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ABC News
National

Police hold grave fears for 78-year-old woman Wendy Smith missing from Brisbane's north

Police have grave fears for a 78-year-old woman who left a note before disappearing from her north Brisbane home last week.

Wendy Smith was last seen at her home in The Gap on Lahore Street about 9pm on Thursday.

Senior Sergeant Robb Wann said Ms Smith's daughters were due to meet her at the house the next morning but found a note saying she was leaving.

Ms Smith lived at the home with her husband and adult son. 

"The note did not indicate what she may have been intending to do or where she was intending to go," Sergeant Wann said.

"She has no mobile, no access to bank accounts, and no personal items were taken with her."

He said her disappearance was not considered suspicious, but it was out of character.

CCTV footage shows Ms Smith at a business on Glenquarie Place at The Gap at 3:40pm on the day she went missing.

Sergeant Wann said there were no concerns for her mental or physical health.

"She is a well-known and well-liked member of The Gap area," Sergeant Wann said.

"If Wendy is out there and sees this, we hope that she feels safe enough to give us a call.

"We can keep her location confidential if she doesn't want anyone to know where she is now."

Emergency services carried out a search of bushlands in The Gap on Sunday.

SES volunteers and police scoured the ground, and police helicopters worked from above.

Sergeant Wann said police have not ruled out another search.

'Really heartbreaking'

Pramesh Ram said Ms Smith was frequent customer at his cafe in The Gap. 

"Beautiful lady, very pleasant and always appreciating," he said.

Mr Ram said other members of the community had also raised concerns about her disappearance.

"I had a few customers walk in on Monday and they said, 'Have you heard of what happened?'," he said.

"I don't know what the family is going through right now losing a loved one, and you don't even have contact.

"Just really heartbreaking," Mr Ram said.

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