Andrew CATCHPOLE
*Andrew has never been located. I found this post on a thread written by some search volunteers so I hope that it's okay that I post it -
"About 3 weeks after the search for Andrew Catchpole was scaled back, and eventually stopped, it was his birthday, on the Saturday of his birthday his family held a birthday/farewell party for him. All volunteers that had helped search for him were invited."
*The extract below is from:
http://www.countusin.com.au/cproot/2187/3/Dec06update_(ID_210_Ver_1.31.0).doc
A community remembers
Andrew Catchpole’s 42nd birthday was honoured by a community celebration of his life at the Sculpture Park in Mundaring on October 31st. This occasion was attended by over 150 people and celebrated the important events and stages of Andrew’s life journey, shared by some of the people who knew and loved him. It also presented an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of the many people who did not know Andrew, but who participated in a range of ways in the search for him after he went missing several weeks ago.
Andrew, who has an intellectual disability, went missing on October 5th when he and his mother, Philippa, were bushwalking in Mundaring. Andrew loved the bush but sometimes strode ahead of his companions, waiting further up the track for them to catch up. This time, Andrew was not waiting. Despite a massive search by hundreds of people over five days within state forest and nearby suburbs, Andrew was not found. The search has now been scaled down and Andrew is considered to be a ‘missing person’.
The celebration of Andrew’s life unfolded in a number of personal stories. Long time friend and neighbour, Suzanne Welborn, gave a snapshot of childhood days shared with family, neighbours and kindy friends and sang along to a Peter Rabbit tape that Andrew had loved as a child. Marita Walker, former Disability Services Commission director, spoke of school days at Skippy house in the 1970s, at that time a newly built home and state-of-the-art training centre for children with intellectual disability at Pyrton. Helen Dullard, CEO of the Hills Community Support Group (HCSG) and Jill McKenzie, its former manager, told of Andrew’s move to Mt Helena 12 years ago supported by the HCSG, and of weekly activities at Crosslinks plus outings with family and friends. Kerry Stopher, friend and informal advocate for Andrew, read a poem celebrating Andrew’s strong and enduring relationships with family and friends. A photo board provided glimpses of Andrew at each life stage surrounded by family, friends and supporting staff. A framed photo of Andrew placed beside a lit candle symbolised a good and full life.
Master of Ceremonies and friend of the Catchpoles, Peter Holland, acknowledged the tremendous search effort of people from the State Emergency Service, Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades, the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, WA Police, the Shire of Mundaring, and Conservation and Land Management, including support from the Salvation Army and Eagle Boys Pizzas for feeding volunteers as they searched.
“We have had a real experience of what it means to be a community,” he said.
“We know that we are not alone. This community has proved that it is willing to do whatever it takes, whatever is in our individual power, to assist with the task at hand. We may live in painful times, but we have the evidence of care and empathy that invigorates our community and proves that it is, still, a beautiful world.”
John Beaton, Shire President, also thanked the community of Mundaring for pulling together to support the Catchpoles and volunteers.
Reverend Marie-Louise Collins of the Anglican Parish of Bellevue/Darlington acknowledged the emptiness and distress experienced by many people who knew Andrew and by those who had searched for him without success.
“We cannot make pain go away,” she said.
“But we can acknowledge the pain and stand alongside those who are suffering. We know what it is to feel helpless, but not hopeless. We have proved to ourselves that we do live in a time and place of compassion and support.”
The celebration concluded with Philippa unveiling a plaque reading ‘Andrew’s Place’, which will name the new house for people with disabilities being built in Parkerville. A special thank you was read on behalf of parents Bernard and Philippa, brother, James and his wife, Geraldine.
“We want to thank all those who participated in the effort to find Andrew and bring him home,” they said.
“We are deeply touched by the commitment of so many people who did not personally know Andrew but who spent long hours searching for him. We also want to thank all those who do know Andrew and our family and supported us – our personal friends, staff from the Hills Community Support Group who we consider to be ‘part of family’, Crosslinks and the congregation of St Cuthbert’s Church. Although this time is very painful the support of friends and community enrich our lives and make it easier to bear.”
Before leaving the Sculpture Park everyone spontaneously sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Andrew. Many joined the Catchpoles for a sausage sizzle and birthday cake.
“Thank you to everyone who helped plan and participate in this wonderful event,” said Philippa.
“For me it represents a celebration of Andrew’s life, an opportunity to say thank you to many people, and a chance to begin some closure at a personal level to this very difficult time.”
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Monday, October 9, 2006. 1:39pm (AEST)
Police fear for missing disabled man - ABC
The search for an intellectually disabled man missing east of Perth has entered
its fifth day today with police increasingly concerned for his welfare.
More than 100 police and State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers scoured thick
bush around Mundaring, Glenforest and Darlington on the weekend, but were unable
to find 42-year-old Andrew Catchpole.
Mr Catchpole disappeared on Thursday while bushwalking with his mother.
The search and rescue effort has involved police and SES volunteers on foot,
horseback and motorcycles as well as an air search using using aircraft and the
police helicopter.
The combined effort has so far failed to find any trace of the missing man.
Friday, October 6, 2006. 6:34pm (AEST)
Police continue search for missing man - ABC
Police in Perth are investigating two possible sightings of a man who has been
missing for more than 24 hours after going bushwalking with his mother at
Mundaring Weir.
Police say 42-year-old Andrew Catchpole has an intellectual disability and
cannot talk.
Inspector Greg Knott says the search involves a helicopter, more than 50 police
on horseback, quad bikes, and SES and CALM personnel.
"Absolutely, it's been substantial but we now believe we're closing in and
hopefully we'll have some good news today," he said.
Search continues for missing man
October 08, 2006 - The Australian
A SEARCH is continuing for an intellectually disabled man who went missing in
bushland in Perth's hills three days ago.
Andrew Catchpole, 42, has been missing since 11.30am (WST) on Thursday after he
wandered off while on a walk near Mundaring with his mother.
Search coordinator Sergeant Wayne Bancroft said the search, involving police,
SES, bush fire brigade volunteers and conservation officers, had resumed this
morning.
"We have still got high hopes," Sgt Bancroft said.
"If he's out there and still walking around, hopefully, he is walking in circles
and he is still confined to our search area.
"He is physically fit and he could walk around for up to nine days."
Sgt Bancroft said the searchers hoped to use a helicopter later today.
Local residents were also keeping an eye out for Mr Catchpole, he said.
"We have had reported sightings but nothing has been confirmed."
The search will today focus on a 20 square kilometre area of bushland near
Mundaring, he said.
Mr Catchpole is 184cm tall and is wearing jeans, sneakers and a beige
long-sleeved t-shirt.
Search for disabled man intensifies
October 09, 2006 07:09pm - News.com.au
A SEARCH has intensified for an intellectually disabled man missing in Perth's
hills for five days.
Andrew Catchpole, 42, wandered off while on a walk near Mundaring with his
mother about 11.30am (WST) on Thursday.
Mundaring Police Inspector Greg Knott said 200 people today widened the search
to a 300 square kilometre area.
The searchers include police officers and recruits, State Emergency Service and
Bush Fire Brigade volunteers and conservation officers.
"We will continue with that commitment tomorrow," Insp Knott said.
"We're starting to get into a critical stage."
Insp Knott said hopes would begin to fade if there was no sign of Mr Catchpole
in the next 24 hours.
"Obviously as we get that five-day period or longer then we have got to consider
scaling back," he said.
"But we're not talking about that at this point.
"We're still going to continue until we believe we have covered everything a
number of times."
Mr Catchpole is 184cm tall and is wearing jeans, sneakers and a beige
long-sleeved t-shirt.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006. 7:11pm (AEST)- ABC
Family thanks hundreds involved in missing man's search
The family of a man missing in Mundaring, north-west of Perth, has thanked
authorities and volunteers who have spent the last six days searching for him.
Andrew Catchpole, is intellectually disabled and disappeared on Thursday while
bushwalking with his mother.
An air and ground search of more than 350 square kilometres has so far found no
trace of the 42-year-old.
His brother James has praised the efforts of the more than 200 people who have
helped in the search for Andrew.
He says his family will not give up hope of finding him alive.
"I guess the worst thing is we don't know what's happened, you always think the
worst you just hope for the best and we'll just keep hoping."
The search for Mr Catchpole will be scaled down tonight.
Family of missing man still have hope
11th October 2006, 14:00 WST The West Australian
The 42-year-old intellectually disabled man who has been missing in dense bush
near Mundaring since last week was a gentle soul who was afraid of the dark and
not used to being alone, his family said yesterday.
Andrew Catchpole’s family refused to give up hope that he would be found,
despite the search being scaled back today.
He wandered away from his mother during a regular walk along the Munda Biddi
track on Thursday.
A ground and air search of a 300sqkm area involving hundreds of volunteers
failed to discover any trace of the missing man, whose disability left him
unable to call for help.
More than 200 police, SES and CALM volunteers scoured thick bush around
Mundaring yesterday as the search entered its sixth day.
James Catchpole said his brother loved walking and would regularly walk up to
10km a day despite needing full-time living assistance.
“It’s just the horror of knowing he’s been out there for four, five — I can’t
count the nights — and he’s alone and he’s used to being around people,” he
said. “He is on his own and I’m sure he would be frightened.
“We have to (hope), how can you not hope. And you just keep on hoping.”
Mr Catchpole said his brother lived in a community house and was used to being
surrounded by people who cared for him and loved him. The family have been
overwhelmed by the massive community response.
Hills Community Support Group disabilities manager Gail Palmer said Mr
Catchpole’s intellectual impairment made it impossible to predict how he would
react to being lost.
“He doesn’t know enough to go to the top of a hill and call out, and if he takes
his shoes off he will not be able to put them back on himself,” she said.
Insp. Denis Perich said searchers had drawn a blank.
Tiffany Laurie