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Police continue to search the Glenthompson/Dunkeld area and back towards Corangamite in the search for missing Timboon 84-year-old woman Ethel McLean.
Ethel went missing on Thursday afternoon last week and has not been sighted since.
Her mobile phone pinged off a tower in the Dunkeld/Glenthompson area about 4.30pm Thursday.
Ethel, who is also known as Rosie, is believed to have left with her dog, a Maltese shih tzu, in a grey Holden commodore with registration plate numbers YGT-150.
Warrnambool police Sergeant Blake Amos said the phone could have been within 50 kilometres off the tower when it pinged.
"It's not pinpoint. We're searching around that area and back towards Corangamite in case Ethel turned around," he said.
"At this stage we have simply been unable to find her, but it has not been due to a lack of effort."
Sergeant Amos said the police airwing was involved in the search on the weekend and all available police resources are scouring the south-west, checking back roads and places that have already been searched.
"We were concerned from the start and still hold serious concerns for Ethel's welfare," he said.
"But, as each day goes by we continue to do everything we can and hopefully Ethel turns up soon.
"It's a significant area to search," he said.
Monday: Family members of missing elderly Timboon woman Ethel McLean have urged her to contact her children or police.
Her three daughters, Jenny Tonkin, Heather Wensley, Susie Graham and niece Janice McKenna fronted a media conference at the Warrnambool police station on Monday afternoon.
They said it was highly usual for 84-year-old Ethel to go missing.
The Victoria Police air wing was involved in the search for Ethel at the weekend.
Warrnambool police Sergeant Blake Amos said the search was continuing and expanding.
He said the police air wing conducted a search in the Dunkeld, Glenthompson and Grampians area at the weekend.
"Glenthompson at 4.30pm last Thursday was the last known location of Ethel's mobile telephone," he said.
"There have been no movements on her bank accounts.
"We are concerned for her welfare and are requesting information from the public to help locate her."
Ethel, who is also known as Rosie, is believed to have left with her dog, Maltese shih tzu, in a grey Holden commodore with registration YGT-150.
Ethel had a hair cut on Thursday and her daughter Heather Wensley said the women at the hairdressers reported that Ethel was out of sorts.
She left home without one of her dogs and two cats, and no food was provided for the animals at her home.
Mrs Wensley said her mother had a procedure in April which had a negative impact on her health and she had not been the same since having a COVID vaccine the weekend before she went missing.
"She has not been her normal self," she said.
"She was to go to the supermarket and then straight home but we don't believe that happened. She has no connection with the Dunkeld/Glenthompson area where her mobile phone was last located.
"There was no argument or anything like that and we are just deeply concerned."
Mrs McKenna requested her aunt contact family member or the police as soon as possible.
"We just want her to come home. Please come home," she said.
South-west residents are also asked to check out-of-the-way roads for Ethel's grey Holden sedan.
Anyone with information is requested to contact the Warrnambool police station on 5560 1333 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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