LINDA STILWELL

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This is a page to remember Linda, we have nowhere to mourn her so this is my memorial to my sweet little sister who was my best friend. I will miss her always and think of her everyday, she will forever be in my heart.

Linda Jane Stilwell was a happy, carefree 7 year old, looking forward to her 8th birthday in a few days time when she was abducted on the 10th of August 1968.

For 36 years we her family heard nothing, if a child is hit by a car and dies the ones left behind can mourn and visit their resting place, Linda has no such place, she is wherever the animal who abducted her disposed of her body. We have all suffered for so many years a myriad of emotions and feelings, loss, guilt and anguish are just a few. Our lives would never be the same. The loss of a daughter, sister in such an evil act destroyed us all in different ways.

Over the years we had glimmers of hope when different police departments delved into what happened to Linda, but nothing came of it and our hopes were dashed again.

Linda was born on the 22 August 1960, already in the family were Gary 18th August 1958 and myself Karen 18th June 1957 the three of us were close and being the eldest I enjoyed the responsibilities of helping take care of Gary and Linda. Mum was working full time, sometimes 2 jobs to make ends meet, so we were left to our own devices a lot Being kids we always found things to do. We moved to Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda in July 68 after Mum and Dad had separated. .  Dad went to New Zealand with Laura the baby, Laura was 18 months old at the time. We older three soon found ourselves wandering up to St Moritz ice skating or to Luna Park. The 60s were considered safe for children to roam, so we weren't afraid. I was considered responsible for my age and was  in charge.
On Saturday August 10 we were as usual out , today we decided to go to the pier as well as along the foreshore, my memories of what we did that day have dimmed and merged with others, but I do remember all 3 of us were on the pier talking to some other kids, it was getting late and I knew Mum was expecting us, I told Gary and Linda to come home, they didn't want to leave yet so I said I was going home, 1st major mistake I made was leaving the two of them. Gary later told us they had gone to little Luna park which was just down from the major park.. He came home a little while later and said he and Linda had gotten separated so Mum sent me to look for her, this was where I made the next mistake,  I didn't go all the way to the park to look for her !!! The guilt I have felt for playing on the swings and thinking she would come home any minute like she had lots of times before has haunted me for so many years.. Mum was frantic and rang the police, we had no phone so she went to the shops 4 times to call them, finally they came out at around 10pm a full 4 hrs since they were first called. The next weeks were a nightmare, I wanted to die, I thought it should have been me that was taken not Linda. Mum was a mess understandably.
We have never seen Linda again or know what happened or who was responsible, but I will always hold out hope that we will find her and finally she will rest in peace.

 Someone, Somewhere must know Something