Nineteen months after they were last seen, detectives from the Missing Persons Squad have joined with the families of Russell Hill and Carol Clay to renew their appeal for information on the missing Wonnangatta campers.
Russell and Carol were last heard from on 20 March, 2020 when they were camping in the Wonnangatta valley.
Since that time, police have conducted significant, meticulous and protracted searches of the area in the hope of discovering even the smallest clue as to their disappearance.
These searches have involved detectives from the Missing Persons Squad, local police, the Search and Rescue Squad, Air Wing, Dog Squad and the Remote Piloted Aircraft and Systems Unit, as well as the Australian Federal Police and the use of NSW Police's cadaver dogs.
Significant support has also been provided by Parks Victoria and the Victorian State Emergency Service.
Detectives are today renewing their appeal for information in the hope there are people out there who are still yet to speak to police that have information about the campers' disappearance.
Russell left his Drouin home on 19 March, collected Carol from her home in Pakenham in his white Toyota Landcruiser.
He was last heard from on 20 March via HF radio stating he was at Wonnangatta Valley in the Victorian Alps when he made the call.
Carol told friends she was heading away and was expecting to return home on 28 or 29 March.
Investigators have been told Russell and Carol were camping together at Wonnangatta River near the Wonnangatta camping ground.
It's understood that Russell purchased a DJI Mavic drone before going camping and the drone is still yet to be recovered.
Campers found Russell's vehicle with signs of minor fire damage at their campsite, which was completely destroyed by fire, near Dry River Creek Track in the Wonnangatta Valley on 21 March.
The scene of the fire was examined by arson chemists and police would still like to speak to anyone who saw this fire or the smoke from it.
Police remain keen to speak to anyone who was in the Wonnangatta area around that time, including campers, 4x4 day trippers, hunters, fishermen or trail bike riders, regardless of whether they saw or heard anything.
This is so police can continue to eliminate people and vehicles from their extensive investigation.
Detectives are also keen to speak to anyone who was in the area of Howitt Plains and Zeka Spur Track on 19 or 20 March, and the Wonnangatta Valley and Wonnangatta Station between 20-24 March.
Police have also established that Russell was camping alone with his Landcruiser in the area of the King Billy and Bluff Track between 11-13 March.
Information was later received about sighting of an older person or pair in the Black Snake Creek, Eaglevale River crossing and the Ollies Jump area on 22-23 March, however investigators have never been able to establish if this was the missing campers.
Detectives call for anyone in this area, any older couple who may be these persons, to also come forward.
A drone located in the Gippsland area earlier year and handed into police was examined and investigators have confirmed it was not Russell's.
Two shovels located in Mount Hotham back in April have also been forensically tested but so far police have not been able to link them to the campers' disappearance.
It is still yet to be fully determined whether the pair's disappearance is suspicious, however investigators have long believed it is likely a third party was involved in their disappearance.
Anyone who sights Russell or Carol is urged to contact triple zero (000) immediately.
Anyone with any other information regarding their disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper:
"Investigators have had the opportunity to speak with both the Hill and Clay families in the past week and to say their grief is still very raw would be an understatement.
"They spoke to us at length about all the things they have missed - the family birthdays Russell and Carol weren't present for, their first Christmases without them, and the pain of simply not being able to talk to them about the every day things happening in their lives.
"These are two people who are still very much loved and missed by those who knew them; this hasn't gone away in the past 19 months.
"Both families are also still desperate for answers about what happened to Russell and Carol and why, and I know our investigators are doing all they can to try and get those answers for them.
"I know it's a matter that has captured the attention of the Victorian community and to the hundreds of people across the state who have provided information or assistance to police in the hope that it would take us a step closer to solving this case, I thank you.
"The Missing Persons Squad is also incredibly grateful for the support we've received on this investigation from specialist units and local police, as well as other law enforcement agencies and organisations such as Parks Victoria and the SES.
"Every day takes us further from the last time Russell and Carol were last seen alive, however I want to reassure the community that we are far from giving up.
"If you do know something or have heard something, no matter what it is, then I urge you to come forward and hopefully we can continue to fill in all the pieces of this puzzle until we get the result and answers both families deserve."
