Disappearance Of Damian McKenzie

2021-06-26 16:37:09 Written by Jones Jay

On the 4th September 1974, Damian McKenzie, aged 10 years was reported missing whilst on a trip to Steavenson Falls at Marysville Victoria.

Damian from the Cobden area in Western Victoria was one of at least 40 children taking part in a five-day youth camp, being run at the time by the ‘Young Australia League’, (YAL). The YAL base camp was located beside the Acheron River in Taggerty and it was from here camp participants; containing Damian, would be bussed to varying directions to contribute to entertainments.

One such activity was a visit to Steavenson Falls at Marysville, where participants would traverse a 700-meter long zigzagging track to the top of the falls to take in the surrounding vistas.

 

On Wednesday the 4th September 1974, Damian was amongst a group of boys and girls from the camp who traveled to Steavenson Falls. Reports indicate that whilst traveling the track leading to the top of the falls, Damian is said to have moved ahead of the group to some extent, never to be seen again.

Young Australia League adult chaperones current were informed of Damian’s missing and undertook a first search of the area before contacting the police.

 

The search undertaken for Damian was one of the hugest of its kind in the state’s history and involved up to 300 searches drawn from and involving Victoria Police personnel, including members of the Search and Rescue Squad, Federation of Victorian Walking Clubs Search and Rescue Section, St.Johns Ambulance, Civil Defence (now known as the SES), Forestry Commission of Victoria (DWELP), Red Cross and Local helpers.

 

The search for Damien surrounded an area of almost 12sq. miles with searches faced with hard terrain, almost impenetrable scrub and undergrowth, and difficult weather situations, including snow at times. The accepted search for Damien was decided on the 8th of September 1974, with those in charge of the search holding out a little wish for Damian’s survival.

Family, friends, and local helpers have continued to search for Damian over the years and sadly no clue of Damian has ever been discovered.