Lorrin is my sister - International Siblings Day 2026

International Siblings Day recognises the lifelong bond between brothers and sisters. A connection shaped by shared childhoods, memories, and experiences that often extends beyond words.
For the families of missing persons, this bond continues even in the absence of answers. Siblings carry memories of who their brother or sister was growing up and who they became, how they were known within their family, and the role they continue to hold in their lives.

As part of our 2025 National Missing Persons Week campaign “Forever Loved”, we received a letter written by Paul, the brother of missing person, Lorrin Whitehead. This letter offers a deeply personal perspective of Lorrin, one shaped by growing up together and by the enduring connection and hope that remains after a loved one goes missing.

Through his words, the letter shares insights into the person that many of us have only known through a photograph. It reflects moments, memories, and characteristics that only a sibling can truly know, and offers a stark reminder that missing persons are so much more than a name on a register, or an image on a social tile, they are brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, parents, friends and so much more.

To mark International Siblings Day, we are sharing the letter from Paul in full below.

We acknowledge and thank the family of Lorrin Whitehead for sharing this letter and allowing for it to be shared again, which serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing and deeply personal impact of missing persons on those left behind.

Letter from Paul: 

You are loved. Stay strong if you can. “I will be your voice until you are able to speak for yourself.” When you are, I will be standing there right beside you. 
Do I say Lorrin ‘is’ or Lorrin ‘was’?  This question has hung over every thought and every conversation I have had about Lorrin since her disappearance 12 years ago. For now, I choose to say Lorrin ‘was’ because she may have changed or have been made to change. She may not be alive. I simply don’t know.  
I do know that bad things happen to normal people. Lorrin was normal.   

Growing up, Lorrin was fun, warm and spirited and as an adult, was the same, true to herself.  She was happy and laughed a lot. She was bold, brave and loyal. She was also a bit of a dreamer. While by nature, a positive person, like all normal people, Lorrin was sometimes sad, angry and cried. She could be frightened. Particularly when she felt let down or betrayed by those she loved and trusted.  
I know this because Lorrin is my sister. 

At the time she went missing, Lorrin was all those things. Dealing with the fallout of a difficult and acrimonious divorce meant that she was sad, angry and frightened as a normal person would be. As a single mum, she faced normal challenges of bringing up young and teenage children, and like all normal parents, could become irritated & frustrated. However, Lorrin was optimistic, looking forward to moving on from the divorce, had plans and dreams for her future including going back to study and at some point, to travel. She absolutely loved being a mum.  She was beginning to explore new relationships. She was happy. 

It is surreal to see her name and face on ‘missing persons posters’, the subject of media stories and police enquiries. Can this really be happening?  
It is.  

The possibility that Lorrin is suffering or has suffered, or has gone somewhere against her will and being powerless to stop or change that is humbling and devastating. I am angry.  I question whether I missed something she said. Could I have done anything to prevent her disappearance?  
And now, when together as a family, enjoying and celebrating good times, the confronting reality is that she is not there. The guilt surfaces. Is it okay to laugh, smile and enjoy ourselves? It has to be. Life is for living. 

The impact on Lorrin’s loved ones is sad, particularly our parents who, despite their incredible resilience, feel her absence every minute of every day. They are old now. They deserve answers. There is sadness too in the thought of the unfulfilled potential of Lorrin’s life, her ambitions and her dreams. 
Since 2012, I’ve tried but failed to be her voice. I allowed myself to be ignored by those who preferred an easy answer, drowned out by those who have used her story and sought the limelight to promote themselves, and by those who want to confuse and hide the truth. As a result, opportunities have been missed; time and energy wasted looking in the wrong direction and people with information put off from coming forward.   
Until now.            

I believe that things are changing at last. I am being listened to. As are other different voices, those who really care for Lorrin. Through us, she is being heard. With this change comes hope. Hope that I can keep her story alive and ensure that it is told truthfully and accurately. Hope that people with information now feel confident and safe to come forward to further amplify Lorrin’s voice. Someone out there knows what happened.  They have information that will lead us to Lorrin and bring closure.  

Lorrin’s case has generated a lot of attention and publicity. Some people might ask why this is? The truth is, I don’t know. She is no more or less important than others who have gone missing or suffered tragedy. Bad things happen to normal people. Their stories deserve to be heard as much as Lorrin’s. Finding Lorrin is important to me. I will be her voice until she is able to speak for herself. When she does, I will be standing there right beside her.

You can view Lorrin’s profile here.

If you have information that may assist police to locate Lorrin please call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.