EXCLUSIVE
Growing up amid the serenity of the n bush, a young Samantha Murphy had dreams of becoming famous.
Tucked away in the little Victorian country town of Gordon, about 95km west of Melbourne’s CBD, Samantha grew up with her sister and loving parents John and Pam Robson.
At the peak of its gold rush boom, the town had as many as eight hotels, banks and several stores.
Today, the publican in its only remaining pub pours beers to a diehard bunch of locals.
A child of the 70s and 80s, Samantha spent her time riding her bike through the lush forest, hanging out with mates and riding horses.
Like many girls who grew up in the country, Samantha (pictured with her husband Mick) had dreams of moving away and making something of her life before time passed her by
She would go onto own many horses in her life, showing and jumping them throughout the years.
Like many girls who grew up in the country, she had dreams of moving away and making something of her life before time passed her by.
Her uncle, Allan Robson, remembered Samantha as a young go-getter, who was driven to make a name for herself.
‘Samantha was always going to be someone famous,’ he told Daily Mail .
But she couldn’t have imagined the cruel way her childhood dreams would come true.
Wearing black half-length leggings and a maroon/brown coloured singlet, the last image of her alive has been plastered over the internet and across TV screens over the past two weeks.
The image was captured on February 4 at 7am from her home just off Eureka Street in Ballarat East on what turned out to be a stinking hot day
The mother-of-three had told her husband, Mick, she was going out for a short run and would be back by 9am, but never returned.
Weeks later, her disappearance continues to baffle seasoned detectives.
Samantha Murphy was motivated, fit and determined to succeed in life
Police on horseback glance over the Murphy property in Ballarat East
It is a mystery that has captivated and shattered Samantha’s family, friends and community.
Samantha’s family this week told Daily Mail they did not want people to forget who she was or what she meant to those who knew and loved her.
Speaking in the past tense is something Samantha’s family are reluctantly coming to terms with.
Mr Robson, who aged in his 80s still gets about on his tractor on a farm north of Ballarat, recalled Samantha pestering him for her first horse when she was just a little girl.
‘She was horse mad,’ he said.
‘She always wanted Uncle Allan to buy her a horse and she was onto her dad all the time,’ Samantha’s aunt Janice recalled.
Samantha Murphy missed her traditional family holiday to Torquay in January
‘She always wanted one.’
It wasn’t long before her old man gave in, buying her a pony she named Harmony.
Samantha’s father John, known among mates as ‘Pud’, had been a hard-working truck driver who travelled the country alone to make sure his daughters had a good start at life.
Her mother, Pam, came from Perth, where most of Ms Murphy’s family on that side continues to reside.
Samantha’s disappearance has gutted her parents.
‘John went back to work. He said “there’s nothing I could do”,’ Mrs Robson said.
‘And I think if put in that position we’d be that way ourselves.’
John Robson had spent most of his life behind the wheel of a truck and continues to work today aged just shy of 80.
‘He’s supposed to be slowing down. He’s quietened down to long-distance local routes – the top of New South Wales and that sort of stuff,’ his brother said.
On Thursday, Samantha’s sister asked Daily Mail not to speak to her parents and refused to make any comment herself.
Samantha’s husband has taken a similar stance to the media firestorm his wife’s disappearance has caused.
Mr Murphy, with the help of Samantha, operates one of the largest panel beating shops in the region.
Employing more than 20 staff, Samantha had been described as the ‘backbone’ of the operation, running the books and ‘keeping Mick in line’, according to its website.
Home among the gum trees: Samantha Murphy’s parents continue to live in Gordon (pictured)
The panel beating shop Mick and Samantha Murphy turned into a thriving business
Indeed, those that knew Samantha claimed she most certainly ‘wore the pants’ in the marriage.
‘She was the boss. Mick’s different. He’s quiet. He stays in the background. He doesn’t say much,’ Mr Robson said.
Samantha had met her husband growing up in Gordon.
Also the son of a truck driver, Mr Murphy was driven to succeed as much as his wife.
‘His business grew big quick,’ Mr Robson said.
‘It’s the biggest panel beating shop in Ballarat you’d imagine.’
Mr Murphy had learnt his trade as a young man, toiling away at the very business he now owns.
At the helm, Mr Murphy and his wife were able to turn Inland Motor Body Works into a massive success, moving into large premises just outside of Ballarat.
‘It just got bigger and bigger and bigger. It’s just continued to grow,’ Mr Robson said.
The couple have endured their ups and downs, having struggled to conceive their first two children, which came after gruelling IVF procedures.
Through hard work, the couple moved into the sprawling, multi-million dollar property they now own today.
Mr Robson said while Samantha had attended private schools growing up, her first job reflected a work ethic that she held to the day she vanished.
‘She ended up shovelling dog sh*t for a living,’ Mr Robson said.
‘It was the first job she ever had. Shovelling dog sh*t at the dog kennels.’
Anyone who has information on Samantha Murphy’s disappearance should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.