THE SEARCH is on in Walcha and the district for the heir to what has been described as a “life-changing” amount of money.
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Gold Coast private investigator Rob Comer has been tasked with finding the son of a woman who was friends with Noel Adams, a gold prospector who worked in the region about 1960 and died four months ago, leaving money to a “Graeme Whitehead”.
Mr Comer said he could not disclose exactly how much money had been willed to Mr Whitehead, but described it as “life-changing”.
Mr Adams, who died a wealthy Gold Coast resident, worked around Tamworth and Walcha in about 1960.
During his time in Walcha, he befriended Janice Amelia Whitehead, nee Goodwin.
Mr Comer said he believed Janice’s parents were William and Violet Witt and it was possible she had divorced her husband Francis Raymond Whitehead and retaken her maiden name.
Janice and Ray, a sawmill worker, had three children including Graeme, born in 1962.
Graeme has been left money in Mr Adams’s will and now the hunt is on to find him.
If he is not found by October, he will be struck off the will. The Whiteheads also had a child who died at six months old and a daughter, Karen, born in 1964.
Mr Comer said he had already found a Tamworth beneficiary and hoped he could also track down Graeme Whitehead, who may also go by the last name Witt.
“It’s just a matter of rattling the right cages,” he said.
“Every now and again you get a little gem,” he said. Mr Comer has been on the case for about two months and has spoken to longtime Walcha residents, Piddingtons funeral home, Walcha council and other sources.
He said he was hopeful someone may have attended school with Graeme and could help provide information.
Mr Comer said it was possible William and Violet Witt had moved to Ballina and taken Janice and the children with them.