Discovery of missing woman's car in river heightens family's fears - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The gold Ford Escape SUV belonging to Yvonne Whear, missing since February, 2026, has been found in the Rous River near Dulguigan Rd, Dulguigan, less than 10km from her Dungay home.  (Supplied: Gillian Hallac)

Yvonne Whear, 73, was last seen driving towards her home near Murwillumbah in February.

Her gold-coloured Ford Escape wagon was found in the Rous River over the weekend, less than 10 kilometres from her home at Dungay.

Police are conducting a forensic examination of the car, but say although some personal items were recovered, Ms Whear has not still been found.

The daughter of a woman missing in northern NSW since February says the discovery of her mother's car at the bottom of a river has heightened the family's fears about what might have happened to her.

Yvonne Whear, 73, was last seen driving near Murwillumbah, on Thursday February 19.

Tweed Shire woman, Yvonne Whear,  was last seen on February 19.  (Supplied)

Her daughter Gillian Hallac said recovering the gold Ford Escape SUV from the Rous River on Saturday September 12 was a relief, but it strengthened her belief that her mother was the victim of foul play.

"I've always believed Mum didn't just leave and that someone had taken her and hidden the car," she said.

Gillian Hallac, the daughter of missing 73-year-old woman Yvonne Whear, speaking at a NSW Police press conference in Sydney on August 3, 2026, to appeal for information about her mother's disappearance. (ABC News)

Ms Whear was last seen on the afternoon of February 19, when her car was recorded on CCTV travelling along Queensland Road in the direction of her farm near Murwillumbah.

Ms Hallac said her mother had been to an art class at TAFE on the day of her disappearance.

Ms Whear was also seen at the Shell service station on Tweed Valley Way at Murwillumbah around 3:15pm.

The boots and hat she was wearing in CCTV footage from the service station were found at her house in Dungay.

Yvonne Whear, 73, was captured on CCTV at a service station in Murwillumbah on the day she disappeared in February. (Supplied)

Phone records have revealed Ms Whear watched some videos and shortly before 5pm checked her voicemail.

Ms Whear's car was pulled from the Rous River near Dulguigan, less than 10 kilometres from her home.

It was discovered around three weeks ago by an independent search organisation, which had offered to help the family find Ms Whear.

Sonar image of Yvonne Whear's car in the Rous River at Dulguigan, less than 10km from her home at Dungay, near Murwillumbah. (Supplied: Sun State Search)   (Supplied: Sun State Search)

A member of Sun State Search told the ABC he searched that stretch of the river after Ms Whear's family identified it as an area of interest, and located the vehicle using a fish finder device.

On Saturday, Tweed Byron police and the Marine Area Command's Diving Unit searched the area and established a crime scene.

After recovering the car from the water, they conducted a forensic examination before taking the car for further mechanical examination.

The car is pulled from the water. (Supplied)

Several personal belongings, believed to be Ms Whear's, were also recovered.

Police said Ms Whear's body was not found inside the vehicle and she remained missing.

Ms Hallac has urged anyone with information to come forward.