Daryl Floyd’s plea for help in final hunt for Terry Floyd’s remains

The brother of Terry Floyd says he’s too emotionally exhausted to “stand on a mineshaft and look for my brother’s bones” calling on the Andrews government to take the lead in the search for his remains.

Daryl Floyd holds a photo of his brother Terry who disappeared in Avoca, 1975. Picture: Julian Smith

The brother of child murder victim Terry Floyd is pleading with the state government to take charge of the final hunt for the schoolboy’s remains.

Daryl Floyd says he is exhausted by the physical and emotional toll of being left to co-ordinate the search for Terry, 12, who vanished in 1975.

A coroner found Terry had been abducted and murdered after he vanished while waiting for a lift on the side of the Pyrenees Highway in Avoca.

The state government pledged financial support in 2017 to excavate the Morning Star mineshaft at Bung Bong Hill, however five years later only 80 per cent has been searched, with efforts hampered by bushfires, Covid and red tape.

In February Mr Floyd conducted a three-day search of the area using cadaver dogs for the first time.

Mr Floyd now wants the government to take control of the final stages of the search and a guarantee the entire project would be funded, no matter the cost.

“I can’t continue to stand on a mineshaft and look for my brother’s bones,” Mr Floyd said.

“This is taking a toll on me physically and mentally, it is an emotional rollercoaster no one wants to be on.

“We need the government to commit to this entirely, no family member of a victim should be fighting with the government. I don’t want to keep dragging this along.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews told media at the time: “We want to ensure the focus remains on finding Terry and not on finding the money to do so – that’s why I promised Daryl we would continue to help fund the search to finally bring Terry home.”

The government said $110,000 had been provided to Mr Floyd, of which $25,000 was still available.

“We’ve continued to support the tireless efforts of Mr Floyd and the volunteers assisting him in his search for his missing brother,” a spokeswoman said.

Justice Party MP Stuart Grimley has written to the premier after recently meeting with Mr Floyd.

Picture of missing Victorian schoolboy Terry Floyd, aged 12.

“The mine that Daryl has been excavating over the years is 52 meters deep, with various tunnels throughout. There is much to be excavated,” Mr Grimley wrote.

“I ask you to continue to fund the excavation of this mine to support Daryl and his

family to finally bring Terry home.

“The investigation was strewn with mistakes, missed clues and misplaced evidence. At the very least, the state should fund the search for his remains until all avenues are exhausted.”

In 2014, Victoria Police increased the reward on offer for information that solves Mr Floyd’s disappearance to $1 million.

Mr Floyd said: “I promised my parents I would always continue to find out what happened to Terry. He wasn’t just my brother, he was my best mate. There are so many family members who live in hope for answers, we are hoping this search could be the last piece of the puzzle.”