Suzie Ratcliffe visits Adelaide Oval for first time from where sister Joanne and Kirste Gordon were abducted in 1973

DETERMINED to finally face her demons, the sister of Joanne Ratcliffe, dramatically abducted with Kirste Gordon from Adelaide Oval in May 1973, has visited the scene of the crime for the very first time.

HONOUR: Suzie Ratcliffe goes for the first time to Adelaide Oval. Picture: Matt Turner.

• STATEMENT: Family tell of pain over abduction, presumed murder
• COLD CASE: Suspect linked to abandoned home with bunker
• COLD CASE: Excavation in Mid-north for 1973 Oval abduction clues

DETERMINED to finally face her demons, the sister of Joanne Ratcliffe, dramatically abducted with Kirste Gordon from Adelaide Oval during an SANFL football match in 1973, has visited the crime scene for the first time.

In an exclusive interview with The Advertiser, Suzie Ratcliffe, founder of Leave A Light On, a foundation assisting families with loved ones who never came home, says she has always kept her “eyes closed going past” such is her pain.

“So this is a big step for me,” said Ms Ratcliffe — born 14 months after Joanne disappeared — as she entered the stadium.

“But I’m a big girl with broad shoulders and if other family members can put things behind them it’s time for me to do it too.”

Joanne Ratcliffe was last seen at Adelaide Oval on 25 August, 1973.

The 42-year-old, who has a daughter, 10, caught her breath when she saw the Sir Edwin Smith Stand — for Joanne, 11, had taken Kirste, 4 to the toilet during the match in May at the back of the Smith grandstand.

Several witnesses spotted the girls later and at various locations outside the oval with an unknown man.

From the earliest days of the girls’ mystery disappearance, Suzie’s parents, Les and Kathleen, left a porch light on in the hope Joanne would find her way home.

Their action was the inspiration for the LALO organisation which runs an annual rally in October — held tonight at the Norwood Oval — to draw attention to the cases of thousands of missing people.

“We want all families to get the coverage (we do) for Jo’s case,” Ms Ratcliffe said.

“We deliberately chose October 21st each year because it’s a date not associated with any particular case.

“We ask people to leave a light on — a front porch light or an indoor light or just light a candle — to show support as a symbol of hope for those families left waiting and wondering.

“We want the lights to be burning across Australia.”

The Stadium Management Authority has shown its full support displaying the message Leave A Light On, on the iconic Adelaide Oval scoreboard and it will be bathed in teal and yellow, the two colours of the LALO campaign.

“Yellow is the symbol of hope while teal was the colour of a hand-knitted jacket Joanne is wearing in one of my favourite photos of her,” Ms Ratcliffe added.

Ms Ratcliffe, along with Kirste’s parents Greg and Christine Gordon, were the public face of this year’s International Missing Children’s Day held in Canberra.

The Gordons weren’t at the Oval on the tragic day where 13,000 watched Norwood against North Adelaide. Kirste was with her grandmother while Joanne attended with her parents, who were Norwood supporters.

Ms Ratcliffe, who lives in Victoria with her daughter and partner Derek, says her father, who died in 1981 of cancer, was broken by the tragedy, while her mother, who has recently returned to live in Adelaide to be close to her son, has battled bravely with the burden.

Despite extensive investigations and a $1 million reward posted in February 2014, there have been no breakthroughs.

The baffling Adelaide Oval mystery

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But information provided via the LALO Facebook page has seen positive results in other police investigations.

“It might just be that one person who shares a post that resonates with someone else,” Ms Ratcliffe added.

Guest speakers at Norwood Oval tonight from 7pm include Catt King, sister-in-law of Gail King, missing 19 years since she left her holiday home at Minlaton, Commissioner for Victims’ Rights, Michael O’Connell and Detective Inspector Greg Hutchins from the major crime squad.

Anyone with information on the disappearance of Kirste and Joanne, or any missing persons case, should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

video: family appeals for help. advertiser.com.au