Wednesday, 8 June 2022

 Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (09:53): It was a bittersweet moment last week when I met with Daryl Floyd in Wangaratta. Daryl is the founder of the Terry Floyd Foundation. Terry Floyd went missing on 28 June 1975. The 12-year-old boy left the Avoca post office to find a ride back to Maryborough. This is a chilling story, one which highlighted for me a similarity with beautiful little Daniel Morcombe. To this day Terry’s body has never been found. No family should ever have to suffer not knowing what has happened to their loved one. No-one should have to make it their personal responsibility to find a loved one they suspect has been murdered. No-one should have to fund people to assist them to continue the search and dig out mine shafts, wondering if each bucketload of soil will reveal the remains of their sibling. No-one should have to face this experience.

I had a long conversation with Daryl, and it was evident that after 47 years he is still highly emotional and devastated that his brother’s remains have not been found. I have made a pledge to Daryl that I will seek to do whatever I can to have this cold case reopened so that Daryl and his family can finally find answers and put Terry’s body to rest as it should be, and I hope the government will consider this request. I applaud Daryl and the foundation for the funds they raise to support vulnerable children in our communities and to provide scholarships for rural students in need.