Christmas pain lingers after mum Lorrin Whitehead’s 2012 disappearance from Bannockburn

The last time Amelia Grozdanovski and her mum Lorrin Whitehead embarked on their annual Christmas tradition of picking raspberries, dancing to carols and making jam was in 2012. Just two months later, Ms Whitehead walked out of the family’s Bannockburn house and never returned.

It’s been eight years since Amelia Grozdanovski experienced a Christmas that wasn’t tinged with sadness.

December 2012 was the last time the young woman and her mum Lorrin Whitehead embarked on their annual Christmas tradition of picking raspberries, dancing to carols and making jam.

Just two months later, on February 8, 2013, Lorrin — her beloved, well-known mum — walked out of the family’s Bannockburn house and never returned.

Lorrin was last captured on CCTV purchasing a card at a local supermarket.

She had not accessed her bank account since then and had no known contact with family and friends.

Her personal items were found inside her home.

A similar card — with no writing inside — was addressed and posted to “The Kaiser Kids”.

But investigations by handwriting experts have been unable to determine if the writing is Lorrin’s.

Amelia Grozdanovski with missing Bannockburn mum Lorrin Whitehead.

To this day police still don’t how and if Lorrin ever left Bannockburn.

In the 2873 days since Lorrin’s disappearance Ms Grozdanovski has moved interstate, graduated university, married the man of her dreams and embarked on her dream career.

But despite having a zest for life and drive to achieve, Ms Grozdanovski always notices her mother’s absence.

The festive season is particularly difficult.

“For many of us this season of joy is tinged with sadness,” Ms Grozdanovski said.

“When you are missing a loved one, the empty chair can seem a little emptier in December.

“It’s at this time of year, against the backdrop of happiness and an increased emphasis on family, that I miss my mum the most.”

Ms Grozdanovski said her favourite Christmas memory with her mum was their annual berry picking trip.

Grandfather Wayne Whitehead with Lorrin's daughter Amelia Grozdanovski.

Lorrin Whitehead missing mum

“We would go home full of berries and put on a Michael Buble Christmas album and make raspberry jam, raspberry ice cream and sing as loud as we could into a stirring spoon,” Ms Grozdanovski said.

“Jam would then be gifted to every single friend and family member we had; these are very happy memories and were easily the best part of Christmas.”

The emergency nurse knows her insulin-dependent diabetic mother is unlikely to be alive but hopes that she is wrong.

“The truth is having someone in your life go missing — you never truthfully know. Your mind jumps to the worst-case scenarios, but always hold out hope,” she said.

But she knows one person may hold the vital clue that could help police solve the mystery that has changed the life of Lorrin’s family and forever changed Bannockburn.

As well as being determined to find out what happened to her mum, Ms Grozdanovski wants to ensure there are better services for families of missing people.

“The police have been great. But one person goes missing every 15 minutes in Australia and the local cops don’t have the resources to devote to that,” Ms Grozdanovski told the Addy in 2019.

“It truly is the ones that are left behind that suffer.”

Ms Grozdanovski has learned never to take anything for granted. “Coming up to Christmas, hug those loved ones a little harder,” she said.

“Thank those who are in your support system — cherish the little moments in life.

“The little moments you may look back on and realise — they were the most special.”

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Originally published as Christmas pain lingers after mum Lorrin Whitehead’s 2012 disappearance from Bannockburn