Joanne Ratcliffe’s mother dies never knowing truth about daughter’s disappearance

The mother of Joanne Ratcliffe, one of two young girls abducted from the Adelaide Oval during a football match in one of Australia’s most compelling ongoing mysteries, has died.

• Sister confronts scene of tragedy for first time
• Families tell of pain over abduction

The mother of Joanne Ratcliffe, one of two young girls abducted from the Adelaide Oval during a football match in one of Australia’s most compelling ongoing mysteries, has died.

Kathleen Ratcliffe and her husband, Les, were the public face of the search and investigation of the disappearance of their daughter and four-year-old Kirste Gordon more than 45 years ago.

Mrs Ratcliffe has died never knowing what happened that terrible day on August 25, 1973, in front of a crowd of 13,000 during an SANFL match between Norwood and North Adelaide.

Ms Ratcliffe’s daughter, and Joanne’s sister, Suzie Wilkinson, made the announcement of her mother’s death this morning on social media.

Joanne Ratcliffe, 11, who disappeared from Adelaide Oval in August 1973.

Kirste Gordon, 4, who disappeared along with Joanne

“My heart is in a thousand pieces as my beautiful mum took her last breaths this morning and gained her angel wings, joining my step dad, dad and Joanne,” she wrote.

“I feel lost and I feel empty, hoping this is a dream that I will wake from. How do I say goodbye to a woman who gave so much but expected so little in return? My inspiration, my rock, my cattle prod in times of doubt … My heart is shattered.

“I know she is now at peace, free from her pain and suffering, the answers she has longed for finally in reach.”

“A new day will dawn, life will go on, but a part of me will be forever missing without my beautiful mum.

“R.I.P. mum, reunited at last with Joanne, dad and dad. I will always love you.”

The baffling Adelaide Oval mystery

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Joanne, 11, had taken Kirste to the toilet during the match and they were last seen towards the end of the match near the southern gates.

Witness reports led police to believe that they were abducted by a middle-aged man.

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

Both girls are presumed to have been murdered.

Les Ratcliffe, wife Kathleen and daughter Suzie, almost 3, photographed in 1977 — four years after Joanne went missing.

The Ratcliffes never got over the loss of their daughter. Les would leave the porch light on at their home all night just in case Joanne ever returned.

Broken by the tragedy, he died of cancer just eight years later in 1981.

Suzie Wilkinson, 44, and born 14 months after Joanne disappeared, is the founder of Leave A Light On, a foundation that seeks information and offers support to families whose loved ones never came home.

Police have never closed the case on the abductions of Joanne and Kirste and say they are still actively looking for the girls.

Kathleen Ratcliffe, the mother of Joanne Ratcliffe, with her other daughter Suzie Wilkinson.

In 2013, on the 40th anniversary of their disappearance, 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, officer in charge of the Major Crimes Investigation Branch, 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.”