Wayne Alexander TRIPPTREE
Wayne Alexander TRIPPTREE
Wayne Alexander Tripptree, a 70-year-old former railway worker, was reported missing on 9 October 2023.
Wayne was last heard from in April 2023, during a phone conversation with his daughter. He has not been seen or contacted since.
At the time, Wayne had been living out of his car for about three years. In August 2023, his car was located abandoned on Sandbar Loop Track, Narrung, Victoria approximately 50 metres north of the Centre Track intersection. Police located several of his personal belongings inside his car, including his mobile phone and bank cards. A local farmer also found Wayne’s dog wandering nearby.
Specialist response police conducted an extensive search of the surrounding area, however, Wayne remains missing.
Anyone with information which may assist in locating the whereabouts of Wayne are urged to anonymously contact Crime Stoppers on their website or free call 1800 333 000.
THE daughter of a missing man whose car was found near Boundary Bend has made a plea for information, as search efforts are renewed this week.Police said they intended to begin a new search on Tuesday for Wayne Tripptree, a 70-year-old former railway worker.
Local officers, SES members and specialist support services were preparing to scour the area south of Boundary Bend in Narrung.
Mr Tripptree made the decision to become homeless six years ago, taking to the bush with his best mate – his kelpie, “Dodgey”.
It has now been more than six months since Mr Tripptree, who was known to not charge his phone or have consistent phone reception, has contacted his family.
After her father was spotted on a camera in Wodonga in April, Mr Tripptree's daughter Tina Mason believed her dad was “just doing his own thing”.
But after her brother was contacted by Robinvale police, the family began to worry something wasn't right.
“I went to the local police to put in a report that I was concerned about my father,” she said.
“The police told me to leave it with them, and if they hadn’t heard anything in a couple of weeks, they would do a missing person’s report.
“It got to about five weeks later, and I still hadn’t heard anything.
“It was that week when Robinvale police gave my brother a call and said that dad’s car had been sitting in the same spot in Narrung for the past two months.
“Obviously they’ve been trying to get in contact with him to move the car, but they’ve had no luck either.”
Mr Tripptree's car was found 14km south of Boundary Bend in Narrung, where police, SES and specialist support services searched for signs of the missing man.
The car was locked, with Mr Tripptree's belongings still inside, and his driver's licence placed on top of the dashboard.
Mrs Mason and her husband also made the drive from their home in Alexandria to Wood Wood to conduct their own searches.
While she could find explanations for the abandoned car, there was one detail Mrs Mason couldn't move pass.
“I just kept thinking that as long as we didn’t find his dog, we know he must be OK,” Mrs Mason said.
“The police had asked for a statement about the whole thing, and during that phone call they let me know that they thought a local farmer had dad’s dog.
“They showed me a photo, and instantly I recognised it as my dad’s dog.
“This dog is like my dad’s best mate. They did everything together, and if he doesn’t have his dog then something bad must have happened.”
Having interacted with locals throughout Wood Wood and Boundary Bend, Mr Tripptree was well known in the area.
With many possibilities rushing through her mind, Mrs Mason hoped someone could provide some assistance in her search for answers.
“I just don’t know if he’s had a medical episode, or something bad has happened caused by the flooding,” she said.
“Any small piece of information could really help solve this puzzle that we’ve been left with.
“It just breaks my heart to think that something bad has happened to him, and he’s just out there in the bush.
“Dad was homeless, but he just wanted to live like that.
“He wanted to live off the land, and just do his own thing, he was happy out there.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Swan Hill police on 5036 1600.
The family of a 70-year-old man who has been missing for more than six-months is hoping someone has information on his whereabouts.
Wayne Tripptree was last seen in Narrung south of Boundary Bend in April, with Parks Victoria finding his vehicle with his belongings in it.
Police are expecting to step up the search for Wayne this week.
Anyone who may have any information’s being urged to call Swan hill Police Station on 5036 1600.