The disappearance of a 55-year-old West Australian man, who was last seen almost a year ago, is being treated by police as suspicious.
Dean Patrick White, known as Whitey to his friends, was a regular traveller who had been camping in March 2017 on the Murray River in Victoria.
He then drove back to WA to meet someone near the small Wheatbelt town of Quairading, with the last reported contact of him on March 31, police said on Monday.
Mr White was reported missing by family in August after failing to get in contact following his father's death.
His older sister Debbie Smith says she last spoke to Dean early last year, on his birthday.
"He was not sure what he was going to do and was feeling a bit lonely so I suggested he come home to WA, as he was camping near Mildura on the Murray River and had been for a while," Ms Smith said.
"That way, he could camp somewhere closer to family and our Dad who at that time was in a nursing home."
Ms Smith, who lives in New Zealand, said she failed to reach her brother through text or phone for a few months but that was normal due to his travelling.
But when other family and friends also heard no reply she reported him missing to WA Police.
She said her brother didn't mind being on his own.
"I don't think he would travel with anyone or pick someone up so if he has, this is a little out of character."
Senior Sergeant Manus Walsh said "the disappearance was suspicious in nature because of (Mr White's) banking transactions and contact with family were inconsistent with his lifestyle".
Mr White lived and travelled in a white 1989 Toyota Landcruiser with a blue trailer, which was involved in a single-vehicle crash in Queensland later in June.
Police say the driver, who is not believed to be Mr White, abandoned the car.
Mr White had suffered a minor brain injury and is affected by mild, short-term memory loss as well as walking with a slight limp.
Ms Smith said her brother was, "a fairly placid easy going guy who enjoys a beer and has a lot of family and mates that are worried about him."
"Please, if anyone remembers seeing Dean or "Whitey" as most people knew him, let the police know," she said.
Police will set up mobile facilities in Quairading and Kambalda on Tuesday and Kambalda and Tammin on Thursday for people wishing to speak to detectives involved with the case.
They will also visit the Eastern Goldfields, including the towns of Cocklebiddy and Balladonia, and the Mid-West Gascoyne town of Cunderdin.
Australian Associated Press
