They gave up. It’s been disproportionate from day one,” Ms Garstone said.

“If he weren’t indigenous, every man and his dog would be out there searching for him.

“The family have had to cover their own fuel costs, and as we speak, that one vehicle being relied upon is in a garage. We’ve had to seek donations from family and friends to help with pay the cost of repairs so we can get back out there.

“Jayo’s life is just as valuable. No one should be treated unequally in this day and age.”

The family have been searching for Mr Rivers in a single car since he disappeared on October 18.

Since receiving the call on the morning of October 20 that Mr Rivers was missing, 15 family members and friends have funded their own trips to Noccundra to help search for him.

He was last seen on October 18 near Wippo Creek, about 20km south of Noccundra, where he’d been camping with a group of friends.

Queensland Police previously said some of the information provided to police about Mr Rivers’ disappearance was inconsistent, leading for investigators to believe it was suspicious.

The group of seven travelled from Balranald in NSW, near the Victoria border, through a border gate that was previously locked and camped on October 18 and 19.

Queensland police escorted them back to NSW, which is when the report was then made that Mr Rivers had gone for a walk and failed to return.

Jeremiah was camping with friends when he reportedly went for a walk and never came back.

Ms Garstone said it was out of character for her nephew to walk off and disappear, saying he’d grown up in the bush and previously worked as a ranger in the Northern Territory.

“We're left to wonder and put the puzzle together about what happened on that camping trip. We’re not going to accept the story that he’s just wandered off,” she said.

“We want to know the truth.”

Harry Rivers, Paul Harrington, Tennessee Rivers, Basil Althouse, Marcia Purdie, James Rivers, William Wampa, Belinda Rivers and David Rivers (left to right).

With Christmas fast approaching, Ms Garstone said his family are desperate to bring him home.

“The family will be over there in Darwin all gathering together to celebrate Christmas and normally he would be there,” she said.

“So we can’t even grieve at the moment, we don’t want to, because we still want to live in hope.”

A Queensland Police spokeswoman said the QPS First Nations and Multicultural Affairs Unit Superintendent Kerry Johnson was meeting with the family on Tuesday afternoon.

“South West District Detective Inspector Garry Watts maintains daily contact with the family (dependant on reception) and provides regular updates on the investigation,” the spokeswoman said.

“Ongoing appeals continue to receive national coverage and police have requested public assistance through multiple media releases and during media interviews.

“Additionally, all-weather missing person signs have been produced and are to be placed in and around the Noccundra and Wippo Creek area.

“First Nations Police Officer Laurie Bateman maintains regular contact with the family. Evidence continues to be analysed and evaluated against new information that is received.”

You can help the family in their search for Jeremiah Rivers by donating to their Go Fund Me HERE.

If you have information for police call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.