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

[whitelilac]

Looking at the environment and surroundings....a screenshot of a gulley, dry river bed in the area, with what appears to be places of crevices on the sides.
Obviously the area has been thoroughly searched. Besides would a little 4 year old venture to such a place out there, at 5 :30 pm just before dinner?

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(7 News Australia)

 

[Gemmie]

Obviously the area has been thoroughly searched. Besides would a little 4 year old venture to such a place out there, at 5 :30 pm just before dinner?

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(7 News Australia)

Sure. Why not? Speaking for myself, and I'm clearly not a 4 yo child... but when I'm out in the yard zoning out doing yardwork, and I'm far north in the US so it gets dark pretty darn late here in the summer, next thing I know it's 7:30 and I'm still out there not even thinking about dinner. Wish I would because 7:30 is a bit late to start dealing with dinner as I take a while.

So I most definitely can see a child his age, out there playing and enjoying himself, not even thinking about dinner as early as 5:30. I'm sure he could get just as caught up in the moment. and not noticing that it's getting late. as I tend to.

JMO

 

[musicaljoke]

Looking at the environment and surroundings....a screenshot of a gulley, dry river bed in the area, with what appears to be places of crevices on the sides.
Obviously the area has been thoroughly searched. Besides would a little 4 year old venture to such a place out there, at 5 :30 pm just before dinner?

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(7 News Australia)

Would a four year old venture out to such a place? Certainly. Four year olds still have vivid imaginations and might not always distinguish reality from their imagination. They might have an imaginary friend who goes places with them. They might not have a clear concept of time, so they might not sense that dinner time is soon.

And we mustn't forget that this is his back yard.

 

[Puzzles]

Hi All,

So sad reading about Gus.

This is a very interesting and heartbreaking situation, I have been tracking the news all week hoping for good news but it seems to have evolved into something more unfortunate now.

It all seems quite odd to me. It would be good to get more input and discussion from experienced sleuthers.

4yo Gus is missing. Search seemingly “scaled back” (called off?) after one week. My kids are a bit older now but if one of my kids was missing in the outback or anywhere, at 4 years old or younger or older or ever, I would not stop searching and scouring the land. I would have the entire community and all our friends, family, neighbours, law enforcement, media, public, anyone who cared to help me, out looking 24/7 for weeks and months and years until the child is found.

Even after all hope of the child being found alive we would keep looking and looking and looking to ensure closure, particularly for the child’s mother. The media would be my best friend to raise awareness and get more help. I would not care if I looked guilty on the news or whether keyboard warriors cast suspicion on me on Facebook. Who cares? Find the child.

I really hope this is the case for Gus, please never give up on him. But it is not clear to me that it is the case, from media coverage I have seen. 50 people on the searches does not sound like a lot. It’s a very remote and isolated property, indeed, but it’s still only 300km (3hrs) drive north of Adelaide, a city of 1m people.

The only reason I would stop looking is if it became apparent the child was not on the property. Which means evidence of foul play, taken by someone or something? The only something realistically is a dingo or wild dog but there would surely be evidence, a dropped hat or similar. Which leaves someone? In which case you would get the child’s name, photos, info out into media so the broader community could be on the look out. Details of all the people who were in the area. Who saw him during that last day? It’s actually the best case scenario now, a Cleo Smith situation.

There has been no mention of mum or dad, or grandpa, or siblings or uncles or aunties or any other family. Grandma is the only family member who gets a mention. A few family friends have spoken out in support.

This property is about as remote as it gets in Aus. But on a 6000 ha sheep station there may likely have been other workers around. Who ecactly was living and working on the station when Gus was last seen?

So little information around.

Look forward to seeing more seasoned sleuthers pick this thread up, keen to hear what everyone thinks.

2W

Yes, Toowongs, yes to every word and thought expressed in your post.

I would want the property crawling with those from afar answering a call to come and search for little Gus, perhaps offering them a reward, if financially viable. I realize there are valid reasons against doing so, but I'd want as many searchers as possible on site.

Our children grew up in the remote bush, down a long, 4-wheel-drive dirt road. As approaching vehicles were readily heard (I was kidnapped, briefly, when aged six), and the children's understanding never to venture past this tree, or that outcrop, we allowed them to be free-range explorers.

Dressing for their days included donning a 120-decibel SOS whistle on a safety quick-release cord around their necks.

I certainly helicoptered them before they were old enough to understand about the set, physical boundaries and the importance of sticking together, and, by grace, no harm came to them.

The point of my post is to suggest that children (and adults) carry a whistle, in case there are caregivers who haven't considered the idea. And to learn the series of three short, three-long, three-short blasts to signal distress.

 

[Dotta]

Yes, Toowongs, yes to every word and thought expressed in your post.

I would want the property crawling with those from afar answering a call to come and search for little Gus, perhaps offering them a reward, if financially viable. I realize there are valid reasons against doing so, but I'd want as many searchers as possible on site.

Our children grew up in the remote bush, down a long, 4-wheel-drive dirt road. As approaching vehicles were readily heard (I was kidnapped, briefly, when aged six), and the children's understanding never to venture past this tree, or that outcrop, we allowed them to be free-range explorers.

Dressing for their days included donning a 120-decibel SOS whistle on a safety quick-release cord around their necks.

I certainly helicoptered them before they were old enough to understand about the set, physical boundaries and the importance of sticking together, and, by grace, no harm came to them.

The point of my post is to suggest that children (and adults) carry a whistle, in case there are caregivers who haven't considered the idea. And to learn the series of three short, three-long, three-short blasts to signal distress.

Also
there are anti-lost GPS bracelets for kids:
waterproof & shockproof GPS tracker ones compatible with air tag Band.

In fact,
there are many kinds of GPS locators to choose from:
bracelets, pendants, tags, even rings, etc.
One can Google and see them.

The safety of children is the most important.
They are totally dependent on adults, their carers.

JMO

 

[TMich6811]

Also
there are anti-lost GPS bracelets for kids:
waterproof & shockproof GPS tracker ones compatible with air tag Band.

In fact,
there are many kinds of GPS locators to choose from:
bracelets, pendants, tags, even rings, etc.
One can Google and see them.

The safety of children is the most important.
They are totally dependent on adults, their carers.

JMO

Perfect opportunity for me to insert my project lifesaver comment it’s for vulnerable populations so I usually save for those threads but in case anyone needs it. They use radio frequency and not gps

Project lifesaver is a bracelet device that is used to track vulnerable populations. This program is contracted by local agencies and have specific criteria but often cover dementia, ASD, etc

You can find a local servicer here

Find an Agency - Project Lifesaver
projectlifesaver.org

 

[Dotta]

IMO

Locators are very useful.

But really folks,
the most effective method to keep young children safe
are EYES of a carer.

And I mean
"eyes around the head"
(as we say in my country).

Constantly.

As a Primary School teacher I'm quite experienced at it
It is a MUST.
Sorry, but no excuses.

JMO

 

[Lemony]

Undermining/Ridiculing the public is grave error IMO.
It might even discourage people's effort to help.

There is this saying
"2 heads are better than 1"

JMO

It’s a balancing act for the police. They’ll want the public on side and assisting with genuine information however they won’t want to get bogged down with the unhelpful tips and speculation. Missing children cases gather a huge amount of public interest and the police are probably inundated with tips. The psychics are already on it, and speculation is like a sport on some social media platforms - I can image some of the unhelpful information that is getting called in. Resources are finite and the police will want to be focusing their efforts on finding answers, not getting sidetracked with unhelpful ‘noise’. I think the police were just asking for some common sense. imo

 

[LookingForClues]

My husband used to be involved in search and rescue, although in the mountains during winter. One of the best safety tools to have, and the easiest for everyone to carry and use: a whistle! Thank you, @Puzzles, for suggesting it! Sometimes you're too injured to call for help, sometimes you've called out so much that you've lost your voice. Blowing a whistle is much easier and doesn't take as much energy. Plus it carries farther than a voice, and is louder than a voice. I always carry one when I'm outdoors, on a lanyard around my neck.

 

[Dotta]

My husband used to be involved in search and rescue, although in the mountains during winter. One of the best safety tools to have, and the easiest for everyone to carry and use: a whistle! Thank you, @Puzzles, for suggesting it! Sometimes you're too injured to call for help, sometimes you've called out so much that you've lost your voice. Blowing a whistle is much easier and doesn't take as much energy. Plus it carries farther than a voice, and is louder than a voice. I always carry one when I'm outdoors, on a lanyard around my neck.

Provided the person is conscious and able to blow a whistle.
Locators/Trackers work independently of our will and state we might be in.

But, of course,
whistles are better than nothing.

Honestly,
people should take advantage of modern technology.
It might save life.
The life of a child - the most vulnerable and dependent on adults.

JMO