Her husband Mick Murphy has spoken out.

Samantha Murphy’s family have spent the missing mother’s birthday without her for the first time.

Her husband Mick Murphy, 51, and his three children celebrated what would have been Samantha’s 52nd birthday on Saturday.

Mick told The Herald Sun it was the first anniversary or celebration the family have had to acknowledge without her.

He said they have all had to come to terms with the fact “nothing was going to bring her back”.

“It’s the first things, the first birthday without Sam … any anniversaries without Sam,” he said.

“That’s a hard thing but we’ve got to face reality and realise she’s just not coming back.”

Mick said he was still searching every day for his wife, who hasn’t been seen for two months since leaving her Ballarat East home in Victoria to go for a run.

Patrick Stephenson, 22, was charged last month with Samantha’s murder.

Despite numerous searches, police have been unable to find her body, nor any of the electronic devices she had on her at the time she disappeared.

Mick said he was constantly checking in with police for any updates but said he understood investigations of this magnitude take time.

“This whole scenario takes a long time,” he said.

“It’s not a fast procedure.”

Mick has not been able to return to work since his wife went missing.

He said he and his family had been trying to get on with life the best they could.

“I need to be strong myself and look after everyone around me,” Mick said.

Police allege Stephenson murdered Samantha at nearby Mount Clear on the day she went missing.

The tradesman, and son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, is due to return to court in August.