POLICE will be in Shepparton on Wednesday as part of their continued search for missing 73-year-old man, Gary Butt.
Gary, who lives with dementia, left his home located in the Ballarat suburb of Golden Point about 9am on Sunday, September 22, and failed to return home.
He was reported missing to police later that day and enquiries revealed Gary was last seen in the vicinity of Shepparton Railway Station on 10pm that same day. Gary has no known ties to the Shepparton area, so it is not known why he was there.
Gary does not have a mobile phone and left with limited food and clothing and without his medication.
Police have spoken to family, friends and neighbours, conducted an extensive canvass for CCTV and exhausted other enquiries in a bid to find Gary, to no avail.
On Wednesday, a large contingent of police from Ballarat and Shepparton, police Search and Rescue specialists, as well as in excess of 50 SES volunteers, will conduct a search along the Midland Highway in Shepparton East. The ground search will cover farmland, orchards, irrigation channels and grassland adjacent to the highway. Residents and business owners along the Midland Highway are asked to check their farm sheds and other structures for Gary.
Whilst the search is underway, police are keen to renew their appeal to the community for help to find Gary and have re-released CCTV images and footage of the last time he was seen at Shepparton Railway Station.
Gary is described as having a slim build, long grey hair, a white beard and usually wears a black beanie. He was last seen wearing a long black jacket, a black beanie, brown and white checkered flannel shirt, light-coloured pants and dark-coloured shoes.
Gary may be carrying a green shopping bag of clothing and may have travelled to the Shepparton area.
Anyone who sights Gary is urged to call Triple Zero (000) or with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
