Police appeal for help on 1973 Adelaide Oval abductions of Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon before 'it's too late'

Forty years have passed since Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon disappeared from Adelaide Oval, but police have never stopped looking for the girls.

POLICE say they will not close the case on the abductions of Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon from Adelaide Oval and are still actively looking for the girls.

On the 40th anniversary of their disappearance the officer in charge of the Major Crimes Investigation Branch of SA Police called for the assistance of the public "before it's too late".

"I would encourage them to come forward with any information, regardless of how insignificant it may seem to them, as it may be the vital clue we are looking for," Superintendent Des Bray said.

"For the sake of the families of Kirste and Joanne, I encourage them to give us a call.

"If doing it anonymously eases a burden, I would be more than happy to simply have the information."

More: Girls' abduction link to von Einem

Joanne, who was with her parents, Les and Kathleen, and Kirste, who was with her grandmother, were part of a crowd of 13,000 at Adelaide Oval for a SANFL match between North Adelaide and Norwood on August 25, 1973.

The last time their families saw the girls, a protective Joanne was escorting Kirste, whom she only met that day, to a toilet block at the back of the Sir Edwin Smith grandstand on the western side of the oval.

Their subsequent abduction remains one of Australia's greatest unsolved mysteries and a story that continues to haunt the South Australian community.

The smallest child was seen being carried under one arm by a man wearing a brimmed hat and tweed style jacket.

More: Social network clue in missing girls' case

The older girl was desperately trying to draw attention to the plight of her friend.

A witness recalled Joanne running to keep up and punching the man in the back, yelling: "we want to go back'' and him responding "clear off!"

There were three other principal witnesses but after several investigations, the families continue to wait for the slightest glimmer of hope that the girls, or their remains, will be located.

More than 2000 lines of inquiry have been pursued by investigators.

A $200,000 reward is on offer by the SA Government for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible for their disappearance and likely murder.

Information can be given by calling Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.sa.crimestoppers.com.au