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Saturday July 31, 2010

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92-year-old woman's car found

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 18 March, 2010 - 11:26 AM
The vehicle which means so much to Mary, 92-year-old

PLAYING NOW: Denis Walter speaks to the 92-year-old woman whose treasured vehicle was stolen and has now been found.

Mary, who thanked 3AW Radio for helping publicise her story, will have the car again on Saturday morning.

UPDATE: Ninety two year-old Mary Shaw's much-loved Holden Torana Sunbird has been found minus the number plates, dumped around 15km away at Coldstream tip this morning.

Mary was yesterday clinging to hope that the car, which is a treasured reminder of her late husband Bert, would be returned.

Today that wish has come true thanks to some great detective work by Victoria Police and help from both the media and the public.

A call was made to triple 000 and after police went to the site at Leonards Road in Coldstream they have been able to confirm that the car is Mary's Torana.

REPORT: A 92 year-old woman has been left devastated by the theft of her much loved car, a Holden Torana which she has owned the since the late 1970s.

Police are appealing for public assistance in order to locate the 1978 model car, which was stolen at the start of the month and has left the elderly woman without her independence.

Mary Shaw of Ringwood East has been the sole driver of her sky blue Sunbird since it rolled off the assembly line in the late 70s.

It was originally purchased by her then husband Frank who, after retiring bought the car with some of their savings.

Sadly, Frank passed away not more than ten days after the brand new Holden was acquired and Mary then had to teach herself to drive the car, which she has relied on ever since.

Her independence took a turn for the worst on Sunday 7 March when her car was stolen from her driveway in Davey Street between 7.15am and 7.30am.

Mary and her pristine car are well know in the local area, with many people often commenting on the car and even asking if they can purchase it.

As Mary readied herself for morning mass, neighbours heard the distinctive tone of the Sunbird’s four cylinder engine and thought it odd that she would be leaving so early for church.

They rushed next door, only to find Mary still at home with her beloved ‘LX’ model vehicle stolen.

Police were immediately contacted and a search of the surrounding area was conducted to no avail.

Senior Constable Jordan Brown from the Croydon Theft Of Motor Car Action Team (TOMCAT) said it was tragic for Mrs Shaw, as it has severely affected her way of life.

"The car is invaluable to Mary; the amount of money offered by her insurance will not be enough to cover what she has lost. The car is of significant sentimental value to her."

"We are just hopeful that the car can be found and returned to Mary as having to adjust to a new vehicle would be extremely difficult at her age."

Blog comments Your Say

  • Never been happier to be wrong! Wrapt Mary has her Sunbird back.

    Toby Fraser Monday 22 March, 2010 - 11:51 PM

  • thank goodness for radio stations like this one it keeps that labour party honest, wish i had never voted for them

    phil harbud Friday 19 March, 2010 - 4:29 PM

  • Congratulations to 3AW for all their efforts in giving Mary air-time on her treasured car being stolen, as her story inspired the public and police to help locate and return her treasured Holden Torana. Well done...

    Deanna Friday 19 March, 2010 - 1:48 PM

  • Very sad to hear this story. As I am writing this now, the car will be in pieces and a different colour and will be used as a doner body as others have said. These 70's Holdens/Fords are becoming so sought after, scumbags will back tow trucks up to garage doors to drag them on and drive away. Not many Sunbird Coupe made but were marketed as the 'German Holden' being fitted with an Opel engine which had a distinctive exhaust note(hence the neighbours recognising the car by sound). First holden to have the 'Radial Tuned Suspension' as well. Rego ACY 863 would be the original too. Sad for the loss of the car and very sad for Mary. 32 years is alot of memories.

    Toby Fraser Friday 19 March, 2010 - 12:43 AM

  • Dear Mary,there's and old saying,"what goes around comes around", and i'm sure that who ever stole your car will get there's in the end.

    Regards Ron.

    Ron Maclean Thursday 18 March, 2010 - 10:19 PM

  • I would tend to agree with callers and comments on this brazen theft of this Torana Hatchback.The thieves will only want this car for the body alone as they are quite rare and most probably will be rebirthed as a mock-up A9X or SS V-8.I sincerely hope that it is recovered intact.As a classic car enthusiast,my heart goes out to this dear lady.
    Best of luck to the police with its recovery.....

    len Thursday 18 March, 2010 - 1:17 PM

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