Twelve families will gather at Flanagans Border Inn at Bacchus Marsh on Sunday for the fourth gathering of families of people missing in Victoria.

Three other families from Queensland and Western Australia will be connected to the meeting by phone link.

Organiser Daryl Floyd said the forums provided a platform for families of missing persons to voice their issues and experiences.

Mr Floyd’s brother, Terry, disappeared 40 years ago from Avoca. After extensive investigation, it was believed Terry’s body was dumped down a disused gold mine at Avoca.

“Family members talk of their experience of how to deal with things ... with their own loss,” Mr Floyd said.

“It’s therapeutic and you can open up more because there’s people there who have gone through similar circumstances.”

Terry Floyd would have turned 52 on Saturday.

Shirley Macey, the mother of Belinda Williams, whose body was found at Mount Buninyong in 1999, said she hoped by sharing her experiences at the forum it would assist to educate other families. Ms Williams’ killer has never been found.

“I want to talk about things that may have gone different for starters. It might be helpful to someone else in those first few hours after a loved one goes missing,” Ms Macey said. “Perhaps things that should have been done and followed through.

“People don’t know the heartache and torment you go through each day, not that you want them to, but talking to people who have been in a similar situation could help.” 

Five families of long-term cases will be at  the meeting on Sunday.

If you know anything about a missing person, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or call triple zero.

david.jeans@fairfaxmedia.com.au