Ipswich will add its support to what is becoming a global campaign to raise awareness of missing persons cases, with a bright green seat to be placed at River Heart Parklands.
The Green Seat Project was launched by Sally Leydon who has been searching for her missing mother Marion Barter for almost three decades.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding, who put forward the Green Seat installation as a Provisional Project, said she was moved to support the cause after being contacted by Ipswich woman Leesa Persson.
“Earlier this year, local resident and Ipswich school teacher Leesa Persson contacted me about The Green Seat Project and the important work being undertaken to raise awareness of missing persons,” Mayor Harding said.
“Through Ms Persson, I had the opportunity to also meet Sally Leydon, founder of The Green Seat Project, whose life has been profoundly shaped by the disappearance of her mother, Marion Barter, nearly 30 years ago.
“The premise of The Green Seat Project is remarkably simple yet effective; to bring a greater visual presence and build awareness of missing persons and the impact on their families who continue to wait, hope and seek answers for many years.”
Ms Leydon’s mother Marion Bater was a beloved Gold Coast educator when she vanished in 1987 shortly after setting off on the trip of a lifetime and has not been heard from since.
Mayor Harding said River Heart Parklands was the perfect spot for a Green Seat.
Ipswich has five long-term missing persons cases, including Sharron Phillips, aged 20, who disappeared from Ipswich Road, Wacol, in 1986.
“Like most major communities, Ipswich sadly has its own share of outstanding long-term missing persons cases,” Mayor Harding said.
“In long-term missing persons cases no piece of information is too small, because even the smallest detail could provide the breakthrough needed to uncover the truth, bring answers to families, and finally provide long-awaited closure.
“River Heart Parklands is one of our city’s most treasured community spaces, popular with residents undertaking recreational activities, families and visitors to our city so I have no doubt once installed the Green Seat will draw the attention of parklands users.”
Ms Leydon runs a true-crime and investigative podcast called The Missing Matter. The Green Seat will include a QR code which provides access details of the podcast and missing persons cases.
Ms Persson, who is also secretary of The Green Seat Project, welcomed Ipswich City Council’s support for the initiative.
“I am a bit of a true crime addict and started following the Marion Barter case after listening to a podcast and watching it on television,” Ms Persson said.
“I have closely followed several missing persons cases in Ipswich over the years and saw this as a way to help those poor families who have lost everything.
“I contacted Sally (Leydon) just over a year ago and have been assisting her on The Green Seat Project ever since.
“We are working closely with many councils and have 22 seats in the process. We are opening two in the United Kingdom as well. They are a beacon of hope for these poor families.”
Ms Leydon said the initiative was about connecting with the community as information from the public often made the difference is missing persons cases after police and media interest in a case had receded.
“About 50,000 people going missing every year in Australia, and while many of those people turn up again, a huge number don’t,” Ms Leydon said.
“For every missing person, it impacts another 12 people, that’s upwards of half a million people who are somehow connected to the case.
“We currently have 48 profiles which can be accessed through the QR code on any green seat.
“Those profiles are written by family members, so they are not just the statistics, they include personal information and photos, which could help someone else remember something. We also have links to Beyond Blue and Lifeline.”
Provisional Projects is a sub-program of council’s Capital Works Program which allows elected representatives to put forward projects of significance to the community not already included in the Capital Works Program.
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