Described later by Geoffrey Chandler as a "pretty, weepy girl", Maureen Sutherland was a telephonist from Hornsby. On New Year's Eve 1962 she had been at a party in Bondi with George Batchelor. After the party they had driven some people to Leichhardt, then headed to the Fuller's Bridge area, which was a Lover's Lane.

When they reached the area, there were at least 10 cars parked in the open area between the Lane Cover River and Lady Game Drive. Having come from the west, the dirt track was on their right. Her companion steered the car down it. At the entrance to the track a white car like a station wagon was parked.

Reaching the entrance to the Chatswood Golf Course, Miss Sutherland's companion parked. The time, according to Miss Sutherland's watch, was then 3:50am.

They remained there for some minutes. Miss Sutherland and her companion saw a man in the area. He was further up the hill, but walked down the hill, then near their car, close to the river. Something about him made Miss Sutherland feel uncomfortable, and they decided to leave.

According to Miss Sutherland, she could not distinguish the man's face, but he was wearing a light checked shirt, dark trousers, and had his hands in his pockets. He was wearing a cap, and had a dark complexion. She noticed that he was not carrying anything, like fishing gear which one might have expected.

They then left the area, with Miss Sutherland looking out of the left side of the car so as not to hit any bushes. She saw and heard nothing that attracted her attention, save the kookaburras. She estimated that they had stayed between 25 and 30 minutes at the end of the track. On leaving the track, she vaguely noticed a Ford Prefect parked on its own.