Volunteer Kristian referring to topographic map. (Pic: Michael Brown)

Sevak Simonian, 21, has now been missing for almost 3 weeks. The young Armenian-Australian from Belrose, in Sydney’s north, was last seen at his parents' home at about 8pm on Monday the 20th of October.

He was believed to be heading for the Kanangra-Boyd National Park near Oberon, where he is believed to be lost.

On the 24th of October his car was found in the Kanangra Walls Road car park and police believe that Mr Simonian entered the park on October 21 but only had a daypack with him when he disappeared.

Although tragic, this incident has displayed the comradeship and deep seated and powerful spirit of the Armenian, Sydney and Australian communities. All 3 have been working together tirelessly for Sevak to be found.  This search operation is headed by the NSW police and is supported by the NSW SES and NSW Rural Fire services, as well as the Australian-Armenian community.

Facebook, twitter and other social media avenues have been an integral asset in raising awareness of Sevak’s disappearance. The hashtag campaign #findsevak was established almost immediately after his disappearance was declared, and has been a key point in finding more SES volunteers to assist in his search.

Australian entrepreneur, Dick Smith, who is also a resident of Sydney’s Northern Beaches district, became involved in the search, flying over the Kanangra-Boyd National Park in his helicopter to help with the search effort. Smith also donated $30,000 to the cause.

Gilbert Verdian, an Armenian-Australian, set up a fundraising site to raise money for the search. Sevak’s older brother, Sassoon Simonian donated a cheque for $12, 428 to the SES earlier this week.

Sevak's brother Sasoon Simonian donating a cheque to the SES

“The SES has indicated that they will use the money for helicopters that will provide critical air support and allow them to access remote terrain that would otherwise be difficult to do,” Mr Verdian said.

“We want to assist and extend the search in any way possible so we can find Sevak. He is an experienced bushwalker and we are confident he can be found."

“The whole community is getting behind this.”

On the 7^th of November, ABC Radio stated that the search for Sevak Simonian has been the biggest search rescue operation in the last 10 years, with 20-30 people searching daily since October 26.

This weekend, 5 SES volunteers from the Namoi and North West regions of the state will arrive in the Kanangra Boyd National Park near Oberon in search for Sevak., to help in the search for a missing bushwalker.

SES Controller for the North West Region, Rick Sloman, says these volunteers have specialist vertical rescue capabilities.

"Our specific assistance to our colleagues down in that region is with a team of people who are trained in doing vertical descent," he said.

"There are a number of cliffs and bluffs throughout that whole area of the Park, and the local crews are getting quite fatigued, having sustained that operation for so much time."

On the 6^th of November, a helicopter drone was usedfor the first time in a search operation in the Oberon area, making it possible to cover a much larger search pattern and at lower altitude than conventional aircraft.

Sevak Simonian’s Galstaun College classmates, as well as other students and associations of the school, have also been reaching out and doing all they can in ensuring awareness is spread regarding disappearance of their colleague.

To advocate gaining support to find Sevak, the Galstaun College students, alumni and general Armenian-Australian youth have been holding up posters on the side of busy roads, printing posters and sticking them around various suburbs and business parks, campaigning in Martin Place, Sydney, and much more.

Galstaun College Alumni Association Member, Melanie Khashadourian, has been a key figure in raising awareness for Sevak’s disappearance through the Armenian and wider Australian community.

“So many ex-students have been contacting me asking what they can do to help and they have been doing an amazing job of spreading the word through social media, doing letter drops, calling hiking, camping and other relevant associations to find volunteers. They way everyone has come together has been so wonderful to see,” she said.