By Kath Gannaway
The family of missing bushwalker Warren Meyer has doubled the reward it offered following his disappearance between Healesville and Narbethong in 2008 to $200,000.
No sign of the 57-year-old experienced walker has been found since he set off from the car park at Dom Dom Saddle in the Yarra Ranges National Park on 23 March, Easter Sunday.
“Easter Sunday 2018, will mark the 10th anniversary,” Warren’s wife, Zanette (Zee) Meyer said last week announcing the family’s decision to increase the reward.
“We believe there are concerning issues surrounding our case, and with time slipping away there is a need by us to find answers, a final push to seek the truth.”
The Meyer family has relentlessly campaigned publicly and behind the scenes with police, the Coroner and their own inquiries, to find out what happened to their father, husband and now grandfather, including a very public vigil on Easter Sunday, 2015.
They strongly believe Warren may have met with foul play, and say information from a caller during Missing Persons Week three years ago raised one possible scenario.
Mrs Meyer said the caller claimed Warren was shot after coming across a marijuana crop and his body disposed of.
She said two crops were found while police and family members were searching for Mr Meyer, one immediately after the disappearance, the other a year later.
Reports of a 40-minute period of sustained shooting of rapid-fire weapons along the Monda Track at the time Warren would have been hiking are also begging further investigation.
They are keen also for a trail bike rider to come forward who spoke to a disorientated man in his mid-thirties who was asking for help in the area.
There was a desperate hope in 2015 that the vigil would spark some memory, or prick the conscience of someone with information that could bring the family some peace in answers.
As time goes on and no sign at all of Warren, or any of his belongings, coming to light, the inexplicable becomes more demanding of answers.
Warren was a skilled hiker with more than 30 years’ experience, and was very safety conscious.
He was carrying food, water, a charged phone, map, whistle and a GPS. He had planned his 10 kilometre walk and he was happy.
“He leapt out of bed … he was only going to be away three to three and a half hours,” Mrs Meyers said.
He was devoted to his children.
“The Easter period was extremely busy with holidaymakers in the area,” Mrs Meyers said last week.
“Those camping, trail bike riding, day tripping may be sitting on information, the relevance of which may not even be understood by them.
“We need them to reflect back on that holiday period, and if they do have information, that they step forward to help a family in need.”
She made the same heart-felt plea to local residents who may have information.
The family’s hope in doubling the reward is to keep the matter active until Easter Sunday, 2018, when Mrs Meyer said the reward would be removed.
While life has gone on for the Meyers family, it has been a heart-breaking and frustrating journey.
In the past year, Warren’s parents died, heartbroken.
“I have similar thoughts about what lies in store for us in the future, passing away and not knowing. It would make a significant difference to have Warren’s remains returned to us,” Mrs Meyer said.
Anyone with information can email warren.meyer@live.com.au or phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
