Ella Tromp: I hope they never happen again.

Question from the media: When did you get the news [your father had been found safe]?

M: Last night and I was jumping for joy. Just to know my dad's OK and I just want to thank everyone – the media, Mark Knight at the local police station, family, friends – there's been so much support and so much help from everyone. I'm just so happy that my dad's been found.

E: I can't really believe how far the news has spread; it's just been so overwhelmingly amazing that there's so much support in people that, or throughout the community. It's indescribable.

M: Yeah it's great.

Q: What were you told? How was he found?

M: He was found walking into the police station. The police are still doing an investigation, so they still need to do their job at this stage. We just want to let them…

E: Find out all the details. But more than anything we're just happy that Dad's alive and that he's going to come back home, and all the family's going to come back home and we can get back to normal and enjoy everything again.

M: And just have a Father's Day with Dad.

Q: Have you managed to speak to him at all or see him?

M: Yeah. I have. I spoke to him last night and he was my dad; he was just how he always is and it was so great to hear from him.

Q: Did he tell you where he's been for the last few days?

E: I spoke to him this morning and ... yeah, I just wanted to hear his voice, and we will go through those details later, I guess. But the main thing, just to talk about, yeah, that he's well and that he just said he wanted to come back home and get back to work.

M: He pretty much wrapped it up like that, like he normally does.

Q: And how is your mum, how is she going, is she still in hospital?

M: Yes, she's still in hospital. I spoke to her two days ago and she was good.

E: I spoke to her yesterday and she's doing a lot better. Not sure when she'll be out of hospital at this stage, but we're hoping, she has some specialists in tomorrow, so hopefully tomorrow we'll know and it won't be too long after that.

Q: Now that everyone is safe, are you able to tell us if there as anything that triggered this on the Monday. You sort of suggested there might have been something that sparked it all the other day.

M: Yeah, there's a few, there's nothing I know for sure, but there is possible things but I can't say at this stage because I'm not certain.

E: We believe the police are still looking into, investigating all the details.

Q: Can you tell us how you actually came to get in the car on that Monday and start off on this trip? I think it's just quite a confusing story.

E: It is very confusing, I still feel confused. It's, I think our state of minds wasn't in the best place, um, and yeah, I can't even really…

M: It's hard to explain

E: There's no one reason for it – it's bizarre.

Q: Did you both feel that you were in danger at that moment when you left?

M: No I didn't feel in danger but, um, I just had to go with the family because I wanted to see where they were going. I couldn't leave them. But, yeah, it was tough to see your family like that, and I've never seen anyone like it, but the main thing is they're OK now. Everyone is safe, everyone is well. So we can just go back to being the family again.

E: Yep, back to normal.

Q: Are you hopeful your dad will be able to come home soon?

M: Yeah, he will be, he'll be home soon.

Q: So he's being looked after by relatives in Wangaratta?

M: Yes, relatives and there are friends and there are all people caring for him, so he's in good hands.

Q: Can you tell us, those awful days when you were waiting to hear the news, what was going through your minds at that time?

E: It was a big headache. Um, we received so many phone calls, supportive and from the police, of course, and just the feeling in your stomach, it was just…

M: Yeah, your stomach was just churning thinking about it. That's why you have to stay positive and think all the best, but sometimes you do sort of think the worst. You can't help it, they hit a nerve, it gets hard but, yeah, there was support, people to call on, shoulders to lean on, there was so much help and the main thing is everything worked out well.

Q: How is your sister Riana?

E: Riana is doing really well, she's improving every day. Not sure when she'll be out of hospital at this stage but my auntie is up with her at the moment to give her some family support and we're hoping she'll be home soon. Just not sure exactly the day.

Q: So what will you do when dad gets home?

E: Send him back to work [laughs].

M: Give him a big hug, just hold on to him. It would be good to see him again, because I love him. He's my dad, he's coming home, so it's all I want.

Q: There have been a lot of people following this story over the last week and there are a lot of questions that haven't been answered. Can you explain in more detail, just so people can have a better understanding, as to what has happened here? Was there a family dispute, or are we talking mental health?

M: Just not at this stage, because the police are still investigating, so, no comment. I can see everyone's questions, I can see why they want to know, but it's a family matter. We just want the family to come back together and everything to sort of work itself out, which I think it will.

Q: And you two – are you both holding up now?

E: Much better. We were getting up at 3 or 4am to have a good old brotherly-sisterly chat.

M: Eat a muffin.

E: Thanks to the local baker, dropping them off.

M: It's the first time I haven't woken up crying for two days, so I don't think I need to cry again after this, so it's really good.

E: I think I'll cry when I see Dad.

M: It's just great. It's the most best news I've heard in my life.

Q: Can I just ask you, when you both left the family car, why did you leave and where did you go then? You both left on separate occasions didn't you?

E: Yes.

Q: Who left first? I think it was Ella who left first.

E: Mitch left first and then I left second, and we found our own way home.

Q: And what was going through your head? Why did you leave them?

E: I was still confused about the whole situation, as I still am now, but I needed to get home to feed my horses.

Q: So that's what you had in your head at the time – "I have to get home just to see…"?

E: Yep. My horse loves food, so I needed to feed him.

Q: And Mitch – so you just wanted to get out of the situation?

M: Yeah, I did, yeah. I'd had enough and thought getting out was the best idea at the time. But, yeah, in hindsight I probably should have stayed with them and tried to help and bring them back around and talk to them more. But, yeah, I got out of the car and made my way home.

M: Thanks so much for your time, just the media, everyone. I would just like to thank you again.

E: And all our friends, amazing as well. Everyone made sure we were OK.

M: People are great. Thanks.