THE family of a West Australian woman believed to have been murdered 20 years ago remain hopeful the mystery can be solved with the help of a new website.
Lisa Govan, 28, was last seen near Kalgoorlie’s Foundry Hotel just after 7.30am on October 8, 1999.
The Boulder Road hotel was at the time located next to the Club Deroes bikie gang clubhouse.
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READ NOWMs Govan’s father Ian said over the past 20 years the case had repeatedly gone hot and cold, and it had not become any easier for the family to deal with the loss of the “happy-go-lucky” woman.
“We cope with it at Christmas, we cope with it at birthdays and we cope with the grandchildren asking questions about Lisa,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“When it first happened, we were in complete and utter turmoil.
“It’s virtually the same as it was 20 years ago. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time, that’s what we believe.”
Mr Govan said he hoped whoever was responsible for his daughter’s disappearance and suspected murder, or anyone with information, would have a conscience and come forward.
“That’s what we’re living for all the time – that there would be a breakthrough,” he said.
Ms Govan’s mother Pat said she remained anxious and upset, but fondly remembered her daughter as “like a butterfly” fluttering around, adding she “lived life to the full”.
She said the whole family would be relieved if the case could be solved.
“It would be better than winning Lotto,” she said.
Mr Govan said he was satisfied to a degree with the police investigation, acknowledging that detectives could not reveal too much information.
In 2017, police conducted two raids in Kalgoorlie on properties linked to bikies, and a property in Perth.
Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said at the time that people associated with the club were a focus of the investigation but not the only focus.
A $250,000 reward remains on offer for information that leads to solving the suspected murder.
The family, which has previously tried using a medium to get answers, has launched a website in a bid to encourage anyone with information to come forward.
That is in addition to the Crime Stoppers plea for information.
Acting Commander Rod Wilde said any information, no matter how small, could provide a vital piece of the puzzle.
“We have active lines of investigation that we’re working on,” he said.
The website can be found at: https://lisagovanmissing.com.au
WHAT HAPPENED TO LISA GOVAN?
– October 7, 1999
Ms Govan drops off her boyfriend at Kalgoorlie’s Superpit gold mine for an evening shift, then heads to the Safari Nightclub, where she stays until the early hours, at one point leaving briefly in a taxi with a bald man
– October 8, 1999
She then visits the Club Deroes bikie gang headquarters next to the Foundry Hotel in Boulder by invitation. According to reports, she leaves of her own accord hours later and was not distressed or upset. The last confirmed sighting was between 7:30am and 7:45am in front of the pub
– October 14, 1999
Police raid the gang headquarters
– December 13, 2000
The WA government offers a $50,000 reward for information to help solve the case
– December 21, 2000
Detective Senior Sergeant Kim Gage says police followed up every lead they had been given including information provided by a psychic in the United States
– October 31, 2017
The state government boosts the reward to $250,000, while police raid Club Deroes headquarters in Boulder and Perth, reportedly cutting up concrete floors after receiving new information
– January 30, 2018
Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde says the cold case squad received a large amount of information after the reward was increased
– October 8, 2019
A website is launched in a bid to encourage people to come forward to solve the 28-year-old’s disappearance and suspected murder.