April 28, 2026 • 6 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we know that police say they believe five year
(00:02):
old Sharon Granitz is still alive as the urgent search
enters its fourth day and Alie Springs now joining me
live on the line is Sergeant Matt Hall from the
Northern Territory Police Search and Rescue.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Good morning to you, Matt, Hey.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Good morning Katie and Territory.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Matt, thanks so much for your time again this morning.
I know that you guys are incredibly busy talk us
through what is happening this morning in the search for
little Sharon.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Yeah, thank you so. As I said, you are incredibly busy,
but we're giving under a simple We've got joint operations
with the more capability to continue during the night where
unfortunate to locate anything. Search on the ground has continued
to first light this morning at six am, compromising of
ground teams for teams, helicopters, ATVs and volunteers as well.
(00:54):
So they've been out in the skields since half past
six and by covering some ground.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I understand that search area may have increased to some
degree as well. We caught up with the member for
our Luren earlier this morning and she said she understood
that it now also included some further well, I believe
a couple of other communities as well.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Is that correct?
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Our search still focus is around identified area based from
the last transition being Old Timers Camp. So the ground
search that we're looking at compromises around twenty square kilometers.
Yesterday evening we've covered up to five square kilometers on foot.
In addition to that, we've covered up to eighty square
kilometers using helicopters.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Yeah, mate, tell me, you know we're entering the fourth day. Now,
what is it like for you, for all of those volunteers,
for everybody involved. I'm told that you know, the conditions
are pretty tough in terms of that grass that you'd
told us about yesterday.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Yeah, definitely, I said it stay for It's been sixty
hours since she was reported. Between concerns significant for her welfare.
What I will come in is that the community is
still backing one hundred percent. We're getting so much support,
everyone's remaining positive, everyone's giving everything they've got, the police
are giving everything they've got. Just the overwhelming support that
(02:15):
we're receiving is just continuing with each day, which is
really impressive and really shows that community gathering together and
putting aside their personal lives the one goal and it's
to get this young missing girl back safely.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Sergeant Hall, tell me how many people are involved today.
I know you've touched on the drones and the other
equipment being used, but how many police?
Speaker 2 (02:38):
How many volunteers?
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, first count, so we've had one hundred and fifteen.
That's a combined total of police, Northern Territory, Emergency Services,
Central Land Council, and then volunteers. We've also got volunteers
from Tangger So out of that one hundred and ten,
fifty one of those people are volunteers from the community.
As day increases or volunteers are coming forward and assisting
(03:03):
as well.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
That's really good to hear.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
I mean it is it is something that you know
in a situation that is as terrible as this is.
To hear the way that the community is coming together
to search for Sharon, I think is a real testament
to the type of community that Alice Springs is. Tell me,
I know that Aboriginal trackers were also being utilized as well.
(03:26):
What work are they are they doing?
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yeah, so they've been embedded with the Cultural Reform Team
and also North Force has the ability to track. They're
embedded with our search teams or are conducting search lines
anythink of interest, hire tracks or any ite. The item
that we locate, they then pick up in our try
and see if they can obtain anything further that we've missed.
(03:50):
We are locating a fair amount of objects within our
search areas. However, nothing is linking back to the missing person.
So whilst we're not finding anything else significant, it is
good that we are finding objects because it does show
that we are focused on the goal giving and that
I know.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
When we spoke to you yesterday, it also sort of
urged people you know, around the area to just check
their backyards and things like that as well. You know,
by the sounds of it, nobody's seen anything. But is
that still something that you're encouraging people to do.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah, definitely, And that's in line with a lost person
behavior profile around the missing person, So there is that
wondering aspect as well. Whilst you might have checked your
day one day too, it's not to say that if
someone issue malbile, they haven't entered your yard overnight. So
we do encourage the community keep eyes open even if
they have searched the yards overnight. We just continue to
put those requests for that they continue searching their yards
(04:46):
daily because you never know what's going to pop up.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Sergeant Hall, is there anything else we should be aware
of before I let you go this morning? I know
you've got a busy, busy day ahead. You know anything
else that we might not be aware of that you've
sort of done over the last couple of days so
that you're planning to do today.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
No, as I said, the search remains pretty consistent with
each daily operation. I guess the big thing we're calling
on for is volunteers are welcome. We asked that if
you do want to participate, that you come to the
Ford Command Post on Heath Road if you can give
a minimum of two hours searching. It makes our capably
a bit easier come well equipped for searching this terrain.
(05:23):
Further to our course for assistance, we're now calling on
any person with horse riding experience that have fit and
capable horses with good temperaments. If they want to join
alongside our mounted the Horse unit. They can also come
to the Ford Command Post and we can facilitate that.
But our mustage well that we require those horses to
be fit healthy, good temperament and capable of working in
(05:46):
some of this terrain and self sufficient the riders.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yeah, and as like if you know, with the horses,
particularly with the you know the police that are on
mounted horseback, but even with residents coming to help if
they have got a horse that fits a description that
is the line of sight quite good. Like you know,
how are those horses helpful throughout this situation?
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Yeah, definitely. So the horses get put in areas where
we think they might be more more capable. So we
might put them in an open area. I guess the
benefit of a horse is it's not going to tire.
It can sit above the ground, so you've got that
height which improves that visibility. So depending on what assets
we're using, is where we will put them in different
areas well.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Sergeant Matt Hall from the Northern Territory Police as part
of the search and rescue effort, I really appreciate your time, mate.
All the very best today to you, to everybody that
is out there searching for little Sharon. I said it yesterday,
I'll say it again. We are all just hoping and
praying that she is found safe and well.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah. Thanks, that's good.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Tom Katie, thank you, thanks so much,
Now we know that police say they believe five year
(00:02):
old Sharon Granitz is still alive as the urgent search
enters its fourth day and Alie Springs now joining me
live on the line is Sergeant Matt Hall from the
Northern Territory Police Search and Rescue.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Good morning to you, Matt, Hey.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Good morning Katie and Territory.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Matt, thanks so much for your time again this morning.
I know that you guys are incredibly busy talk us
through what is happening this morning in the search for
little Sharon.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Yeah, thank you so. As I said, you are incredibly busy,
but we're giving under a simple We've got joint operations
with the more capability to continue during the night where
unfortunate to locate anything. Search on the ground has continued
to first light this morning at six am, compromising of
ground teams for teams, helicopters, ATVs and volunteers as well.
(00:54):
So they've been out in the skields since half past
six and by covering some ground.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I understand that search area may have increased to some
degree as well. We caught up with the member for
our Luren earlier this morning and she said she understood
that it now also included some further well, I believe
a couple of other communities as well.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Is that correct?
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Our search still focus is around identified area based from
the last transition being Old Timers Camp. So the ground
search that we're looking at compromises around twenty square kilometers.
Yesterday evening we've covered up to five square kilometers on foot.
In addition to that, we've covered up to eighty square
kilometers using helicopters.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Yeah, mate, tell me, you know we're entering the fourth day. Now,
what is it like for you, for all of those volunteers,
for everybody involved. I'm told that you know, the conditions
are pretty tough in terms of that grass that you'd
told us about yesterday.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Yeah, definitely, I said it stay for It's been sixty
hours since she was reported. Between concerns significant for her welfare.
What I will come in is that the community is
still backing one hundred percent. We're getting so much support,
everyone's remaining positive, everyone's giving everything they've got, the police
are giving everything they've got. Just the overwhelming support that
(02:15):
we're receiving is just continuing with each day, which is
really impressive and really shows that community gathering together and
putting aside their personal lives the one goal and it's
to get this young missing girl back safely.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Sergeant Hall, tell me how many people are involved today.
I know you've touched on the drones and the other
equipment being used, but how many police?
Speaker 2 (02:38):
How many volunteers?
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, first count, so we've had one hundred and fifteen.
That's a combined total of police, Northern Territory, Emergency Services,
Central Land Council, and then volunteers. We've also got volunteers
from Tangger So out of that one hundred and ten,
fifty one of those people are volunteers from the community.
As day increases or volunteers are coming forward and assisting
(03:03):
as well.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
That's really good to hear.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
I mean it is it is something that you know
in a situation that is as terrible as this is.
To hear the way that the community is coming together
to search for Sharon, I think is a real testament
to the type of community that Alice Springs is. Tell me,
I know that Aboriginal trackers were also being utilized as well.
(03:26):
What work are they are they doing?
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yeah, so they've been embedded with the Cultural Reform Team
and also North Force has the ability to track. They're
embedded with our search teams or are conducting search lines
anythink of interest, hire tracks or any ite. The item
that we locate, they then pick up in our try
and see if they can obtain anything further that we've missed.
(03:50):
We are locating a fair amount of objects within our
search areas. However, nothing is linking back to the missing person.
So whilst we're not finding anything else significant, it is
good that we are finding objects because it does show
that we are focused on the goal giving and that
I know.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
When we spoke to you yesterday, it also sort of
urged people you know, around the area to just check
their backyards and things like that as well. You know,
by the sounds of it, nobody's seen anything. But is
that still something that you're encouraging people to do.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah, definitely, And that's in line with a lost person
behavior profile around the missing person, So there is that
wondering aspect as well. Whilst you might have checked your
day one day too, it's not to say that if
someone issue malbile, they haven't entered your yard overnight. So
we do encourage the community keep eyes open even if
they have searched the yards overnight. We just continue to
put those requests for that they continue searching their yards
(04:46):
daily because you never know what's going to pop up.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Sergeant Hall, is there anything else we should be aware
of before I let you go this morning? I know
you've got a busy, busy day ahead. You know anything
else that we might not be aware of that you've
sort of done over the last couple of days so
that you're planning to do today.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
No, as I said, the search remains pretty consistent with
each daily operation. I guess the big thing we're calling
on for is volunteers are welcome. We asked that if
you do want to participate, that you come to the
Ford Command Post on Heath Road if you can give
a minimum of two hours searching. It makes our capably
a bit easier come well equipped for searching this terrain.
(05:23):
Further to our course for assistance, we're now calling on
any person with horse riding experience that have fit and
capable horses with good temperaments. If they want to join
alongside our mounted the Horse unit. They can also come
to the Ford Command Post and we can facilitate that.
But our mustage well that we require those horses to
be fit healthy, good temperament and capable of working in
(05:46):
some of this terrain and self sufficient the riders.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yeah, and as like if you know, with the horses,
particularly with the you know the police that are on
mounted horseback, but even with residents coming to help if
they have got a horse that fits a description that
is the line of sight quite good. Like you know,
how are those horses helpful throughout this situation?
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Yeah, definitely. So the horses get put in areas where
we think they might be more more capable. So we
might put them in an open area. I guess the
benefit of a horse is it's not going to tire.
It can sit above the ground, so you've got that
height which improves that visibility. So depending on what assets
we're using, is where we will put them in different
areas well.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Sergeant Matt Hall from the Northern Territory Police as part
of the search and rescue effort, I really appreciate your time, mate.
All the very best today to you, to everybody that
is out there searching for little Sharon. I said it yesterday,
I'll say it again. We are all just hoping and
praying that she is found safe and well.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah. Thanks, that's good.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Tom Katie, thank you, thanks so much,
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