Glenyce MCGOWAN

DESCRIPTION: (at time of disappearance):
AGE:      19 years
HEIGHT: 155cm
BUILD:    Medium
EYES:    Brown

Family and friends of Glenyce Rae McGowan are still desperate to solve the puzzle surrounding her disappearance from a campsite up north in 1975.

Glenyce was born on the 28th of August, 1956 and lived with her family in Medina at the time of her disappearance. She was independent, outgoing and popular, as was reflected by the many friends she had. She was also an experienced traveller, having travelled both intrastate and interstate and always maintained regular contact with her family whilst away.

In December 1975 Glenyce decided to travel to Tom Price to visit her best friend who had recently become pregnant. She arranged to hitch a lift with a family friend who was driving to Port Hedland. They left on the 8th of December, 1975 driving a 1962 blue Ford Falcon station wagon.

Before she left, Glenyce sent a telegram to her best friend advising her she was on her way and she also told her father that she would be home before Christmas.

On the 9th of December, 1975 Glenyce and the family friend arrived in Carnarvon and  spent three hours there, during which time Glenyce withdrew $40.00 from her bank account and made a couple of small purchases. The two then headed north and arrived at Nanutarra Roadhouse at 5:00pm.

Due to Tropical Cyclone Joan the road to Tom Price was washed out causing them to spend the night in the camping area adjacent to the roadhouse. They ended up sleeping in the car because the ground was covered in ants.

The following day – the 10th of December, 1975 the family friend continued travelling north towards Port Hedland alone as Glenyce had arranged to get a lift with a family at the campsite who were returning home to Tom Price. By coincidence, the family knew of Glenyce’s friend. It was agreed they would leave Nanutarra at dawn on the 11th of December, 1975.

Glenyce was camped about 30 metres away from the family who were to give her a lift in the morning. She was sleeping on the ground in her sleeping bag.

When the family rose at about 5.00am the 11th of December, 1975 and went to collect Glenyce from her campsite they discovered that both Glenyce and her belongings were gone. They searched up and down the river for about an hour to no avail leading the family to think she must have left with someone else so they eventually departed Nanutarra for Tom Price.

En route, the family could not pass the Beasley River so were forced to camp there for another two days during which time they did not see any other vehicles pass. They arrived in Tom Price on the 13th of December 1975, but only realised that Glenyce was missing several days later when they visited her girlfriend. A missing persons report was lodged on the 19th of December 1975.

When last sighted on the 10th of December, 1975, Glenyce was wearing a long, blue cottton or cheesecloth skirt, an Indian style cream coloured, button-up top and a pair of strap on sandals. She had a small haversack, a green sleeping bag and an Indian style shoulder bag and was swimming and reading and by the riverbank.

Her bank account has not been accessed since the 9th of December, 1975 in Carnarvon.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Glenyce McGOWAN or were

camping near the Nanutarra Road House, 370 kms north of Carnarvon in December, 1975 make a report online or  call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, where all calls are strictly confidential, and rewards are offered. Please quote Reference Number 5308.