THE body of missing Serpentine farmer Ian Whinfield has been found.
Police and State Emergency Services volunteers located a man’s body believed to be that of the 82-year-old just before midday on Tuesday during a planned search in the Pyrenees Range State Forest.
Maryborough Detective Scott De La Rue said the body was found about 7km from where Mr Whinfield’s vehicle was located on Emery Track, Glenpatrick, late last month.
He said there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
Police were notified that Mr Whinfield was missing on December 26 after he failed to return home after leaving a Christmas lunch with relatives at Lake Bolac at about 4pm
His distinctive red Nissan ute was located by searchers on Emery Track on December 27.
An initial large-scale search, which involved Police Search and Rescue, Air Wing and motorcycle units, was called off in extreme heat on December 30 and smaller searches which followed failed to find any further trace of the missing man.
The discovery of his body on Tuesday came after police and emergency services had mounted a fresh operation to find the elderly farmer.
The search, which began on Tuesday morning, was due to take place over two days.
Mr Whinfield was the last surviving member of a very well respected family in the district.
He was known as a generous, well-mannered and sociable man who opened his property to many people, particularly for camping.
Neighbours said it was not unusual for him to take an indirect route home when he travelled out of the district.
Friends, family members and concerned community members had set up a public group on social media aimed at gathering information to try to locate Mr Whinfield, who in recent years had reportedly experienced health issues.
Det De La Rue said the discovery of his body would come as a relief to Mr Whinfield’s relatives.
A report on the death will be prepared by the coroner.
