In the months before her death, Mr Roberts had to sit by his mother's side as her health failed her, knowing he couldn't fulfil his mother's dying wish - to know what happened to her brother, Russell Martin.

For years, Mrs Roberts made it her mission to uncover the mystery surrounding the disappearance of her brother - last seen in January 1977.

Mr Roberts said one of his mother's greatest regrets when she passed away was still not being able to lay her brother to rest.

"I promised her I would never stop looking for him, for her," he said.

"I intend to keep that promise. I want to honour my mother and keep searching for answers which might lead to finding him.

"No family should have to go through not knowing - I saw just how much it tormented my mother over the years."

Decades after Russell Martin's disappearance Mrs Roberts campaigned enough for an inquest to be conducted.

Almost 20 years after the inquest, still, no answers have been uncovered.

"I have so much admiration for my mother," Mr Roberts said.

"She worked hard to get the coroner's hearing. That was the first time it was ever looked into.

"For me now, it's a different drive and passion. For me, it's doubled. It's a person I'm related to and I believe everyone should be laid to rest and for my mother - I know she passed with some peace knowing I would never stop looking for answers."

RELATED: Victoria Police respond to investigation into Russell Martin's disappearance

During her search, Mrs Roberts received so many phone calls or 'tips' that could lead to answers to the whereabouts of her brother's remains.

"I know she never slept easy at night time, just wondering where he was and what happened to him," Mr Roberts said.

"She couldn't stop thinking about Uncle Russell and just wanted that closure.

"I would like closure too, not just for me, but for Mum."

Mr Roberts said it was heartbreaking to see the drive for information grow stronger and stronger, as his mother got older, and as her health failed her.

COLD CASE: Missing person Russell Martin is the feature of a new billboard placed at Coffee Palace Park Stawell

"She was brave - she spoke out to the media and raised so much awareness," he said.

"It's been tough. I couldn't go and fix her one last wish.

"There must be someone out there that knows something. I don't want to know what happened. I just want to know where he is so he can be laid to rest, for his sake and my Mum's.

"I believe in the humanity of the people of Stawell - someone must know where Russell is and it was my Mum's dying wish.

"I've inherited the burden now and no family should have to go through this for so long without an answer."

A campaign for the Federal Government to formally recognise National Missing Persons Week was launched by the Missing Persons Advocacy Network on Sunday, August 1.

The week, from August 1-7 provides critical awareness for missing Australians and helps family members find the answers they are desperately seeking.

The launch of a parliamentary e-petition will ask the federal House of Representatives to acknowledge NMPW, which is not included as an official awareness week on government calendars.

"Officially recognising the week our family started would be an acknowledgement by our government that they stand with the thousands of Australians plagued by the ambiguous loss of a family member or loved one. It would create the genuine visibility missing Australians so desperately deserve," said Mark Jones, whose family created National Missing Persons Week in 1988 following the disappearance of his brother, Tony Jones in 1982.

NMPW is an essential week of action that takes place annually at the start of August to raise awareness of missing Australians and educate the community about the emotional, financial and administrative hardships their families never imagined they'd have to face, and must navigate alone.

"It's unacceptable that long-term missing Australians and their families, who don't have a voice, aren't yet given this standard of recognition," said MPAN founder and chief executive Loren O'Keeffe.

"This week is the biggest opportunity we have to generate community support to help tell the stories of our missing loved ones and the unending nightmare their family members and friends are going through every day.

"Awareness achieved during this week has led to missing people being found and provided resolution for families. It has also proven to be preventative for vulnerable people considering disappearing themselves in the first place."

LEADS: Former police investigator Valentine Smith takes interest in Stawell's cold case of Russell Martin

Over 100 Australians are reported missing every day. Of these, between 2-5 per cent become long-term missing and research shows at least 12 of their loved ones are directly affected by their disappearance. The rate of Australians being reported missing increased by more than 25 per cent in the past year, which saw many impacted by lockdown and restrictions as a result of COVID-19.

Ambiguous loss, such as that felt by family and friends of missing loved ones, is one of the most traumatic types of grief, affecting more than 250,000 Australians. It is defined as a complex type of loss that is not certain and becomes harder to cope with over time (unlike with bereavement, where it can become easier). Research on stress and trauma has found that no other form of stress is as unmanageable as ambiguous loss.

"It lacks clarification and closure, and - for that reason - it is rarely openly acknowledged or understood by our community. National Missing Persons Week is one of those rare opportunities," said Ms O'Keeffe.

"Around eighty-five per cent of missing persons cases in Australia are related to mental health issues, and both sides of this equation are currently slipping through the cracks. Recognition of NMPW would be validation that this torturous experience is important enough to be seen and addressed by our government.

"Without adequate legislation and policies to lessen the burden on families, this cause is often left in the 'too hard' basket with no one willing to take on the inherent complexities. That's not good enough. Australia's better than that."

To sign the petition head to https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN2862

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