18-07-2025
Cardiff mural keeps missing teenager Gordana Kotevski's story in the public eye
From one of the busiest roads in Cardiff, New South Wales, Peggy Kotevski can see a warm, bright smile belonging to someone she has not laid eyes on for more than 30 years.
Her daughter Gordana Kotevski went missing in November 1994.
She was last seen being forced into a vehicle at Charlestown while she was on her way from a shopping centre to her aunt's home nearby.
On Friday a 26-metre-wide mural of the then-16-year-old was unveiled on a wall at Cardiff Shopping Centre.
"I'm very pleased with [the mural], but for a mother, it's a bit of a sad day as well, because I would have liked to have her in real life, not as a mural," Peggy said.
She hopes the mural will "jog someone's memory" and lead to fresh information coming to light.
"I know it's 30 years, but for us it's like it happened yesterday," Peggy said.
Gordana's sister Carolina said she visited the mural on Friday morning and said it was a "surreal" experience.
"Over the last 30 years, every time I've thought of her, or just said silent prayers, a butterfly has always been around me," she said.
"So that's what those butterflies symbolise, and the other components have been special things to all the family and just having her there."
The Kotevskis said many people contributed to the creation of the community-funded mural, for which they were thankful.
They also thanked the artist behind the work, Reuben "Reubszz" Boughtwood.
"He's captured the essence of who she was … it's just beautiful," Carolina said.
Peggy echoed that sentiment.
"I'm grateful to Reuben, I'm grateful to the community," she said.
"I can never thank you [enough], my sister-in-law Julie Talevski, because she was behind it."
Boughtwood said he worked with the family and friends to bring the work to life.
"These types of work are sort of close to my heart," he said.
"If I can come into a community and do something that's close to their hearts, I'm stoked to be able to bring that to life.
"I think it will try and help raise awareness … any sort of positive outcome is a plus for me."
Strike Force Arapaima was established in 2019 to re-examine Gordana's disappearance and suspected murder.
The strike force is also probing the disappearances of Lake Macquarie teenagers Robyn Hickie and Amanda Robinson.
"Hopefully people will have the heart to come forward if they do have any information whatsoever," Peggy said.
Police have offered a $1-million reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction over Gordana's disappearance.
