Marilyn Wallman memorial: Missing Mackay girl farewelled

FORTY years after she vanished in one of Queensland’s most enduring missing person’s cases, Marylin Wallman can finally be farewelled.

Skull discovery gives family closure

IT was more than 40 years ago that Rex Williams stopped on his way home from school to see his little sister Marilyn’s bike abandoned on the road, its front wheel still spinning.

Only 10 minutes earlier, Rex had seen the 14-year-old set off, rushing ahead in front of him and their other brother David racing home to their house in Mackay.

It was March 21, 1972, and that was the last time they saw her.

The family has endured four decades of heartache, not knowing what happened to Marilyn, who disappeared without a trace only 200m from her Mackay home.

But today they’ll finally have a chance to farewell her.

For years, there were no leads in the investigation that became the state’s most enduring missing child case.

But detectives made a breakthrough in January when they identified a piece of Marilyn’s skull.

The piece of bone was found only two-and-a-half years after she went missing in a creek about 40km from the road where she last was seen.

Years of forensic testing followed as her family prayed for answers.

In January, when the skull was finally identified, Rex said it was “a massive relief”.

“We know where she is now and at some stage we’ll be able to lay her to rest.”

Detectives have long believed the girl was kidnapped and murdered.

Hundreds are expected to gather at the St Ambrose Anglican Church in North Mackay today — what would have been her 57th birthday — for a memorial service.

Rex Wallman says the service will bring some closure.

“Today’s all about celebration,” he told ABC Radio.

“Celebrating those 14 years and getting to talk to people about the nice stories they have about her as well.” The person responsible for Marilyn’s death has never been found.

Her case remains open.