It is believed Mr Drummond, who was 31 at the time of his death, was going through a severe bout of depression when about 10.15am on Saturday, July 26, he set fire to his Soldiers Point Road home and vanished.

His body was found by trail bike riders in bushland deep in Wallaroo State Forest about 5.30pm on Sunday, December 7.

It is understood Mr Drummond took his own life.

Mother Leonie Drummond told the Examiner in October that she did not believe her son would be found alive.

Her worst fears were realised when she answered a knock at the door on December 7 to find police on her step.

"We knew it was going to come," Ms Drummond said.

"It is a relief to finally know."

Ms Drummond said more needed to be done to encourage those with a mental illness, especially men, to reach out and ask for help.

She said her son could have reached out and asked any one of his family members for help, but tried to tackle his demons on his own.

Mr Drummond was a former student of Grahamstown Public and Irrawang High schools.

He worked at Holbert's Oyster Farm in Salamander Bay for 12 years.

His funeral will be held from 11am on Friday at Newcastle Memorial Park and Crematorium at Beresfield. Instead of flowers, the Drummond family has asked attendees of the service to donate to beyondblue.

■ For help with depression, contact Lifeline 131 114.