The Day Noosa Lost Its Innocence

It’s 1987 and a coastal town named Noosa Heads in Queensland is about as idyllic as it gets. On the Sunshine Coast, Noosa Heads isn't yet the popular and developed tourist destination that it is today. It is surrounded by rivers, lookouts, bays, national park and of course expansive coastline. Families feel proud to bring their kids up in such a beautiful and safe coastal town, where they often play outside until the sun goes down.  Sian Kingi is 12 years old, tall for her age with long blonde hair and dark brown eyes. She’s described as the kind of girl who would accidentally knock her opponent in netball, and stop to make sure she was okay. She’s shy, popular but never cruel.  It’s a Friday afternoon on November 27, and after school, Sian and her mother Linda go shopping. She has a party that weekend, and so Linda takes her to a fabric shop so together they could make Sian something to wear.  At 4:30pm, the pair finish up and head home. While Linda walks home, Sian takes her bike, and for most of the journey, they’re together. But when they get to a local park, Linda walks around it, while Sian cycles through it, passing the tennis courts.  When Linda walks through the door, she figures Sian will be a moment behind her. But she waits and waits.  What happened to Sian Kingi that day remains every parent’s worst nightmare and would change the beachside town forever. Hers is a name so many Australians won’t ever forget.  CREDITS Host: Jessie Stephens Guest: Dot Whittington Executive Producer: Gia Moylan Audio Producers: Ian Camilleri & Gia Moylan RESOURCES  Crime Investigation Australia: Murder Of Innocence - Sian Kingi CONTACT US Tell us what you think of the show via email at [email protected]   Join our closed Facebook community to discuss this episode. Just search True Crime Conversations on Facebook or follow this link https://bit.ly/tcc-group  If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Just by reading or listening to our content, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and our aim is to get to 1,000. Find out more about Mamamia at mamamia.com.au Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.