SES, Search and Rescue and police searched Shepparton East and surrounds on Wednesday.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Searchers found items belonging to a missing man during a large-scale search at Shepparton East on Wednesday, October 16.
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About 45 SES and Search and Rescue volunteers, as well as police from Shepparton and Ballarat, spent Wednesday searching along the Midland Hwy at Shepparton East for a man who has been missing from Ballarat since September 22.
Gary Butt, 73, who has dementia, left his home in the Ballarat suburb of Golden Point at 9am on September 22.
He was picked up on CCTV at the Shepparton train station at 10pm that night, and again on CCTV from the Midland Hwy near Doyles Rd about an hour later.
Police confirmed on Wednesday night that searchers found a green bag with personal belongings inside it that Gary had been carrying when he went missing.
The bag was found near the Midland Hwy and Central Ave on Wednesday afternoon.
The searchers covered an area about 3.8km along the Midland Hwy from east of Doyles Rd where he was last known to be.
The search covered orchards, farmland, businesses and residential properties, and extended back from the roadway about 300m into properties.
Police said there were no plans to continue the ground search on Thursday, but investigators were continuing to make further inquiries.
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.
Missing Golden Point man Gary last seen at Shepparton Railway station.
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.
He was also carrying a green shopping bag when he arrived in Shepparton, but that has since been discarded.
Gary does not have a mobile phone and left with limited food and clothing and without his medication.
Residents and businesses in the area are asked to check their farm sheds and other structures for Gary.
Anyone who sees Gary is urged to call 000, or with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report at crimestoppersvic.com.au
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