Mystery of grandpa’s missing jumper

IT’S been a long fortnight for Jamie Edward, whose 50-yearold woollen jumper, thick with the thread of family and travel, went missing somewhere near Hobart this month.

When the Victorian turned Hobartian was 17 he put on his grandfather’s hand-knitted jumper, never to return it.

On February 2 it fell out of Mr Edward’s bag after 15 warm years with its owner.

Two weeks and 50 posters later, the search continues.

Mr Edward said it is the sentimental value that has him searching for the jumper that is older than him by almost 20 years and which was originally his grandfather’s.

“I lived with my grandparents growing up, they kind of looked after us and were always a big support,” Mr Edward said.

“My gran knitted the main body and one sleeve and then my mum knitted the other sleeve, and then somehow I just inherited it.

“I might have picked it up on a cold day and just never gave it back.”

First worn by Mr Edward in Black Rock, southeast Melbourne, it had kept him warm through the Americas before accompanying him in his move to Tasmania just over a year ago.

“It was just that thing I’d take everywhere,” he said. “We’ve all got one of them.” The red and navy jumper was last believed sighted hanging on a fence a week ago in Hugo’s Lane, West Hobart.