Gerald Whitefoot: police call for help to find Sydney man missing since 1977

When Gerald Whitefoot left for work as a groundskeeper in Sydney’s southwest in 1977 with nothing but the clothes on his back, it was the last time his family ever saw him. Now, they and the police have renewed calls for answers.

The family of father-of-seven Gerald Whitefoot, who mysteriously vanished 45 years ago when he left for work in Sydney’s southwest, has asked for help to find the “charismatic, witty, dearly loved and deeply missed” man as police renew calls for information.

In an emotional plea posted on social media page Leave A Light On, June Whitefoot asked: “How can you move on in life when the man who meant the world to you, and who thought the world of you, is missing?”

“Each day living in limbo, wondering if answers will ever be forthcoming, if that telephone will ever ring or that knock on the door will ever sound, to finally know what happened all those years ago … Every report of human remains being located sends a shiver down the spines of his family – could that be their dad? Will he finally be coming home?”

Gerald George Francis Whitefoot was last seen on Wednesday December 9, 1977, in West Sydney

Mr Whitefoot’s daughter was the last to see him leave the family home on Cabramatta Ave, Miller, as he walked to his groundskeeper job at a Lurnea primary school.

The then-44-year-old left between 8am and 8.30am on Friday December 9, 1977.

Concerns were raised when he uncharacteristically did not come home.

Police described Mr Whitefoot, who would now be aged 88, as caucasian, with dark hair, brown eyes and medium build.

They said he was known by several names, including ‘Gerald Brady,’ ‘Gerald Toms’ and ‘Gerry’.

Liverpool City Police Area Command crime manager, Detective Inspector Timothy Liddiard, said police had made extensive inquiries and any information — no matter how insignificant it seems — may hold the key to finding out what happened.

“Any information provided can be treated with the strictest of confidence,” he said.

“Missing persons cases have a long-term and traumatic toll on families, many of whom never get over their loved ones vanishing. We want to provide some answers for Mr Whitefoot’s family.”

That pain was echoed in the Leave a Light On social media post, which said the family had endured decades of heartache and still held out hope for answers.

The post stated Mr Whitefoot had nothing on him on the day he vanished except the clothes he was wearing and he hadn’t accessed his bank account since his disappearance, while his bank book was left at home.

“Known to frequent the Green Valley Hotel for the occasional drink, Gerald was a glass beveller by trade but was also known to have worked as a barman at a number of businesses,” the post read.

“Having been born in London, Gerald also spoke with an accent. Although not sure of what Gerald was wearing on the day he disappeared, Gerald was described as always being well dressed, often wearing a suit, or a shirt and tie.”

“Gerald had a number of tattoos including a tattoo on his right forearm of a snake around a sword and 1952, and a tattoo on his left arm – of a bird with the words “True Love Mum.”

The post read Mr Whitefoot was “a dearly loved father to seven children … sadly two of his children have passed away not knowing what happened to their father”.