Shortcut: The Disappearance of Pauline Sowry
Australian True Crime
Bravecasting
4.5 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 23 March 2026
⏱️ 16 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed.
Pauline Sowry disappeared from Wollongong’s northern suburbs in December 1993 at the age of 49.
An inquest in 2008 found she likely died after a reported sighting the following year, yet her body has never been located, and the case has continued to develop with a dedicated police task force in 2022, a 500 thousand dollar reward announced in 2024, and a charge laid then withdrawn in 2025.
One of Pauline's children, Jason Lawrence joins us to share who his mother was and the lasting impact her disappearance has had on their family.
For Support:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)
1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380
CREDITS:
Host: Meshel Laurie
Guests: Jason Lawrence
Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is Australian True Crime with Michelle Laurie. |
| 0:08.0 | Jason Lawrence has spent most of the last three decades searching for answers about what |
| 0:12.5 | happened to his mother, Pauline Sauri, who vanished from Wollongong's northern suburbs in December |
| 0:17.7 | 1993 at the age of 49. |
| 0:26.7 | An inquest in 2008 concluded she likely died after a reported sighting the following year, |
| 0:28.8 | yet her body has never been found. |
| 0:34.8 | The case has continued to evolve with a dedicated police force launched in 2022, a substantial government reward announced in 2024 and a brief charge |
| 0:39.9 | laid and later withdrawn in 2025. Today, Jason joins us to share who his mother was and the |
| 0:47.2 | toll her disappearance has taken on their family. This is Australian True Crime. We acknowledge |
| 0:53.2 | the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast is created, |
| 0:57.3 | the Wurundri Woi Wurang people of the Kulin Nation. |
| 1:00.2 | And a warning, this episode of the podcast contains graphic descriptions of violence. |
| 1:14.7 | It was brought up in Bougaini. |
| 1:15.8 | It was normal. |
| 1:17.4 | Normal kids. |
| 1:18.9 | It's up, mum. |
| 1:22.7 | Chases round the backyard with a spoon. |
| 1:23.5 | Yeah. |
| 1:26.2 | Always had meal on a table. |
| 1:28.4 | Chocolate every Thursday night. |
| 1:29.8 | Dad worked hard. |
| 1:32.8 | Did your parents stay married? |
... |
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