THE family of a teenager who vanished with his girlfriend more than four decades ago is still haunted by the mystery surrounding their disappearance.As the family faces the 41st anniversary of their disappearance, they are hoping a coronial inquiry will be announced.Allan George Whyte, 17, and his girlfriend Maureen Joyce Braddy, 16, were last seen alive on November 23, 1968, at a YMCA dance in Mundy Street. Allan’s niece, Michelle Tobin, said the family found it difficult to talk about her uncle’s case.“I always figured there is too much hurt, especially for dad,” she said.“My dad, being the last to see his brother alive, must carry so much hurt.“The sadness he has felt, and others have felt, over the last 41 years has been unimaginable.”Mr Whyte was the youngest of 14 children. On the night he disappeared he went to the dance with Ms Braddy.They were last seen out the front of the YMCA Hall where they spoke to Ms Tobin’s father.He invited them to a party at his place but Mr Whyte declined, saying he was taking Ms Braddy home.They haven’t been seen since.For many years it was believed the couple had run away together, and their disappearance was treated as a missing persons’ case. Ms Tobin said Allan’s mother never gave up hope that her son was still alive.“She believed he was going to come back,” Ms Tobin said.“I think for a majority of nan’s life she believed he was alive. No parent wants to believe their children have gone before them.”Thirty years after the young couple’s disappearance new information came to light and Bendigo police acknowledged the couple had met with foul play.In 2001 they reopened the case, declaring it a murder investigation.“For years growing up I could never understand why uncle Allan would stay away from the family that long, why he never contacted them,” Ms Tobin said.The bodies of Ms Braddy and Mr Whyte, who would now be 57 and 58 respectively, have never been found. Sergeant Jamie Ward worked closely on the case many years ago. He said the police investigation remained open.“We believe there is someone out there that may be able to provide significant information that may be of great value to the investigation,” he said.Anyone with information regarding the disappearance should contact the Bendigo CIU on 5448 1370 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.