Art shines light on plight of missing bushwalker Warren Meyer

A WOMAN whose husband went missing in Melbourne’s outer east eight years ago has joined forces with writers and artists to draw attention to the alarming numbers of missing people in Australia.

Zee Meyer with her daughter Renee Dowie and her grand daughter, Amelia, with the artwork where her husband Warren went missing in 2008. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

A WOMAN whose husband went missing near Healesville eight years ago has joined forces with writers and artists to draw attention to the alarming numbers of missing people in Australia.

On Easter Sunday 2008, 57-year-old Warren Meyer from Beaumaris set out for a 10km bushwalk starting at the Dom Dom Saddle carpark, 17km northeast of Healesville, Yarra Ranges. He was well-prepared and an experienced bushwalker. He has not been seen or heard from since.

Mr Meyer’s wife Zee said she believed her husband was killed but her family remained desperate for answers.

“We went away for the weekend with very close friends and Warren had got up early to go on a simple hike,” Mrs Meyers said. “We believe he has been killed — there were reports of out-of-control shooting along a walking track where he was hiking.

Warren Meyer.

The artwork by Sydney artist Allan Wrath highlighting Warren Meyer’s disappearance from the Dom Dom Saddle car park in Fernshaw. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

“We continue to struggle to cope with the loss of our husband and father — we want answers, but we need public awareness and assistance to be able to get them.”

This week is National Missing Persons Week.

Mrs Meyers is sharing their story as part of the Too Short Stories campaign, an initiative developed by the Missing Persons Advocacy Network and Grey Advertising to highlight the number of missing persons.

In seven street art installations, displayed at the sites each person was last seen, Too Short Stories brings writers and artists together to create a series of engaging stories and illustrations of missing Australians.

Searchers were unable to find lost bushwalker Warren Meyer in the Yarra Ranges National Park in 2008.

About 9000 people go missing each year from Victoria alone.

While many are found within the first 48 hours, there are many that remain missing.

The advocacy network offers practical support for families in each step of their search.

Anyone affected by the issue is encouraged to visit missingpersonsguide.com and anyone with information regarding missing persons is urged to call the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre on 1800 000 634.