Volunteers honoured for helping search for Theo search

An 80-strong group of volunteers have been recognised for their extraordinary efforts to support the family of missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez.

Theo Hayez on his Australian travels.

An 80-strong group of volunteers have been recognised for their extraordinary efforts to support the family of missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez.

The “Looking for Theo Hayez Search Team” was nominated by Hayez’s family in the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards and were announced as the winners of the regional Northern Rivers team award on Thursday.

Theo Hayez.

Primarily Byron Bay locals, but assisted by volunteers around the country, they put their lives on hold to try to find Hayez, then 18, after he went missing in Byron in May last year, and continue to support his family to this day.

Many of the volunteers were motivated by the devastation of Theo’s parents, Laurent Hayez and Vinciane Delforge.

Others saw first-hand the desperation of Theo’s cousins, Lisa Hayez and Michael Dorkhom, who were in Queensland when he went missing and travelled to Byron to start their own search, and of his godfather Jean-Philippe Pector, who travelled up from Melbourne to search.

Finding it difficult to accept someone could simply vanish without a trace in the modern age, locals spent months conducting often-dangerous searches of dense, snake-infested bushland.

Some members of the group had specialist skills in areas such as oceanography and cartography, while others brought local knowledge and contacts.

Their efforts were documented in The Australian’s six-part podcast investigating Hayez’s disappearance, The Lighthouse.

Theo Hayez's father Laurent Hayez

They are now in the running for the overall state award.

The nomination noted the difficulties faced by relatives due to the distance between Australia and Belgium, and cited the volunteers’ “incredible dedication, tenacity, strength and energy when the family was emotionally debilitated by the gravity of the situation”.

“Since the start of their involvement, very strong connections and beautiful friendships have been established between the volunteers and members of Theo’s family,” the nomination says.

“In those very dramatic and difficult times their support, assistance and love has been crucial for the family to stay strong.

“All those outstretched hands have prevented us from falling under the weight of an unbearable suffering.

“During these very difficult times for the family, the volunteers have showed the best side of humanity and have lit a brilliant light in the middle of the darkness we are in.”

Sheri D’Rosario, a clinical psychologist who helped co-ordinate the efforts of the volunteers, said the search for Theo “was the most heartwarming display of humanity I’ve ever seen”.

The group wanted to help improve the handling of missing-person cases, she said.

“This is just another step in doing that,” she told The Australian on Thursday.

The awards are presented by The Centre for Volunteering, with 25 regional award ceremonies held across NSW before a gala ceremony due in December.

“The 80 team members of the Looking for Theo Hayez Search Team have led the community response to help find the missing 18-year-old Belgian backpacker,” the centre’s website says.

“The team has maintained its work over the past 15 months, while also helping Theo’s family cope during this most difficult and traumatic period.”

Theo's cousin Lisa Hayez and Michael Dorkhom. Picture: Russell Shakespeare