While the disappearance of mother Elisa Curry captivated Victoria, the recent discovery of a missing Ballan man's remains went largely unreported.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
To compare Ballan resident Brian Andrews' case to Ms Curry's shows how media coverage of two stories can differ widely, while the pain for the two families remains remarkably similar.
When Mr Andrews, 87, went missing from his Inglis Street home last December, his family and police appealed to the public, sparking statewide reports.
Mr Andrews’ son, Peter, said at the time it was unusual for his father to have disappeared without telling anyone.
"When he is in unfamiliar territory and not sure where he is, he will definitely be a bit confused and disorientated," Peter said.
"He is very sociable and will always talk to people."
But after initial articles the case largely faded from the media until recent weeks.
On September 25, a deer hunter stumbled across the remains of Mr Andrews in his car near Mansfield in the state's northeast.
Peter said it was a relief his dad had finally been found.
As investigators work to formally identify a body found on a beach close to where Ms Curry disappeared near Aireys Inlet, there remains several unsolved missing person cases involving Ballarat residents.
On September 1, the family of Ballarat teenager Donny Govan faced the fifth anniversary of his disappearance from a camp site near Echuca.
But now there is some comfort for those who knew Mr Andrews.
An online tribute read: “Brian, missing for so long, now found and free. A gentle man with a loving heart. Rest in peace my friend.”