Mick disappeared, aged 18, in 1973 – his family want to stop the 'blanket of grief' happening to others
Aug 2020
Michael Croaker, who went missing in 1973, and his sister Trisha.(Supplied: Trisha Croaker)
''Saturday, October 20, 1973, was a significant day for many reasons.
''It was the day the Sydney Opera House was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II, with more than half a million people lining the harbour foreshore to celebrate, flanked by thousands of police officers wrangling the jubilant crowds.
It was also the last day Michael Ian Croaker, known to his family as Mick or Micky and then aged 18, was ever seen.''
If still alive today, Mick Croaker would be 65 years old.
He vanished from Prince Henry Hospital, Little Bay nearly 47 years ago and there are still no clues about what happened to him.''
Mick Croaker had already experienced a difficult life by the time he got to Little Bay.
Trisha says he was a quiet, gentle, kind and happy boy, but learning difficulties and a severe stutter had seen him bullied and teased through a number of boarding schools.
Michael Croker is among cases featured in an nationwide missing persons appeal.(Supplied: Trisha Croaker)
''His parents were concerned he might need advanced help and sent him to Prince Henry Hospital to be assessed.
He disappeared after just two days at the hospital in "mysterious circumstances", says Trisha.
His case file was missing, the doctor in charge of his case was on leave the day Mick disappeared and later refused to be interviewed.
Mick took none of his possessions, and apparently walked freely out of a ward full of people having psychiatric assessments, Trisha says.
From then on, her parents, did "everything imaginable" to find their son, she says.''
Aug 2020
Michael Croaker, who went missing in 1973, and his sister Trisha.(Supplied: Trisha Croaker)
''Saturday, October 20, 1973, was a significant day for many reasons.
''It was the day the Sydney Opera House was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II, with more than half a million people lining the harbour foreshore to celebrate, flanked by thousands of police officers wrangling the jubilant crowds.
It was also the last day Michael Ian Croaker, known to his family as Mick or Micky and then aged 18, was ever seen.''
If still alive today, Mick Croaker would be 65 years old.
He vanished from Prince Henry Hospital, Little Bay nearly 47 years ago and there are still no clues about what happened to him.''
Mick Croaker had already experienced a difficult life by the time he got to Little Bay.
Trisha says he was a quiet, gentle, kind and happy boy, but learning difficulties and a severe stutter had seen him bullied and teased through a number of boarding schools.
Michael Croker is among cases featured in an nationwide missing persons appeal.(Supplied: Trisha Croaker)
''His parents were concerned he might need advanced help and sent him to Prince Henry Hospital to be assessed.
He disappeared after just two days at the hospital in "mysterious circumstances", says Trisha.
His case file was missing, the doctor in charge of his case was on leave the day Mick disappeared and later refused to be interviewed.
Mick took none of his possessions, and apparently walked freely out of a ward full of people having psychiatric assessments, Trisha says.
From then on, her parents, did "everything imaginable" to find their son, she says.''
