The desperate family of teenage girl who has not been seen for a week have issued a passionate plea for help.
Concerns are mounting for 14-year-old Emeliah Lawford who was last seen on Glen Ayre Avenue in Horsley, Wooloongong at about 6.30pm on Monday the 9th of October.
Police said in a statement that when she could not be located or contacted, officers from Lake Illawarra Police District were notified and commenced inquiries to locate her.
Emeliah is known to frequent the Wollongong and Lake Illawarra areas.
She is of caucasian appearance, has a thin build, is about 155cm tall, with brown eyes and brown hair.
Her vulnerable age is a particular concern for both the police and her family.
Anyone who has seen the teenager or has information regarding her whereabouts is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
It is the second time in under a year that Emeliah has been reported missing, according to the Illawarra Mercury.
A search for the then 13-year-old took place in late December 2022, where it was reported that she went missing for a week before being located in Sydney.
Earlier this year on International Missing Children’s Day, news.com.au highlighted 63 Australian children that vanished without a trace.
Some, like William Tyrrell are household names, etched in the minds of Australians. Others are less well known, but for their parents and families, the wondering and hoping and searching never ends.
Even many years since their child was last seen, many still cling to the hope they will one day walk through the front door.
The organisation Leave A Light On raises awareness of long term missing persons in Australia.
“We’re a voice for the missing – there are a lot of missing people in Australia that have not received the coverage they deserve,” director Suzie Ratcliffe explained.
“If you ask like you ask anyone in Australia to name five missing people, they might know one or two in the area round them or William Tyrrell or the Beaumont children.
“But a lot of the other cases they don’t and that’s where we come in to raise awareness of the smaller cases that are just as important to family, but unfortunately haven’t been embraced by the public.”