Police as part of National Missing Persons Week are renewing appeals for public assistance to help locate an elderly man suffering from Alzheimer’s who went missing from Dalmeny last month.
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Raymond Speechley, aged 77, was last seen at the IRT Dalmeny retirement home on Ruth Place about 4pm Thursday, July 7.
He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, approximately 175cm tall, of medium build with grey hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing jeans, a dark jacket with a pyjama top underneath.
In addition, a vehicle may have stopped to assist Mr Speechley at the time and police are appealing for the driver to come forward.
Police have been told a person was seen on the Princes Highway at Dalmeny, shortly after 4pm leaning into a red/maroon, four door sedan, similar to a Honda Accord.
The vehicle was seen stopped south of the timber mill at Dalmeny facing a northerly direction. When the witness returned to the location the vehicle was seen to head north on the Princes Highway with the person in the vehicle. This location was in the vicinity of where Mr Speechley was last sighted.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Batemans Bay Police Station on 4472 0099 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Mr Speechley’s family is also continuing its efforts with continued social media posts and posters around the area. His daughter Nikii Smith said they just wanted to speak to anyone who saw Ray on the highway or knows where he is.
“We are stressing if someone is looking after him that they won't be in any trouble,” she said.
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National Missing Persons Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of the issues and impacts surrounding missing persons.
This year’s campaign began on Sunday, July 31 and continues until Saturday, August 6.
The theme of this year’s campaign is urging people to ‘Stay Connected’ and to remember that ‘Missing Persons Leave Frayed Edges.’
The campaign aims to remind members of the public of the importance of staying connected with family and friends and to ultimately enhance personal and communal support networks that assist those most at risk of going missing.
NSW Police Force will highlight one missing person profile each day during the campaign. In some cases, there are interview opportunities with family and/or case officers.
There was a Bega Valley launch of National Missing Persons Week held at the Tura Marrang Library and Community Centre on Monday
Acclaimed local author Melissa Pouliot launched National Missing Persons Week for the Bega Valley along with mayor Michael Britten and Detective Sergeant Justin Marks from the Far South Coast Local Area Command.
National Missing Persons Week is an annual event to raise awareness of the significant issues associated with missing persons, and help reduce the incidence and impact of missing persons in Australia.
Melissa Pouliot is a bestselling author and the only Australian author who is the family member of a missing person who writes fiction novels highlighting the impacts when someone goes missing.
Melissa has been on national television, radio, in newspapers and has people all around the world watching to see what happens next, not only in her crime mystery books but also with the case of her missing cousin. In August 2015 she was the guest speaker at the official launch of National Missing Persons Week in Customs House, Sydney.
Detective Sergeant Justin Marks has been involved with the investigation of multiple local missing persons cases and only recently has renewed calls for any information regarding the disappearance of Kellie-Anne Levitski who was last seen at the family's rural property on the Mount Darragh Road around 8.30pm on the night of Sunday, March 30.