Australia AUSTRALIA - 4YO AUGUST (GUS) Missing from rural family home in Outback, Yunta, South Australia, 27th Sept 2025

[SouthAussie]

As this saga drags on, I gotta tell ya, my spidey senses are growin'. I'm having difficulty rationalizing little Gus simply wandered off, in to a region he knew held potential danger, in particular, right before dinner time.

Yep, even at 4 years old, I opine, the little guy had likely heard stories of the bush, the poisonous snakes, the do's and don'ts, the chances of trouble if out there alone, folks who got lost, or died of thirst, or who knows what. Yeah, right before dinner time, right before dark, out in to the wilderness he goes?

I'm sorry, at this juncture, I ain't buyin' it anymore.

A 4-year old may know to step back and alert their carer when they see a snake or spider - that is one of the first steps an outback child is taught. Then the carer can assess and deal with any potential danger.
(It could be a daddy long legs spider, then the child learns that they are not dangerous - it is a learning process).

The 4-year old wouldn't (yet) understand death ... that they could die. Never to live again.

imo


She described Gus’ deep connection to the land, a place that may seem unforgiving to outsiders, but is familiar to those raised on it.
“For those not from the area, the landscape seems quite harsh, but for Gus – it’s this kid’s backyard.
“It might be a big backyard but he knows that place like the back of his little hands, not unlike his parents, and his parents’ parents; there’s a wisdom, a confidence and a know-how that comes with that generational upbringing.”

‘He knows’: Friend of Gus’ family speaks out on vanishing

A close friend of the Lamont family has offered a deeply emotional glimpse into the anguish gripping South Australia’s rural heartland, following the disappearance of four-year-old Gus Lamont.

thenightly.com.au

 

[Dotta]

There is just so much space out there. So easy to get lost. Was their yard fenced in at all?

My grandparents place in Montana had a "yard fence" around the house and garden. Then the "big yard" fence around the chicken coops, barn, and animal pens. And the "huge fence" around the property.

The yard fence was chain link. Pretty high.

Exactly!
IMO
"a yard fence around the house and garden" is a must
when young children live there.
Especially,
if they are left unsupervised.

This is not "victim blaming", mind you,
but reality of having children.

JMO

 

[Ellery84]

Exactly!
IMO
"a yard fence around the house and garden" is a must
when young children live there.
Especially,
if they are left unsupervised.

This is not "victim blaming", mind you,
but reality of having children.

JMO

There was no fence there near the homestead.

I’ve seen all of the photographs published in the media, and there is no fenced area nearby the homestead. IMO

There will be fencing in the paddocks, and probably around the perimeter of the station.


Imo


Google search: typical farm fence in South Australia.

A typical South Australian farm fence is a post-and-wire system, often using treated pine or steel post

 

[mickey2942]

Exactly!
IMO
"a yard fence around the house and garden" is a must
when young children live there.
Especially,
if they are left unsupervised.

This is not "victim blaming", mind you,
but reality of having children.

JMO

No yard fence. Means no kids should go outside alone.

That is child neglect and endangerment.

 

[Ellery84]

No yard fence. Means no kids should go outside alone.

That is child neglect and endangerment.

It might be, but from the press conferences with SAPOL, there doesn’t seem to be any appetite to lay any charges, for neglect… IMO

But it’s relatively early in the investigation.

The laws around supervision of children in Australia are quite opaque. IMO

 

[hoodunnit]

The laws around supervision of children in Australia are quite opaque.

If this happened in a city/suburb setting (IMO) things would be looked at by Social Services and LE quite differently I believe.

 

[Bigditch]

OMG seriously, no fence equals child neglect?

 

[Dotta]

If this happened in a city/suburb setting (IMO) things would be looked at by Social Services and LE quite differently I believe.

I'm not sure Social Services even reach such Outback properties.

I mean,
who is going to call them?
(Neighbours living kilometres away?)

Not to mention LE.
How far away is the nearest Police Station?

Just general questions concerning isolated properties.

JMO

 

[drsleuth]

OMG seriously, no fence equals child neglect?

Hard to fathom how all these farm kids survive really , generation after generation

 

[SouthAussie]

OMG seriously, no fence equals child neglect?

I was just thinking of the many unfenced yards in the US. Some areas (in townships and country areas) have no fences between the houses at all, because they want the appearance of green space.

imo

 

[jepop]

No fence does not equal child neglect. Moo...but if that is the claim or insinuation of some, please... come off it.

In Australia and certainly in my state, there are countless egs. of both suburban and rural properties -semi rural and full rural - that do not have fences separating the house/ garden from the rest of the land.

I grew up on such a property - a five acre bush block - there was no fence around the house, there was a fire break which designated the border of our land. This property was surrounded by others with the same set up. When I visit the area today, it is the same.

Children grow up on hundreds of similar properties and play outside of the house on the land every day. The cops would have a hard time charging those parents with child neglect... because it is not. Jmo.

 

[mickey2942]

OMG seriously, no fence equals child neglect?

Can you seriously disagree that a young child should be outside in a yard, in the Australian outback, without a parent, or sibling watching them?! When there is absolutely no barrier at all from the house area to the outback?

 

[SouthAussie]

When there is absolutely no barrier at all from the house area to the outback?

There would be the homestead, then fenced paddocks, and fenced from the road and adjoining properties.

imo

 

[LittleSeaTree]

I'm surprised how many people here have never let their kids out of their sight. And how many think a little kid would be bored without toys, or without playmates, or being left to their own devices.

I grew up in the woods in Northern Michigan. It was never boring! So many places to explore, things to build (forts! castles!), creatures to discover (frogs! salamanders! snails! squirrels! birds!). If I wandered out of sight, I remember Mom calling out to me, to check on where I was. I just called back "over here!" If she thought I was too far away, she'd call me closer. And she would continue in the house, caring for my younger brother, cleaning house, making dinner.

I think it would be similar with Gus' family. His family lives on a working ranch. They've divided up responsibilities. An adult is taking care of the household chores and children. Other adults are tending to the sheep, pastures, fencing, etc. Gus wants to play outside, he's likely told to stay nearby. This just sounds so normal to me. Just another day of life at home.

At this point, I really do think Gus wandered off. How far away did he wander? That's the question I don't have an answer for. Little kids can wander miles farther than you'd expect. And they can end up in unexpected places close to home. I hope this family gets some closure soon.

Agree! I pretty much grew up in a creek Maybe Gus is artistic and was ‘drawing’ in the dirt. Or had a Matchbox type car or truck and was driving it around. Possibilities are kind of endless, imo!

 

[TMich6811]

I disagree that no fence means no alone time and therefore is neglect. IMO factors here that would matter would be - location, safety of area, supervision (checks) and child behavior. I’m not sure we have enough info for this

I’m more cautious than most because I see minute by minute what happens in the world but I’m not quite sure this warrants neglect with what we know

In my professional opinion, for a 4 year old:

An unfenced yard fully surrounded by leg deep water within walking distance would be neglectful in any unsupervised instance

A yard with access potentially dangerous items would be neglectful in any unsupervised instance

A yard close to a busy roads or in a city with frequent people would potentially be neglectful without a fence and no further info

A yard in the middle of nowhere without a fence would be neglectful without 3-5 minute checks if the child was a known wanderer or had behavioral issues

A yard without a fence in the middle of nowhere with a fairly compliant child who doesn’t wander MIGHT be neglectful without 15-30 minute checks or so, much longer if within sound or yelling distance. Depends on yard, behavior, overall family dynamics etc

Sorry eta - for US. Neglect is defined different everywhere in other countries no can’t speak for Australia

 

[drsleuth]

If this happened in a city/suburb setting (IMO) things would be looked at by Social Services and LE quite differently I believe.

I don't think so. The DCP are struggling to get to the kids at real ROSH.

Same in every state, you only have to skim thru coronial findings to see them.

Don't think they are out checking fences on remote properties

IMO

 

[LadyL]

What??

That's so harsh.

TikTok - Make Your Day

This is Jonica Bray's video showing the gun was pointed at her.

dbmk

ETA: just saw my post has been covered in the thread - I'm just catching up from like 20 pages back

 

[Dotta]

There would be the homestead, then fenced paddocks, and fenced from the road and adjoining properties.

imo

And the dams?
Are they fenced?

Isn't there a deep pond just 500 metres away from the house?

Where is Gus?

 

[LadyL]

So it appears that the reporter returned the next day behind the convoy. What doesn't she understand about staying away from the property. She obviously wasn't too frightened if she returned the next day.

yep and milking the 'controversy' for all its worth

 

[BreakingNews]

I think the Missing Persons unit sits within the Major crimes Unit???

Ok. Thanks