Patricia BACKHURST

Police are appealing to anyone travelling to the Inverloch area over the weekend to keep an eye out for missing 81-year-old woman, Patricia Backhurst.

Police hold serious concerns for Patricia, who has dementia and was last seen in the vicinity of Screw Creek, east of Inverloch, about 5.23pm last Wednesday, March 17.

Local police are expecting a significant amount of Victorians will return to their holiday houses over the weekend and are urging them to check their homes, yards and sheds.

Police are also keen for holiday makers to keep an eye out on bush walking tracks and beach access tracks.

“Local uniform members, Police Air Wing, Mounted Branch and Search and Rescue have this week been assisted by SES, Parks Victoria, CFA and Bush Search and Rescue who have thoroughly searched the Inverloch area since Patricia went missing,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

Police have focused their search on the township of Inverloch, including Screw Creek, the foreshore and surrounding rural properties, and will continue to scour the area in the hope of locating Patricia.

“Patricia, who is physically fit for her age, is familiar with the area and it is not unusual for her to do extended local bush walks,” police said.

Patricia is described as being about 168cm tall, with a slim build and shoulder-length white hair.

Investigators are also re-appealing to the local community to check their CCTV and dashcam footage for any sign of Patricia.

Anyone with information about Patricia’s whereabouts is urged to contact Wonthaggi Police Station on 03 5671 4100 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Family plea for help from holiday-makers to locate missing 81-year-old Patricia Backhurst

A specific group of people are now crucial in the hunt for an 81-year-old woman who has been missing since last Wednesday.

Authorities have pleaded with holiday-makers to be on the lookout for a missing 81-year-old Victorian woman not seen for more than week.

Patricia Backhurst was last seen at her home last week in Inverloch, a seaside town southeast of Melbourne in west Gippsland, on the afternoon of March 17.

Both family and authorities have revealed “concerns for her welfare” as she has Dementia, with a renewed plea launched on Thursday for help after an expansive search operation was unable to locate the woman.

A search and rescue operation with the assistance of various agencies, including State Emergency Service volunteers, Parks Victoria and Bush Search and Rescue has been scouring the area, with police hoping weekend holiday-makers may be able to help.

Those visiting the seaside community over the weekend have been told to keep an eye out for the 81-year-old on bushwalking tracks and beach access paths.

“Police have focused their search on the township of Inverloch, including Screw Creek, the foreshore and surrounding rural properties, and will continue to scour the area in the hope of locating Patricia,” police said on Thursday.

“Patricia, who is physically fit for her age, is familiar with the area and it is not unusual for her to do extended local bush walks.”

The woman is described as being about 168cm tall, with a slim build and shoulder-length white hair.

Patricia Backhurst: Hundreds of volunteers search for Inverloch woman

As the search for a missing elderly woman continues in Inverloch, there is a vital way holiday-makers and locals can help with the rescue.

Police are urging for people travelling to Inverloch over the weekend to keep an eye out for an elderly woman who has been missing for more than a week.

Patricia Backhurst was last seen in the vicinity of Screw Creek around 5.23pm last Wednesday March 17.

Police and family have concerns for the 81-year-old’s welfare as she has dementia.

Senior Sergeant Brad Steer told The Bass Coast News police believe Ms Backhurst is “disoriented” in Inverloch bushland.

Sen-Sgt Steer said there had been no confirmed sightings of the elderly woman since her disappearance, which has triggered an extensive search from local police, police air wing, the mounted branch, search and rescue, SES, Parks Victoria and Bush Search and Rescue.

Local police have urged people returning to their holiday homes to check their yards, sheds, beach access tracks and the walking trails between their properties.

Bass Coast residents have also joined the push with Facebook groups detailing locations where locals have searched.

Inverloch businesses have displayed posters of Ms Backhurst’s photo in their shop front windows.

Ms Backhurst’s step daughter Karen Wallace urged the public to continue to search for her stepmother.

“We are appealing for anyone and everyone to be out there searching for my stepmother,” Ms Wallace said.

“We appreciate all the help that is occurring but we really need to find her … it’s getting very worrying.”

Investigators have also asked the local community to check their CCTV and dashcam footage for any sign of Ms Backhurst.

She is described as being about 168cm tall, with a slim build and shoulder length white hair.

Patricia Backhurst: Police receive information about missing Inverloch woman

Police have received information about an 81-year-old woman who disappeared in Inverloch more than two months ago. But sadly none of the leads have led to her.

Police have received “odd bits” of information about the disappearance of an Inverloch woman after she went missing more than two months ago.

Her disappearance sparked extensive searches from emergency services and the community but despite leads from the public, the 81-year-old has not been found.

Sergeant Adrian Condron told The Bass Coast News the case had been handed to the Criminal Investigation Unit in Wonthaggi.

“We are still getting odd bits of information from the public,” Sgt Condron said.

“But none of it has assisted in bringing the investigation to any type of conclusion.”

Sgt Condron said police had been given photos believed to have captured Ms Backhurst in the background.

“(But) mainly the information has been of a nature of no practical use to us,” he said.

“What is says is that the community are still aware of her being missing and are still trying to find her.”

Ms Backhurst’s step daughter Karen Wallace previously told The Bass Coast News that she was shocked about her disappearance.

“I really don’t know what has happened but I can’t believe that she has disappeared.”

Ms Wallace said her stepmother lived in Inverloch for 25 years and was diagnosed with dementia about 12 months ago.

She is described as being about 168cm tall, with a slim build and shoulder length white hair.

Police believe she was possibly wearing blue jeans and runners the day she went missing.

Sgt Condron said Ms Backhurst’s disappearance was not being treated as suspicious.