Paul Stevenson went missing near Bundaberg and to this day no one knows what happened

How does a well-liked and community-minded man go for a ride on his motorcycle to never be seen again? The question tugs at Paul Stevenson’s family every day as they hold on to hope someone will come forward almost a decade later.

Paul Stevenson took a ride on his motorcycle nine years ago and hasn’t been seen again.

This Missing Persons Week, it has been almost a decade since Paul Stevenson took a ride on his motorcycle never to be seen again.

It was Sunday, March 11, 2012. The popular and well-liked Bundaberg dad hopped on his 1978 Honda CB750 motorcycle for an early morning ride to Paradise Dam.

He was due to return to Bundaberg and make it to a meeting by 9am, but he never showed.

Paul’s family called his mobile over and over. It rang out.

After a search, Paul’s beloved Honda was found with minimal damage down an embankment on Mt Perry-Gin Gin Rd, along with his helmet, but items such as his phone and jacket remain missing.

Nikki Whelan, daughter of missing Bundaberg man Paul Stevenson, speaks out to media whilst her mother Julie Stevenson (middle) is comforted by friend Wendy Lowien and niece Amy McLennan after he went missing in 2012. Photo: File

The bike had a busted indicator and some scratches and snakes were found hiding beneath it, but there was no blood and nothing else to suggest any major incident.

Police investigated all angles - did Paul meet with foul play? Did he up and leave town? Did he meet with an accident or take his own life?

Investigations assumed Paul may have committed suicide, but there was no evidence to prove it. The Coroner has declared him dead and there is still no official cause of death listed.

Daughter Nikki Whelan, who was close to her dad, does not believe he took his life.

At the time he vanished, she was expecting her first child and Paul was thrilled. He’d also been planning to spend more time at home.

“Suicide or running away doesn’t seem like what happened,” Ms Whelan said.

Paul hadn’t displayed any signs of depression or a low mood.

Ms Whelan recalls a visit to a psychic medium who told her many things about her life that were accurate, before passing on a message from her dad that he’d had every intention of coming home the day he went missing.

The AGL rescue helicopter lifts off for a sweep of the surrounding bushland in the search for missing motorcyclist Paul Stevenson. Photo: File

So what happened?

Ms Whelan previously revealed to the NewsMailwhy she suspects foul play or some kind of accidental act that caused someone to panic.

If you check the far corners of the internet, you’ll find just a handful of discussions trying to find answers to the mystery which has largely gone silent over the years.

On online forum Reddit, one user imagined Paul may have had a stroke or some other medical issue then wandered into the bush.

Another suggested someone could have accidentally hit Paul and covered the evidence.

Plenty of comments expressed complete confusion over how such an incident could unfold with no trace of Paul.

The search of the area from where 47-year-old Paul vanished, according to Ms Whelan, was much more extensive than most people would realise.

There were choppers, motorbikes, horses, SES crews and even tips from clairvoyants’ tips were followed up. Paul’s family spent countless hours searching the area.

“We went out and we were walking around looking at different things,” Ms Whelan said.

“You would think we would have found something.”

Missing man Paul Stevenson was well liked.

Family of the missing motorcyclist, Paul Stevenson, gather near the spot where the motorcycle was found along the Gin Gin Mount Perry road. Photo: File

The quest for fresh leads becomes harder for Paul’s family every year. Even a small clue like someone finding Paul’s jacket would be cause for celebration for a family so desperate for answers.

Ms Whelan, who is now expecting her fourth child, says she would like to see more focus on missing persons in Queensland, with so many families out there wanting answers.

“If people logged on and saw how many people are on the missing persons page they’d be shocked,” she said.

One of the biggest misconceptions around Paul’s disappearance, according to Ms Whelan, is people mistakenly thinking Paul has been found.

“I think a lot of people think he’s been found,” she said.

“I’m surprised how many people aren’t aware.”

Ms Whelan continues to talk about her dad’s disappearance in the hopes that someday something will come to light, but it takes a toll.

“Next year we’re at 10 years where dad’s been missing,” she said.

“With a missing person’s case, they’re missing for a reason.

“I’ve always said, it’s the answers that will stop the questions.”

Ms Whelan, who lives on a property with her partner and children, says life goes on in tandem with the quest for answers.

“It just blows my mind,” she said.

“I think back to the day dad went missing, it’s funny how it’s just flown by and you stop and think ‘how is there nothing?’” she said.

If you know anything about Paul Stevenson’s disappearance, contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Paul Stevenson with his daughter Nikki.

Originally published as Paul Stevenson went missing near Bundaberg and to this day no one knows what happened