Don’t forget them this International Missing Children’s Day
On 25 August 1973, 11-year-old Joanne Ratcliffe took four-year-old Kirste Gordon to the bathroom during an AFL match at the Adelaide Oval. They had gone to the bathroom together earlier while Joanne’s parents and Kirste’s grandmother watched the game, but this time round they didn’t return to their seats. After 15 minutes Joanne’s mother went to find them.
They were gone.
Despite a $1 million reward announced in 2014 the girls have never been found. For the past 43 years their families have never given up hope.
On the 25 May 2016, the AFP launched its annual International Missing Children’s Day event, a global recognition of missing children and a support for their loved ones.
This year’s theme, ‘Forget-Me-Not’, encourages the public to think about long and short term missing children. Approximately 150 of the 2000 long-term missing persons in Australia are aged under 18.
AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin launched the event at the National Arboretum in Canberra. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic community, stakeholders and families of missing persons. Commissioner Colvin said this year’s theme was an opportunity to spread a message of solidarity to the families of missing children, and to remind them we have not forgotten, nor have we lost hope.
“For parents, family and friends, not knowing what has happened to a loved one has a profound impact,” he said.
“We will continue to work closely with our state and territory partners to find answers to these questions and to ensure the safety of all Australian children.”
This year, the NMPCC is raising awareness of the positive work families do when a loved one goes missing.
Leaving a light on for Joanne
Speaking at the launch was Suzie Ratcliffe, the younger sister of Joanne, who was born 14 months after Joanne went missing. Suzie recalls her mum leaving the front light on for Joanne.
“For years following my sister’s disappearance, my mum left the front porch light on, in the event Joanne ever found her way home,” she said.
“Forty-three years later, we still leave a light on in memory of her.”
Inspired to do more, in 2015 Suzie launched the ‘Leave a Light On’ campaign. It simply asks Australians to leave on their front lights on October 21 to raise awareness of long-term missing persons. Her family still hopes that one day they will have answers about her sister Joanne, and they will be able to bring her home.
For more information, please visit the AFP’s ‘Help Bring Them Home’.
