Twist in disappearance of Maureen Braddy and Allan Whyte from Bendigo YMCA dance in 1968

A black and white photo handed to police could hold the key to solving the baffling disappearance of two teenagers more than 50 years ago. 

Maureen Braddy, 16, and 17-year-old Allan Whyte were last seen leaving a YMCA dance in Bendigo, Victoria, with their families believing they were murdered.

Victoria Police on Thursday revealed they had obtained a new photo of a young man and woman that fits the description of the pair, who disappeared on November 23, 1968. 

The image was captured at a boarding house in Aberdeen Street, Geelong in 1968, with the words ‘Neil and Kaye. Kaye is asleep on her feet, Neil is supporting her with his elbow’ scribbled on the back. 

This could mean the pair were alive after their disappearance, and going by different names. 

Victoria Police have released this photograph of a young man and woman at a Geelong boarding house in 1968 as they investigate the disappearance of teenagers Maureen Braddy and Allan Whyte. Detectives want anyone who was at the boarding house to come forward

On the back of the photograph the words ‘Neil and Kaye. Kaye is asleep on her feet, Neil is supporting her with his elbow’ are scribbled

The photographed pair are believed to have revealed they were from the Swan Hill area. 

‘Since being handed in to police, the photograph has undergone specialist forensic analysis by both Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police to help determine whether the pair in the photograph are, in fact, Allan and Maureen,’ Victoria Police said in a statement. 

‘Unfortunately, due to the age and quality of the photograph, comparisons with existing photographs of the Bendigo teens were inconclusive.’

Detectives are now hoping to speak to any individual who was at the Geelong boarding house in 1968, or anyone who may be able to shed light on Neil and Kaye.

Maureen and Allan became friends the year they vanished after being colleagues at  the Crystal Egg Company in Bendigo. 

A witness reportedly saw the teenagers board a tram after leaving the YMCA dance on Mundy Street, California Gully and gunshots were also believed to have been heard by neighbours at the Braddy family home.

Maureen’s younger sister Lynette Ireland revealed in 2018 how she believed the pair were murdered and dumped in a well in the grounds of the family home. The bodies have never been found.

Police did not search the well at the time, arguing there was no evidence to suggest that bodies were buried there and Maureen’s father Stanley Braddy later concreted over the site.

Maureen Braddy (left), 16, and 17-year-old Allan Whyte (right) vanished after leaving a YMCA dance in Bendigo, Victoria on November 23, 1968

At an inquest into Maureen and Allan’s death in 2014, Coroner Iain West said her father’s evidence was selective and self-serving.

‘I found him am unreliable witness, who had no interest in assisting either my inquiry or that of the police,’ he said.

Ms Ireland was only eight-year- old at the time of her sister’s disappearance and told the inquest she saw her father and another man carrying a bloody body. She said she believed it was Allan’s body.

However, Mr West disregarded her testimony as Ms Ireland had used a hypnotherapist to help her rediscover forgotten memories.

The inquest concluded Maureen and Allan most likely met with foul play and died on the night of their disappearance. No charges have ever been laid. 

A $1million reward is on offer for information relating to the pair’s disappearance, with anyone with details urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.