Lyn Dawson’s family never stops loving or searching

A new generation of Lyn Dawson’s family is keeping her memory alive, 36 years after her suspected murder.

Allyson Jennings, main; Chris Dawson, top right; Lyn Dawson, below right.

A new generation of Lyn Dawson’s family is keeping her memory alive, 36 years after her suspected murder.

Allyson Jennings wasn’t born until the year after Mrs Dawson, her mother’s cousin, vanished.

But she saw from a young age the ripple effect on a wide circle of family and friends and now helps run a Facebook page devoted to ensuring there are answers.

She said yesterday The Australian’s new investigative podcast series, The Teacher’s Pet, was shining a welcome light on the unsolved cold case.

“My great aunty and uncle, Lynette’s parents, went to their graves never seeing justice for ­Lynette.

“I hope in my lifetime soon, I will see resolution,” she said.

Mrs Dawson, a 33-year-old mother of two from Bayview on Sydney’s northern beaches, went missing in January 1982.

Her remains have not been found but two coroners concluded in separate inquests in 2001 and 2003 that she was murdered by her husband Chris Dawson. Mr Dawson, a former star footballer and high school physical education teacher, has never been charged and strenuously denies any involvement.

The first episode of The ­Teacher’s Pet was launched on Friday after a six-month investigation by national chief correspondent Hedley Thomas.

Pauline Jenkins, who was three when her aunt went missing, runs the “Looking for Lynette Dawson” Facebook page with Ms Jennings.

One of her earliest memories was flying to Sydney with her mother, Pat Jenkins, Mrs Dawson’s sister, to be with Lyn’s parents, Helena and Len Simms, after the disappearance.

“I listened to it last night and it has been very thorough,” she said of the podcast yesterday.

“I think it’s really important to have this kind of thing, for people to realise what’s happened, maybe bring someone who has more information in — maybe change something for the future.”

The Teacher’s Pet

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Her mother had initially tried to shield her from the loss and its effects, “but then of course you start to hear things”.

After attending the second inquest with her mother, Ms Jenkins prepared a detailed timeline charting the key events in the case.

“There’s been an anxiety for my family, not really knowing what has happened for a long time. My brothers and I, we aim to support Mum where we can,” Ms Jenkins said.

Her older brother, David ­Jenkins, was the author of an emotional “letter to Lynette” that has been posted online, discussing the years of life she missed.

The podcast series will continue over at least eight episodes, which can be ­downloaded from www.theteacherspet.com.au, iTunes and other platforms.

“So much has happened without you. So many family events, both happy and sad. Birthdays, anniversaries, first days at school, seeing your daughters grow up,” he wrote.

“You’ve got grandkids now, although you barely got started raising your own girls … you’ve lost your own mum and dad Lyn, years after they lost you. I guess you are all together again now. Your family has never stopped loving, caring, missing you.’’

Do you know more about Lyn Dawson’s disappearance? Contact Hedley Thomas at [e-mail]