Megan loved the freedom of ice skating. Ronya was always singing along to pop songs. Cherie’s favourite activity was horse riding. Leela found joy in dancing. Eve spent her afternoons shooting hoops on the basketball court. And Darren was just a baby.
They never met. They came from different places, families and lives. But Megan, Ronya, Cherie, Leela, Eve and Darren are forever connected by a devastating truth — they all vanished as children and remain missing to this day.
On International Missing Children’s Day (IMCD), observed globally on 25 May, the Australian Federal Police (AFP)-led National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC) has renewed its plea for public assistance in solving the cases of these six long-term missing children.
The children — Megan Louise Mulquiney (ACT), Ronya Livoni (NT), Darren Jason Shannon (SA), Cherie Westell (VIC), Leela McDougall (WA) and Eve Askew (TAS) — disappeared between 1973 and 2007. Darren was the youngest, just 11 months old at the time he vanished.
Their families have courageously shared memories and personal stories through the NMPCC, hoping someone out there may hold the missing piece that could help bring them home. These tributes are featured on the NMPCC website under the 2025 International Missing Children’s Day section.
AFP Commander Joanne Cameron said the stories offer a human face behind each case, sharing favourite colours, hobbies, and cherished moments from the children’s lives.
“This International Missing Children’s Day, we have featured six missing persons on our website in the hope someone, somewhere, knows something and reports it.”
Commander Cameron said.
“When a loved one is missing, families often experience what we call ambiguous loss — a form of grief that never quite settles. It’s a relentless cycle of hope and heartbreak. Without answers, it’s incredibly difficult for families to move forward.”
The AFP remains committed to keeping these stories alive, urging the public to view the profiles and report any information that may assist police investigations.
Each year, Australian police receive around 50,000 missing person reports — half involving young people aged between 13 and 17. Most are found quickly, with about 95 per cent located within a week.
However, cases unresolved after three months are classified as long-term. As of 2024, there are approximately 2,700 long-term missing persons in Australia, with 132 new cases added this year alone.
The reasons people go missing are varied and complex — from mental health issues and miscommunication to domestic violence and, in the most tragic instances, criminal acts. While many children are found quickly, adults are more likely to remain missing in the long term.
Commander Cameron stressed the importance of community engagement:
“Every piece of information, even something small, can be incredibly valuable when it comes to locating a missing person. Behind every case is a family, a friend, a community — all waiting for answers. If you know something, please report it.”
To view the profiles or share information, visit missingpersons.gov.au.
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