Police
It’s been almost 50 years since Brisbane air force policewoman Gaye Baker went missing after meeting a man in the city’s north. Now police and her family have launched a new appeal for information about her fate.
QLD News
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DETECTIVES and the family of missing air force policewoman Gaye Baker have appealed for people to come forward with any information on the 47-year-old cold case.
Gaye was 23 when she disappeared in 1972 after travelling to Clayfield to meet a man for her first shift as a “hostess” with a Fortitude Valley agency.
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She had taken on a second job to save money to help with her mother’s medical expenses and to realise her dream of travelling the world.
She was last seen alive on the morning of July 2, 1972, after parking her car, a yellow Datsun, in Bayview Tce, Clayfield.
Gaye was supposed to meet a man, who had given the fake name “John Taylor”, outside the Clayfield bowls club.
They planned to go together to the man’s work end-of-stocktake pool party.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell from the Homicide Investigation Unit’s cold case team said now was the time to come forward with information on Gaye’s disappearance.
“It’s been 47 years since Gaye Baker was last seen alive and we are urging anyone with information, even if they spoke to police at the time, to come forward and give Gaye’s family some closure,” she said.
“We are particularly interested to hear from those who were in the area at the time who may have seen Gaye, or a vehicle near Gaye’s car on Bayview Tce, described as a dark brown or maroon Holden Monaro or Valiant Charger.”
A $250,000 reward is available for information leading to the conviction of a person or people responsible for Gaye’s murder.
Robyn Johnson, speaking alongside sibling Annette Williscroft, said their older sister’s murder had had a terrible effect on the family.
“Our sister Gaye Christine Baker was a well-loved and respected member of our family and the Royal Australian Air Force,” she said.
“Gaye was a confident, capable 23-year-old. She enjoyed an active life, as many young people do. She enjoyed skiing, jazz ballet and many things. She had dreams of travelling overseas.
“Forty-seven years ago tragedy struck our family when our much loved elder sister Gaye went missing and has not been seen since. This of course had devastating effects that still have a ripple effect on our lives today.”
Ms Johnson said Gaye’s family wanted to thank police for reviewing the cold case.
“To assist the police, we please, please ask anyone out there if they have any information – regardless of how small they think that information is – if anyone knows anything, could they please call the Queensland Police.
“We loved our sister Gaye very much.
“We hope that we can bring closure to our family and lay Gaye to rest with the help of anyone out there.”
Originally published as Police