Tasmania Police advise that inquiries are continuing into the disappearance of dual US/Australian citizen Rachel Funari, who was last seen approximately 3:30pm on Thursday 3 March 2011 at a shack directly adjacent to the start of the Fluted Cape Walking Track on Bruny Island.  Friends alerted police to Ms Funari’s disappearance on 11 March 2011, which initiated a major police search.  Land search operations were discontinued on 18 March 2011.

With no confirmed sightings since 3 March, and no evidence or indication of any crime having been committed, police believe it is likely Ms Funari has perished while walking the shore or cliffs along the Fluted Cape Track.  Despite there being strong evidence to support this theory, police remain open to other possibilities, and are keen to find further evidence and provide Ms Funari's family with greater certainty about what has happened. 

Over 3 days last week (Tuesday 5 – Thursday 7 April 2011), the Tasmania Police Search and Rescue unit scheduled its rope training activities on Bruny Island, re-checking the cliffs around Fluted Cape.  The team focussed on climbing areas of the cliff face where a walker might be naturally enticed to the edge for a view of the coastline.  Unfortunately this follow up search operation failed to find any trace of Ms Funari.

Kingston Police also recently mailed out approximately 1500 copies of a special circular to all property owners and residents of Bruny Island.  The circular included photographs of property believed to be in Ms Funari’s possession at the time of her disappearance.

Police received a good response from this mail out, with many calls being received from members of the public who were on the island around the time she was last seen. 

“We would like to thank those people who have assisted police thus far; however we are still keen to hear from anyone with information to offer, no matter how insignificant that piece of information may seem,” said Inspector Doug Rossiter.

Appeal for Information – Search for missing woman Rachel Funari

• Rachel Funari (Aged 35 years)
• 165cm tall, medium build, olive skin
• Strong American accent
• Last seen on Bruny Island on 3 March 2011

Police are asking for help in finding the following items of clothing and property, which were believed to be in Ms Funari’s possession when she went missing:

What Rachel was wearing:

• Bottle Green full zip polar fleece jacket (see photo)
• Black baggy lightweight pants (see photo)
• Brown walking boots (see photo)
• Prescription glasses

What Rachel was carrying:

• Kodak disposable camera (see photo)
• Paperback novel
• Small black clutch-style bag with thin shoulder strap cont. cards, papers and a single house key
• Older-style mobile phone in a multi-coloured sock cover

Bottle green polar fleece jacket worn by Rachel Funari	Black lightweight pants similar to those worn by Rachel Funari	Brown walking boots similar to those worn by Rachel Funari	Disposable camera similar to the one carried by Rachel Funari

Please contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 if you:

• find, or have seen any of the above items at any location
• were in Adventure Bay, Bruny Island on 3rd – 4th March 2011
• saw or spoke to Ms Funari while she was in Tasmania, or have any information whatsoever.