Volunteer Group Finds Missing Man After Police Welcome New Methods

When Peter Willoughby disappeared in Tasmania's Hollybank Reserve last October, traditional search efforts came up empty. This weekend, a dedicated group of volunteers succeeded where initial attempts had not, finding remains believed to be the missing 76-year-old.

The discovery marks the second major success for these volunteers in 2026. Earlier this year, many of the same searchers helped locate missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer.

Their repeated success inspired them to form FOLLO (Find Our Lost Loved Ones), an incorporated group working toward charity status to assist families of missing persons. The team uses a methodical "line search" technique, combing through terrain grid by grid.

Volunteer Matt Strickland explained their approach to the dense fern-covered area where Willoughby was found. "There was a lot of fern foliage and that sort of thing, it just wouldn't have been very conducive to any other type of search," he said.

Why This Inspires

What makes this story particularly hopeful is the response from Tasmania Police. Instead of defensiveness, Inspector Aleena Crack expressed genuine openness to collaboration.

"Police are always open to any learning and any input we can have from groups, particularly when there is such success as this one," she said. Officers had already worked with the volunteers before the search began, sharing information about search patterns.

Inspector Crack explained that initial police efforts focused on rapid response to find Willoughby alive. The volunteer approach used different resources and more time to thoroughly cover difficult terrain.

The partnership represents a growing recognition that community volunteers can complement professional search teams. Police provided guidance and information while volunteers brought dedication, time, and refined techniques developed through experience.

For Strickland and his team, the mission goes beyond methods and logistics. "We have proved that we can do it twice, so we are just happy with our methods and we're going to bring those methods to other searches and help other families," he said.

The collaboration between police and FOLLO shows how combining official resources with community persistence can bring closure to grieving families.