Mystery over missing Victoria hikers Russell Hill, Carol Clay

Police don’t discount elopement after Russell Hill and Carol Clay disappeared last month but say radio hams could be key.

Missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay. Picture: AAP.

Victoria Police aren't discounting elopement after two campers went missing in the state's high country a month ago but believe amateur radio enthusiasts could be the key to solving the mystery of their disappearance.

Detectives also confirmed on Wednesday that a DJI brand Mavic model drone was missing from the burnt out campsite of Russell Hill, 74, and Carol Clay, 73, which was discovered near Dry River Creek Track in the Wonnangatta Valley on 21 March.

Russell Hill and Carol Clay's burnout campsite near Dry River track at Billabong in the Wonnangatta Valley. Picture: ABC.

Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said Mr Hill was an avid amateur radio enthusiast on the high frequency 3.670 and the missing man was last heard from on March 20 when he made a high frequency radio call from Wonnangatta Station using his call sign VK3 VZP.

His campsite was found the next day and Detective Stamper appealed to the amateur radio enthusiast community to come forward if they had any information about the disappearance.

“There’s no mobile phone coverage in the valley so he spoke with his mates every night,” he said.

“And that was the way they all checked up on each other.”

It is believed Russell Hill and Carol Claywere camping at Wonnangatta River near the Wonnangatta camping ground.

Ms Clay was last sighted when Mr Hill picked her up from her home in his white Toyota LandCruiser after she told friends she was expecting to return home by March 29.

Detective Stamper poured cold water on speculation the missing campers had eloped together. The rumours were triggered when Mr Hill’s wife was reported saying she did not know husband had gone camping with their mutual friend until he went missing.

“We’ve had a look at their finances, lifestyles, recent purchases …. All that stuff,” he said.

“The eloping theory in my mind is not credible, I wouldn’t discount it but I would be very, very, very, very surprised”.

Carol Clay has been missing in the Wonnongatta Valley area in Victoria since 20 March.

Russell Hill is not an experienced bushwalker.

Detective Stamper said he did not know of the nature of the relationship between the pair and said Ms Clay had told some of her family she was camping with Mr Hill. She lived independently after a separation several years ago.

“We don’t know the exact nature of the relationship, obviously there was a relationship there,” he said.

“It’s been an uncomfortable period for the families on a lot of levels but I must say the families have been amazing in how they both supported this investigation.”

Mr Hill has been described as a meticulous camper and worked for several years in the logging industry but was not an experienced bushwalker.

His burnt out white Land Cruiser was found near the campsite by a family of campers just before 2pm on March 21 but arson examinations have proved inconclusive.

Senior Sergeant Greg Paul from the search and rescue squad said the valley floor had been extensively searched with the vast majority of people who go missing in the Victorian bush found fairly quickly.

“The bush is very unforgiving [and] the Australian bush, it can swallow people up,” he said.

“So it's very difficult once they do come to grief in the middle of nowhere, to find people sometimes.”

Mr Paul said the remoteness of the Wonnangatta Valley, poor communication signals and the COVID-19 outbreak had hampered investigation efforts.

Detective Stamper said a suspicious aspect to the disappearance couldn’t be ruled out or ruled in.

“We really don’t know what has caused Russell and Carol’s disappearance,” he said.

The families of the missing parties released statements urging anyone with information to contact police.

“This is a very difficult time for our family,” said Ms Clay’s family.

“We are living with uncertainty, loss and the continual stress of not knowing where they are and what has happened.”

Mr Hill’s family said: “It is devastating for our family that we don’t know what has happened to them both. We are pleading for anyone who has any information to please come forward.”