Community spirit shines through as Ballarat searches for Samantha Murphy

25 years ago, another mum went missing in Ballarat. The town rallied, with her picture in shopfronts everywhere. A quarter of a century later, that community spirit is shining through again.

More than most, Ballarat residents know what it is like living with dark clouds looming over us.

Our regional city, known for being old, gold and cold, and for being borne out of a violent past, has this week been grappling with another grim spectre following the baffling disappearance of mum-of-three Sam Murphy.

While these recent dark clouds have been figurative, rather than the heavy monsters which shadow each winter, they have still enveloped the whole community and are sending shivers more painful than those imposed by our subzero temperatures.

Yet Ballarat people also know that the rainbow shines brightest when it appears in front of the darkest clouds.

And this week the Ballarat community has shone brighter than at any time this century.

Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing Ballarat East woman Samantha Murphy. Picture: Supplied

Our people have rallied to assist police and SES volunteers in any way possible to help bring an end to this ordeal, while also seeking to bring comfort and solace to the Murphy family.

The feeling around the city resembles that from nearly 25 years ago when we were mortified by the disappearance of young mother Belinda Williams.

Belinda Williams went missing in Ballarat. Her body was found at the foot of Mount Buninyong. Picture: Supplied.

Her body was later found in bushland at the foot of Mt Buninyong, very close to where searchers have been looking this week, and a $1m reward is still standing for any information which would lead police to solving the mystery of who was responsible for her death.

At the time of Belinda’s disappearance communal grief was shown more on faces in shops than on Facebook posts, and glimmers of hope were revealed in the residents’ eyes rather than in their Instas, but the underlying passion and grief remain unwavering in both cases.

SES crews search for Ballarat East woman Samantha Murphy, who has been missing since early Sunday morning. Picture: NCA Newswire / Nicki Connolly

25 years ago Ballarat really was a large country town, when such grim events sparked more conspiracy theories than a January 6 march on the Capitol, whereas now it’s definitely a growing and maturing regional city.

It is impossible to pinpoint the moment when it graduated to its current status.

Perhaps it came as recently as the post-Covid era when tree-changers flooded the market, sparking unprecedented growth on the city’s western and southern edges.

More and more faces in our famed Sturt St boulevard have been new and unfamiliar and from varying backgrounds and countries. It has vastly improved the place.

Similarly, fancy new restaurants, wine bars and gin joints have replaced dilapidated stores in century-old buildings.

By and large the growth has been welcomed and the population has reached the point where it encourages a degree of anonymity while also providing the occasional welcoming waves of familiar faces.

Yet this week, as grief, fear and worry encapsulates us all, the community spirit which has built through tragedy has, to some extent, rekindled those last-century feelings of country comfort and kindness.

People care what happened to Sam Murphy, whether we have met her or not.

We are caring about her family too as they, like all of us, have valuable connections throughout the community via small business, Catholic schools and performing arts companies.

The Ballarat community wants to support the family of missing woman Samantha Murphy. Her daughter Jess and husband Mick spoke to media on Thursday. Picture: NCA Newswire / Nicki Connolly

We are seeking to cook for them, to embrace them, and to walk up and down every damned remote track as often as it takes to find that vital piece of information that may just lead to an answer.

It was a boiling hot day last Sunday when Sam went missing. A day most outsiders would never associate with Ballarat.

The sun has continued to shine on all days since presenting us the most pleasant stretch of weather this summer.

Old, gold and cold is a long way away.

Reflecting the spirit of the community itself, it is showing much welcome warmth.

Paul Nolan is News Corp’s National Community Sports Editor and is based in Ballarat.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or provide information online.