Australia’s first Green Seat has been unveiled at Doug Jennings Park, The Spit, offering a place of reflection for families of missing loved ones and raising awareness of the thousands of people who disappear every year.

The Green Seat Project was founded by advocate Sally Leydon, whose mother Marion Barter vanished in 1997 after travelling to Europe. Marion, a Southport resident and much-loved teacher at The Southport School, never returned — leaving Sally and her family with nearly three decades of unanswered questions.

Determined to keep her mother’s story alive, Sally partnered with 7 News to create the Lady Vanishes podcast, which became one of Australia’s most widely downloaded true crime series and helped uncover new information that led to a coronial inquest. This year, Sally launched The Missing Matter podcast to highlight the reality that every 15 minutes, someone in Australia goes missing.

“I want to create a space for people who may not have had the chance to share their story, whether through media or podcasts, to talk about their missing loved ones,” Ms Leydon said.

“This initiative is deeply personal to me because I believe everyone deserves to be heard and valued. Missing persons and their families matter.”

Each Green Seat carries the statement “THE MISSING MATTER” and features a QR code linking to information about long-term missing persons and support services for affected families.

GCWA Chief Executive Officer Chris Derksema said supporting the project was an important way of creating places with meaning and purpose.

“Numerous studies have shown that being near water can boost wellbeing, reduce stress, and foster social connection,” Mr Derksema said.

“Public spaces like Doug Jennings Park should serve many roles – offering recreation, reflection, and connection. The Green Seat brings a deeply human story into the heart of our waterways.”

The installation of the first Green Seat reflects the Gold Coast Waterways Authority’s commitment to supporting community-driven initiatives that enhance wellbeing, encourage conversation and honour shared stories.

For more information, visit The Green Seat Project | The Missing Matter

Any damaged or missing aids to navigation such as beacons, buoys, markers or signs, should be reported as soon as possible on
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For community engagement, communications or media enquiries please contact mail@gcwa.qld.gov.au

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https://gcwa.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Whos-Who-in-the-Blue-v4-004.pdf

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