Lost girl's new face

The devastated Dubbo couple haven’t seen Tongan-born Amelia since she was 17 and each day they hope and pray for her safe return.

Amelia vanished in Canberra on December 17, 1992 after leaving a relative’s home to go for a walk.

For Mr and Mrs Hausia, the disappearance is a wound that has never healed.

“It’s got worse over the years,’’ they said.

“We live in a constant state of stress and agony.

“Each time the phone rings we think it could be Amelia.

“We study faces on television and in the street hoping to see our girl.

“Sometimes we catch a glimpse of familiar-looking women and chase them down.

“The not knowing drives us crazy. Amelia would never be so heartless to leave us dangling in this way. Something happened. We need to know.”

The Hausia family hopes Amelia is still alive but their minds run wild with other ideas. Was she kidnapped and taken overseas? Was she brainwashed or coaxed into a cult? Did she simply want to disappear?

“Family members gather in Dubbo, Canberra and Tonga every week to pray for Amelia,’’ Mr Hausia said.

“She is loved by so many people. We kiss her photograph and beg her to return to the family.

“We never relax. We search. We hope. We pray. We wonder. Most of all we wait.’’

The Hausia family was encouraged by a surge of optimism this week when the Australian Federal Police missing persons unit unveiled a billboard-sized photograph of Amelia at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport.

The age-enhanced image is part of a giant poster seeking information on six missing persons.

John and MaryAnn Hausia travelled to Sydney for the launch with Amelia’s brother Paul and his wife and children.

The billboards are going up at airports around the country. The Hausia family implore members of the public to come forward with information.

Amelia and Paul came to Australia from Tonga at age five and six respectively.

“They attended Dubbo West Primary School and Delroy High,’’ Mr Hausia said.

“Amelia wanted to go to Canberra to finish her secondary education and we let her go reluctantly.

“She lived with relatives and we went to see her almost every weekend.

“On the night of her disappearance Amelia dressed up and went to her high school graduation. During the celebrations Amelia and her boyfriend agreed to go their separate ways.

“Amelia came home and changed her clothes before going for a walk.

“She left a note saying she needed some time alone and would telephone.

“The call never came and Amelia hasn’t been seen since.

“Relatives and school friends come to us asking if they can call their newborn daughters Amelia. They do this out of love for Amelia.

“People in the community often ask about her and sometimes it’s very painful to reply.’’

Each year the RSL social golf club holds a special event to mark Amelia’s birthday.

It’s a way of paying tribute to Dubbo’s lost girl.