Missing woman Helen Barnett is out there somewhere, her best friend says

For months, Helen Barnett’s best mate been trying to find out what happened to the 53-year-old Koumala woman. The mystery of the missing Queenslander is far from being solved.

On her best days, Michelle Cain believes her best friend Helen Barnett will walk back into her life – on her worst days, she fears her mate will be found dead.

Ms Cain, a mother-of-eight children, has been doing everything she can to alert Australians about the disappearance of 53-year-old Helen.

Helen was last seen about 4.15pm on Valentine’s Day eve, some 300m from her home on Turnors Paddock Rd, 11km outside of Koumala.

Police, the SES, the Rural Fire Service, the army and the RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter scoured a 5km radius but dense scrub and rugged terrain hampered the three-week search on the 80-plus hectare property.

Police also combed local waterways and drones were used in a 15sq m aerial surveillance to no avail.

Koumala woman Helen Barnett, 53, is missing.

Helen had a major medical issue that prevented her from walking long distances and, Ms Cain says, she was being cared for by another friend.

Her phone remained at home and she also did not take her sneakers and sunglasses, both of which she always wore when leaving the house.

Dressed in a black and white shirt, shorts and thongs, Helen had on a shoulder and knee brace. The 168cm-tall woman’s long brownish-grey hair was tied back in a ponytail.

About 8000 people are reported missing in Queensland each year and about 98 per cent of them are found within 48 hours.

There are just fewer than 400 people listed as “long term” missing – meaning they have been gone for more than three months - in the state.

Helen is one of those people. And experts say the longer a person is missing the higher the chance they may never be found or they will be located deceased - Helen’s loved ones hope Helen’s case will go against this trend.

Speaking with this publication from her home on the Sunshine Coast, Ms Cain says the past five and a half months were heart-wrenching for herself and for Helen’s 85-year-old mother.

“My fight is to bring my friend home – it’s my priority,” Ms Cain says.

“Her mum is elderly and the fear of not knowing where her daughter is too much.”

Isaac SES volunteers take a break during the search for missing Koumala woman Helen Barnett. Picture: SES Isaac Regional Unit

Helen and Ms Cain have been friends since meeting at school in their teens.

Their 38-year friendship had never weakened, with the pair communicating at least once every two days.

“Helen and I were good close school mates and as we moved on into leaving school we drifted apart physically but we stayed in contact,” Ms Cain says.

“I was with her at her wedding and she has got to see me have all my children.”

Helen divorced some time ago.

When her health was at its lowest, she spent 12 months living on the Sunshine Coast with Ms Cain who helped her get back on her feet.

“I cared for her and got her medication stabilised and her health stabilised,” Ms Cain says.

“I really wanted her to stay here but she was determined to return to Koumala, which she loves very much.”

Ms Cain said it was well out of character for Helen to take long walks unaided because her medical condition stifled her ability to go long distances.

The searchers combed a 5km radius on ground and by air but did not find Helen.

Since February, Ms Cain has run a Facebook page – Help Find Helen Barnett – to try and raise community awareness about her missing mate.

She has liaised diligently with missing person’s groups and police and has reached out to residents living between Rockhampton and Far North Queensland.

Ms Cain has even gone so far as to contact people interstate, including in the Northern Territory, on the chance Helen may have travelled to Darwin or that someone passing through the Mackay region might have witnessed something.

“Every very few days I try and post on social media or do other things to spread the message,” Ms Cain says.

“I have had local people distribute leaflets for me to keep those who do not have access to social media updated.

“I’m hoping someone will be able to help find her and bring her home.

“I’ll never give up searching for her – she’s my best friend.”

Queensland Police were unable to comment.

If you can help find Helen or have information about her disappearance, please phone CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.