Bright orange overalls could be seen along the roadside and among trees as volunteers combed Shepparton East properties on Wednesday, October 16, for any sign of a man missing for more than three weeks.
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SES and Search and Rescue volunteers and police spent the day searching the sides of the Midland Hwy and properties for Ballarat man Gary Butt, who has been missing since September 22.
Gary, 73, who has dementia, was captured on CCTV at the Shepparton Railway Station about 10pm the day he went missing.
Police have now said extensive canvassing of the Shepparton area had uncovered CCTV footage of Gary that had been captured at the Midland Hwy nears Doyles Rd about 11pm on the day he left his home.
Searchers on Wednesday focused on the roadside and properties along the Midland Hwy east of Doyles Rd.
Detective Acting Sergeant Tim Lemaitre from Ballarat Crime Investigation Unit said Wednesday’s search was focusing on the area in Shepparton East, as that was the last known place Gary had been seen.
Searchers conducted line searches along the highway, and also split into groups to look through nearby orchards and properties.
The Victoria Police Search and Rescue team used a drone to fly over crops in the area.
The search on Wednesday was expected to cover about 3.8km along the Midland Hwy and extend back about 300m into properties.
“Today’s goal is to find clothing or further clues,” Det Act Sgt Lemaitre said.
SES commander Nick Dawson said about 45 SES personnel from 17 units in the Loddon Valley and Hume region were involved in Wednesday’s search.
He said while there had been a fair bit of coverage in the media about Gary disappearing, the search had ramped up on Wednesday.
“This is getting boots on the ground,” he said.
Det Act Sgt Lemaitre said Gary had no ties to the Shepparton area, and it was not known why he had come here.
Police did know after he left his home in the Ballarat suburb of Golden Point, about 9am on September 22, he had gone to Melbourne first and then to Shepparton.
The search is focusing on the area near Doyles Rd initially; however, police have not ruled out the possibility he may have received a ride in a car or a truck, and ask anyone who may have given him a lift to come forward.
Police said Gary had a “distinctive appearance”, with a slim build, long grey hair and a white beard, and he usually wore a black beanie.
He was last seen wearing a long black jacket, a black beanie, a brown and white chequered flannel shirt, light-coloured pants and dark-coloured shoes.
Police said Gary may be carrying a green shopping bag of clothing.
As part of the search, volunteers were looking for any clothing he was wearing and also the shopping bag, which could have been discarded.
Det Act Sgt Lemaitre said people with dementia tended to just follow their feet and not look any further than two or three metres around them.
If they came to an object such as a fence or a channel, they would turn left or right, but it was unlikely they would climb over fences, Det Act Sgt Lemaitre said.
Det Act Sgt Lemaitre urged anyone who saw Gary on September 22 or on any days since then to contact police.
He said police had received information from the public about several sightings of a man who looked like Gary in the Shepparton area in the past three weeks and had followed all leads, but none had been him.
Det Act Sgt Lemaitre said there was a similar looking man who lived in the Shepparton area, and a lot of reported sightings had been of him.
However, he encouraged people to still report any sightings by calling 000.
“If anyone looks like him, report it,” Det Act Sgt Lemaitre said.
The officer also encouraged people to check their properties for any sign of Gary. Anyone who lives on the Midland Hwy east of Doyles Rd and has CCTV that has not already been canvassed is asked to check their cameras for any sign of him.
Anyone with information should phone 000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au
Senior Journalist